Kenya | Day 13 & 14 Mara – Nairobi – London

Our last day in Kenya. After packing up and putting down the tents we headed off the road across the Masai land and later for the main road. Along the way, we managed to see a few more animals and I was trying my best to cherish that safari moments.

Acacia nilotica/Gum Arabic Tree near our campsite illuminating the beautiful sun on our last day in Masai Conservancy. 

After almost an hour or two we were on the road switching from safari mode to travel mode. As per our schedule, we were supposed to arrive at the airport at 1600hrs but we only arrive Mai Mahiu for lunch at 1630hrs!

A beautiful sunset on our last day in Kenya taken from our minibus on the way to Nairobi. 

After our meal, we were back on the road and arrived at the airport at 2000hrs. After unloading and checking in to our airline, we had a solid 3 ½ hours before departure. I managed to do some last-minute shopping and also posted a few postcards to my mum and a few of my friends back home in Malaysia. We were informed that the weather in the UK was really bad and thank God we were able to land Heathrow after the 8hrs flight.

Along the way back from London to Cornwall it snowed and boy, I was super excited as this was my first time actually experiencing snowfall! Once we stopped the rest stop, I was among the few from other tropical countries getting off playing with the snow! Name it, snow fight and snow angel were all the things we did! Thank God we managed to have some fun at the rest stop because the snow continued to thin as we got closer to Cornwall. By the time we crossed the Tamar, all we left with was good old-fashioned Cornish rain!

It was snowing in the UK. The feeling was so surreal.

My first time seeing snow!

Of course, I have to make a snow angel!

Nothing can be compared to my 2 weeks stay in Kenya. All this while I could only imagine the word AFRICA. Since young, I am always mesmerised with the beauty of Africa and its wildlife! Being there, breathing the air, smelling the smell of the savannahs and seeing upfront the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo was just too surreal. This for sure will be the trip of my lifetime! Thanks a lot once again to University of Exeter for the opportunity and not forgetting my sponsor Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) for the education bursaries.

Kenya | Day 12 Mara

Another day, another game drive. It was a beautiful sunrise overlooking the savannah. Hot air balloons were seen and I bet this excursion as a tourist will be very expensive. A glimpse of the animal from above would be interesting as these animals should be in their most natural condition if compared to a normal game drive.

Early morning game drive with a beautiful sunrise!

Hot air balloon excursion for tourists. 

A herd of elephants with two calves.

Our bus was greeted by a herd of elephants with two calves. Then along the way, we saw a cackle of hyenas on the route and that scene was just adorable as a cub was visible as well. We visited the elephant carcass and it was still intact. However, the carcass was cover with droppings from the vultures I guess. The vultures were just waiting for the right time to scavenge the carcass. The highlight for this game drive was we spotted a cheetah resting in between the grassland. That moment for me was just priceless. Before lunch, we headed back to the campsite as we need to prepare a presentation for our herbivore survey.

A cackle of hyenas seen crossing.

Revisiting the elephant carcass. Lots of faeces seen on the body. 

Can you spot the cheetah?

Right after the presentation, we went out for our final game drive. Our bus was able to see a pride of lion resting and copulating before we were all greeted with our final savannah sunset for the very last time. At that point of time, I tried my best to sink in the awesome view as much as I can. The next time for me to return will be in decades, perhaps.

Lion and lioness spotted. 

Copulation.

The king has arrived!

Our last sunset at the Masai Conservancy. 

Our last night at camp was a blast as the Masai tribes from our Manyatta experiences came and sang around the fire pit. It was really a memorable one and at the same time, my heart still wants to explore this amazing place! It ended late and we immediately headed to bed as tomorrow will be another long day on the road.

Singing and dancing around the fire pit with the Masai. 

Kenya | Day 11 Mara (Manyatta Experience)

Another game drive to start the day. During the game drive, we were alerted with a “fresh “elephant carcass. From the look and the smell of it, it seems that it died a few hours back.  There were still no scavengers devouring on the carcass. We were able to see a herd of living animals near the carcass probably related to the deceased individual. Elephants are known to grieve the loss of their friends and family members, thus this behaviours is probably because they were not ready to “let go”. There were also sightings of a variety of raptors and a martial eagle.

The elephant carcass. 

Lions resting near the carcass. 

After lunch, we visited a Masai village or manyatta. I was super excited as this was one of my dream to see and get up close with the Masai people. Before entering the village, we were met outside its fence by the chief, who provided some basic background information about the village and its inhabitants. He then invited Masai performers of both sexes to come sing, dance, and–in the case of the young men–jump. Once the dancing and singing have been completed, the Masai warriors have the opportunity to show their manliness by engaging in a jumping contest. I too joined and boy these people really can jump!

The Masai inviting us for the manyatta experience. 

The chief welcoming us. 

Us walking to the manyatta. (Photo credit: Adwait)

Welcoming dance and jumps

With the jumping completed, we went into the village and received another briefing from the chief. Before dividing us up into smaller groups that could more easily fit into the Masai buildings en masse, the chief invited us to watch several young men light a fire in the “traditional Masai style” (friction). I was shocked to find out the huts were made from cow dung and it was completed by the female. My visit to the manyatta was exceptional and I really enjoyed myself.

The Masai starting a fire. 

The buildings made from cow dung. Normally the female will do the building. 

Handmade souvenirs sold.

I am actually the same height with the Masai tribe. Bought a fabric from the tribe. 

We finished up the afternoon with another game drive where we spotted a trio of dik-diks, the smallest antelope. The day ended with a rainbow overlooking the savannah.

Dik-dik spotted. (Photo credit: Adwait)

Lioness resting.

Just another view of sunset with our minibuses passing by. 

Kenya | Day 10 Mara

As usual, another early rise. We had a pre-dawn breakfast and boy I was still sleepy! The day kicked off with an early morning game drive which was rewarding as the golden ray of sunrise was super beautiful. The regulation in the conservancy is to limit the number of vehicles per game drive as this is an effort to preserve the wildlife in its natural behaviours. Nothing interesting during this game drive and after making a circuit around the relatively small Mara Conservancy we returned to our campsite. We need to pull down our tent and pack up as we will continue our journey south to the Masai Mara.

Rise and shine from the Mara.

My first time seeing a lion in the wild.

Another wonderful view of the savannah. 

A wide-angle view of the wild animals found in Mara Conservancy.

The calf following its mum crossing the pathway. 

Reality is the drive was only a short one, however, the minibuses did a large circuit before arriving our destination – Riverside Camp. Along the way, we visited the Mara River Crossing – that iconic location shown in seemingly every documentary – BBC, National Geographic, Discovery about African wildlife where migrating wildebeest go splashing across the river amidst a frenzy of snapping crocodile jaws. However, we did not see this excitement as there were hippos soaking in the river. We managed to walk up front to witness it ourselves. Safety was assured as the university had hired armed guards to escort us along the river bank.

A bloat of hippos in the river cooling down. 

Can you spot the crocodile?

The famous Mara River where it's know for animal crossing.

We arrived at the Riverside late in the afternoon and after setting up the tent (starting to be experts after 10 days!) we left for an evening game drive. This drive was the most memorable as we were at able to spot cheetahs and witnessed a pair of lion napping in the sun where that nap turned into rounds of copulation. That for me was my National Geographic moment a.k.a. the highlight of my life!

The lion and lioness resting on the grassland. 

Spot the meerkats. 

A her of elephant - a juvenile and a calf. 

A stunning view to end the day.

Nothing much that night and I took the opportunity to slumber peacefully regaining my energy after a very mentally and physically challenging 2 days at the Mara.