Tips for Game Driving

Wear a hat that you can tie onto your head

Bring Binoculars!

Bring your camera, extra memory cards and remember your charger!

Hold On!

Sometimes you might drive through a river

Sometimes it's Cold

Sometimes the  cheetah might jump on your vehicle.

Sometimes the elephants will cross the road

Sometimes the animals are right outside the jeep

Sometimes you have to amuse yourself

(Sonja practicing some Safari Yoga)

Sometimes you fall asleep.

Sometimes the driver/guide is really cute.

Sometimes you wait for hours and the animals never cross the river 

stupid wildebeest!

And other times they  are all around you

But at the end of the day you look around at the magnificent landscape and consider yourself lucky
to have experienced it for only a little while.

Sundowners with Elephants

Tonight, our last night at Little Governor's Camp we finally enjoyed the bottle of Amarula that Kevin has been carrying around Kenya for a week.  Beside a beautiful campfire, we sat and reflected on our amazing time in the Masai Mara; the many many animals we saw, the stunning landscape, the visit to the Masai village, the balloon ride and the bush breakfast, the people who took care of us every step of the way and the camp itself which is a slice of heaven were all incredible and the stuff of a lifetime.  Just when we thought it couldn't get any more memorable we were told to be quiet and move back into the bar because there were elephants in the camp!!!  As guards stood by, six elephants including one large bull walked through the camp, past the bar and disappeared quietly into the marsh.  We were all speechless.  Unfortunately, it was too dark for photos but we are leaving Little Governor's Camp with full hearts and incredible memories. 

 

Check out Little Governor's website for more incredible photos:
www.governorscamp.com

Yes, Sir, That's My Baby

Spring is here in Kenya, and the new season brings lots of baby animals.  From warthogs to cheetahs, these babies were just so cute that we had to devote an entire blog post to them!

Topi

Olive baboons

Warthogs

Elephants

Giraffe

A pile of lions and cubs

Cheetah mother and two cubs

Spotted hyena (the cubs do not have their spots yet)

For the Birds

Although many safari-goers come to Kenya to see the Big 5 (leopard, lion, rhino, elephant, and buffalo), others come solely for the birds.  Over 450 species of birds have been identified in the Masai Mara! We can't remember the names of many of our new friends, but are certain at least one of our blog readers will be able to set us straight and properly identify those pictured below.

Southern Ground Hornbill

Secretary Bird

Lilac Breasted Roller

Lilac Breasted Roller in flight

This clever bird caught a mouse for lunch.

Ostriches

Trees full of warbler nests.

Vultures battle over a carcass.

Visiting a Masai Village

Today some of us went to visit a Masai village - we are on their land, after all.  Much like visiting an adobe in New Mexico or Colonial Williamsburg, we were guided through the "boma" (after paying $25 to the chief) and then welcomed by all the women in a village who were singing and dancing for us.  We were encouraged to join them, not sure if it was for our benefit or entertainment for the young men but it was pretty amazing.  And we figured how many times do you get the opportunity to dance with the Masai.   Then Kevin was asked to join the unmarried men in their song and jumping ritual.  We learned that this jumping was a sign of their virility and that the women in the tribe choose their husbands based on this.  Kevin jumped very high..even for a white man.  After viewing one of the huts we exited through the gift shop where Mary honed her haggling skills and literally bought the shirt off our guide's back.  We also learned that Masai are catholics, they only eat meat, milk and cow's blood and do not need to drink water...who knew?