Tuesday, 1/17/12 - Safari Living in the Masai Mara

We checked out of Flamingo Hill very early and made the 7 hour drive to the Masai Mara. Below are some pictures capturing our drive there and through the very large town of Narok. Since Africa was colonized by the British, steering wheels are on the right and driving is on the left. Again, we passed through many villages and towns, saw many donkey carts on the roads, and even stopped for a flat tire, some gas, and a bathroom break that included a souvenir shop. And per the usual, prices started at $300 and haggling was required.

In the Mara we stayed at Sekenani Tented Camp. Below are pictures of our tent inside and out, and some camp pictures including the monkeys that hung around our camp pool. Similar to Flamingo Hill, every night our beds were turned down and hot water bottles were put under our sheets to keep us warm during the night.

Even with the early start, all of the driving and getting settled into camp, we still had time for a late afternoon game drive. Wow, what a game drive it was! We saw giraffes, zebras, jackals, cheetahs, mongoose, so many elephants in different locations, hippos and lions! We even crossed the border into Tanzania to view lions although I don't have the stamp on my passport to prove it.

On our way back from the game drive to Sekenani camp that evening, I thought I spotted an aardvark and asked Robert to back up. Robert clarified that this was called a pangolin and a very rare sight. He said in his 4 years of guiding he's never seen one. I was ecstatic and instantly became a self-appointed honorary guide! I learned the next day that Robert went back to camp that evening and told all of the other game drivers about our rare sighting.