Kenya | Day 9 Naro Moru – Mara

I woke up in pain today as all my muscle was soaring from the hike yesterday. Most of us were in pain and probably lack of stretching prior and post-hike. However, we need to overcome the pain as we will be on the road again today for almost 9hrs not including meal, toilet and souvenirs stop.

Good morning from Mountain Rock Lodge. Long journey ahead!

Today we are heading to Masai Mara National Reserve and this was the encore to my live National Geographic moments. Entrance fee for non-resident is USD80/pax/day. After putting down the tents, packing and a quick breakfast we hit the road. Most of us slept during the minibus ride including myself. I tried my best to have enough rest as the next following day schedule will be pretty hectic. Around mid-morning, we stopped at a rest area that has toilets and also cold drinks with freshly made samosas and mandazis (Kenyan doughnuts).

Along the way through the outskirts of Nairobi, very upscale and modern-looking subdivisions which is very contrast with poverty-stricken areas through which we had been driving. Most of these villas were empty. After descending into the Great Rift Valley we drove to Maai Mahiu for lunch.

On the road.

After passing through Narok Town, our minivans turned left from the comfortable tarmac highway onto a dirt and gravel road that slowly became less and less passable as we went on. The road to the Mara was really bad and we were bracing ourselves with the bumps and the jolts. At that moment, I was telling myself to just endure it because the end goal of this ordeal will be paradise.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with zebras, gazelles, buffaloes, giraffes, woolly-necked storks, widow birds, fiscals, and eagles at every turn. To see the Masai children welcoming us enthusiastically was just priceless and my National Geographic moment starts to sip in again. To top it up was the incredible view of wildlife walking along the horizon in front of the setting sun. My feeling at that moment – stunted, amazed, glorified and I was in tears to be able to see it with my bare eyes.

After the divine moment, we pulled in our campsite at the Mara Conservancy. The facilities were basic – long drop toilets and a couple of basins of water for handwashing. Nevertheless, the setting was fantastic because there were no fences and the wildlife wanders where it pleases. Despite the open camping, we have armed guards that ensure we are protected from dangerous animals such as jackals, hyenas and genets.

My live National Geographic moments!

I cannot have enough of this view. 

After settling down quickly, we continued the night with a game drive. Mara Conservancy is the only place that allows nighttime game drive. A great chance to discover more nocturnal species and activities – porcupines, aardvarks, hares, and various felines. The almost 3hrs drive was epic and we called it a night for Day 9. Again, knackered but satisfying!