Blogs from Masai Mara NP, Rift Valley Province, Kenya, Africa - page 20

Africa » Kenya » Rift Valley Province » Masai Mara NP November 12th 2005

12th November This morning we met up at 07.00 for the journey from Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara national park. Unfortunately I am feeling rather delicate due to the sensitive nature of my bowels. Which adds stress to what I am warned will be the bumpiest ride we go on. The roads are not expected to be good and there are many potholes and other obstacles. I’ve had an Imodium and rehydration sachet so I’m all bunged up and ready to face anything! We headed southwest about 300km. We branched off at Nairobi. We came down a fair few hundred metres which took us back toward the more barren flat landscape that had been seen at Amboseli in the south. Early on, not far out of Nakuru the landscape was varied and green. As we headed ... read more

African Safari

Africa » Kenya » Rift Valley Province » Masai Mara NP November 11th 2005

Masai Mara

FatSad

...Jambo from Kenya.... Day 1 - Friday 11 November Woke up at 4:00AM, taxi arrived to take us to Heathrow after about 3 phonecalls..!! check-in BA and into the lounge. Flight was an hour late leaving. Arrive in Nairobi 9:30PM, go through immigration - no hassles & then a long wait for the bags (last ones as always..!!) Simon & Lawrence from Kenia Tours picked us up at the airport and took us to “Termial Hotel” in Nairobi town centre, driving past locals (women selling their wares..!!) Checked into the hotel (quite late by now, past midnight) and have a entertaining night - hotel was next door to a Disco so locals partying & music & car horns blaring till 4:00AM… another sleepless night. It was the first night we practise brushing our teeth with bottled ... read more

Mommy, I don't feel so good...

Africa » Kenya » Rift Valley Province » Masai Mara NP September 22nd 1999

Grant's Gazelle (Gazella granti)

grantcorp

This morning I don't feel so well and decide to stay in bed while the group goes on the morning safari. In the afternoon we hike over to the nearby Masai village to have a look around and are welcomed by Big Moses and his fellows. There is a market where you can buy some trinkets and we are invited inside one of the traditional huts made of cow dung to look around. Apart from the door there is only a small window and it is absolutely pitch black inside even though there is a fireplace in the middle of the room. As we crowd some fifteen people inside you could be forgiven to think you were inside a sauna. The visit to the village was extremely interesting and the Masai very friendly, and the fact ... read more

Just whose hip bone is that?

Africa » Kenya » Rift Valley Province » Masai Mara NP September 21st 1999

White-bearded Wildebeeste (Connochaetes taurinus)

grantcorp

Immediately after getting dressed and getting out I talk to some of my neighbours about last night's strange sounds. To my relief I have not yet turned insane, since more people have heard it. Confronting our guide at breakfast he laughs and explains that sometimes a leopard will come passing through the camp at night on its way to its hunting grounds. I am not sure that I should feel relieved by this information or not. To break the routine we will do a daytrip to a nearby river where we hope to spot hippos and crocodiles, and we will bring food with us. On the way we stop over at a nearby lodge, presumably to stock up on foodstuffs or other supplies. The lodge complex is very classy and the guests live in proper cottages. ... read more

Masai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi)

Oh look, it is a yellow-tufted, brown-bottomed, lesser francolin!

Africa » Kenya » Rift Valley Province » Masai Mara NP September 20th 1999

The undisputed king of the savannah

grantcorp

We repeat the method of early morning and afternoon safari as yesterday. I am disappointed at the fact that everybody is now blasé and bored of the "common" animals and are ranting about the big five and where to spot them. The car will speed past fantastic groups of antelopes and gazelles as if they were cows ruminating next to the freeway. Everytime I ask if we could stay for a picture everbody seems completely surprised and almost bored, which pisses me off. When I return I will have a car of my own, and I will take the time to appreciate these fantastic animals in peace. Mr. Wahlstedt, our main guide has a keen eye for birds, so keen in fact that whenever he points out a great snake eagle or huff puffed pointy buzzard ... read more

South African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

Where do you pee at the savannah?

Africa » Kenya » Rift Valley Province » Masai Mara NP September 19th 1999

The classic view of the wildebeest

grantcorp

Early morning rise and time for the first safari. After a quick and cold shower we are on the way, and it is still quite cold before the sun will rise. You might want to bring a sweater. Finally the chance to see some animals in action. Not really knowing what to expect we sigh with amazement and look around at every creature we see, stopping to take pictures like crazy. This would be the make or break for me trying out my brand new camera, my first auto focus SLR. Every time we stopped to take a picture six of us would be facing on side and this little old woman would look to the other side. We would stare at the animal in question, drop comments like "oh, it is so beautiful" and snap ... read more

Brief history of Kenya

Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence until his death in 1978, when President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 196...more history

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