One of the adventures we recently had as a family was safari! Tuesday we headed out to Masai Mara for two nights of some serious fun! We stayed at Mara Safari Club which is where my family has been staying for years. It was so fun to get back there and to see all the friends we have made over the years. I had not been there since December 2006. We packed a picnic lunch for Tuesday and left about 9 am to head out to the Mara. After arriving we drove around for a little while looking at the animals and then went to our favourite lunch spot. We enjoyed our picnic lunch sitting out on the plains of Africa by the Mara River with several hippos napping on the river bank below us. Was so much fun!!!
My Mom, Chris, Me and my brother Chris eating our picnic lunch
After lunch we headed to the Club to get checked in and moved into our tents before the afternoon game drive. The Club has changed ownership since I was last there, so it was way fun to walk around and see all the changes all over the place. It is such a nice place to stay! The Club itself has been re-decorated and re-modeled in several areas but the service is still wonderful and the people are still so friendly. And of course the food is still outstanding! After getting checked in and to our tents we all rested a little while before heading out to find our friend and driver, Jeremiah, for the afternoon game drive.
Our room at the Club
We left for our afternoon game drive just about 3:30 Tuesday afternoon. We were so excited to get out on the plains in a safari vehicle (a open sided and open roofed Land Cruiser) with our driver Jeremiah. We saw lots that first afternoon. Elephants, Lion, Zebra, Giraffe, Wildebeest and so much more! It was a beautiful afternoon. Chris loved the experience of being out on the Mara and seeing things that he had never seen before in the wild. Nothing can express the feeling of being out in the Mara and the view of the plains just rolling with no end in sight. It is an awe inspiring experience for sure.
Some of the Elephants we saw that first afternoon
After our game drive we came back to the Club with just enough time to shower and get ready before heading to the main lodge for dinner. They served dinner outside by the pool and overlooking the river that night. Something that they hadn't done when we were there before! It was a wonderful dinner of chickpea soup, salad, Crocodile meat, beef, curried lentils and rice, and a wonderful assortment of desserts...all followed up with some yummy Kenyan tea. Felt like we were eating like royalty!
Sitting outside for dinner by the pool
Wednesday we opted, after talking with our driver, for the full day safari. That means we were out all day on a game drive and drove a couple hours down into the actual Masai Mara Game Reserve. Mara Safari Club sits on a Conservation area and not in the actual park. We were able to find Cheetah down there and see a mom and cub resting in the mid-morning heat. Then we headed down to the Mara River to see if any Wildebeest were crossing. July through September is the time of year that the Great Migration takes place between Kenya and Tanzania. Thousands of Wildebeest and Zebra cross each year. We had heard from others at the Club who had gone on long safaris that there had been no crossings for a couple of days so we crossed our fingers that there would be some activity going on. When we got the first crossing place, we were amazed at how many vehicles were already there just waiting. Some had been waiting since morning, some for days! We were also amazed at how may carcasses littered the river. Several of the animals end up drowning while crossing the river or get taken down by Crocodiles that reside in the river. Vultures and other birds of prey were EVERYWHERE feeding on all the animals that were floating down the river. Was an amazing sight. Within just a few minutes of arriving a large group of about 2,000 animals began crossing. What an amazing sight it is to see the Great Migration. As soon as that group had finished crossing, our driver knew of another crossing spot in the river and raced us over there hoping we hadn't missed the group that had been gathering there to cross. We were the first vehicle there and had a front row seat! It was amazing. We were right next to the river and right next to the area where the group of Wildebeest and Zebra were congregating before crossing. We got to see the whole routine. All the animals would head down to the river to drink and check it out...then get spooked and they would go thundering away....then work their way back down to the water....etc. This happened 4 or 5 times before finally a few brave Wildebeest just charged straight into the water and led the crossing. Was a brilliant experience! I wish you all could have been there to see it as words just can't express the sounds and feelings that take place during something like that. After the second crossing, about 2,000 more animals, was finished we headed out to find a place to eat our sack lunch sent with us by the Club. We found a nice spot in the bush by the river and enjoyed a yummy lunch with our driver. After lunch we started working our way back to the Club.
The second crossing we saw as it was just beginning
After arriving back to our tents we all showered and took a bit of a nap before it was time to get ready to head to dinner. Dinner was wonderful again! We had broccoli soup, salad, our choice of beef and potatoes, salmon, curry, or pasta, and a special made dessert of cashew nut torte...just for us! My family also surprised Chris and I with a special anniversary cake. The kitchen staff lovingly prepared it and when the time was right all the dining room and kitchen staff came carrying it out singing Jambo Bwana and an Swahili anniversary song. It was so special and such an awesome experience! We will treasure that forever!
Thursday morning we had a wake up call by Club staff at 5:45 in the morning. At the Club the staff come around at dinner in the evening and take your order for the wake up call. You tell them the time and what you want and then someone will be at your tent to wake you up! They brought us hot chocolate and cookies to help us get going on that cold morning. We were out at the vehicle by 6:15 to head out for the morning game drive. We were out on the plains before the sun was up! Not a whole lot was happening that morning, but we did see a big bull Elephant, several Hyenas, and some Lions. The sunrise was beautiful over the plains. A little after 8 we headed back to the Club for breakfast and to pack up and move out of our tents. Was sad to end our last game drive and say goodbye to our friend Jeremiah. We packed quickly and loaded the car then headed to the pool to hang out until lunch. We had fun just relaxing by the pool, swimming, and playing games before lunch. We ate a wonderful lunch and then headed out to come back to Tenwek. We are so thankful for the amazing time that we had and for safety in all the traveling!
Our family (minus Dad) with our safari vehicle and driver Jeremiah
Chris and I are down to one week left in Kenya! Hard to believe how fast our time here has gone. I am already praying for grace and peace as we have to say goodbye and leave for at least a year. It's so hard! Please pray with me that we will have the grace and peace we need as we leave. Also, please pray for my dad as he is traveling a lot the next few days due to mission responsibilities around the country. He will be back at Tenwek Sunday night. Monday morning we will all leave for Nairobi and Wednesday night Chris and I will fly out. I will try to write again before we leave.
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
Lizz
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