Masai Mara, Mosquitoes and a safari

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The animals and birds at Sentrum Mara in Masai Mara national park were great but we were not sorry to leave as the weather was cool, showery and blustery. Not what we imagined having read our travel agent's recommendation to "bring a light sweater for evenings and early mornings." Luckily, having grown up in England, and also visited there for a few days before leaving for Africa, we had our fleece jackets and raincoats with us but we saw some chilled-looking visitors wearing shorts and tee shirts in other safari vans.



Whilst in Kenya, we have crossed the equator twice. It seemed odd to think that in one spot it would be the first day of summer while a few steps to the south it would be the first day of winter.



We are religiously taking our (expensive) malaria pills even though we have so far only seen two mosquitoes, one (now squashed) in our safari van, and one on the cheese in a hotel buffet. Still, as Keith pointed out, it only takes one bite from one infected female, to release the tiny malevolent beasties into our blood stream so better safe than sorry.



Evening trips from the lodges to look for wildlife begin at 4 p.m. and last until dark (about 6:30 p.m.). Friday's began slowly as far as sightings went and after an hour or so our guide, Richard, turned the van around and said he would take us to see the flamingos. A few moments later he stopped to chat with the driver of another safari van, as he always did, then said "I've changed my mind." He turned the van around again and said "Hold on, we're gong to drive very fast." "What are we going to see?" "A lee-o-paad," he said excitedly - for us or because a leopard sighting is prestigious for the guide? He had already mentioned we had to be back by 6:30 p.m. because once the park gates closed, they would not be opened again for anyone still inside. He drove like the clappers until we reached the leopard tree. At first we could see only his kill - an antelope of some kind - hanging from one of the branches. Then the leopard obligingly moved and we were able to view him through binoculars, unfortunately not close enough for a good photo.

After some minutes, Richard said, "We have to go." By now other vans surrounded us so it took a few minutes and some shuffling to extricate our van. "I have to drive like crazy," he said, and he did despite the 40 kmh speed limit. He stopped to let us "take a quick photo" a group of white rhinos then off we went again bouncing and bumping along the stony dirt road with clouds of dust blowing in the raised roof and Richard's open window. I looked at my watch. We weren't going to make it and I wondered about having to get out of the van in the dark for a bathroom break with lions and hyenas and snakes outside. It began to rain but we didn't have time to stop and close the open roof. Ahead I saw a herd of (big and solid) water buffaloes running across the road ahead of us. If one hit it would be on my side. I clutched the seat ahead of me moments before Richard somehow found a gap and steered the van through. On we went, Richard unable to resist stopping to great each driver we passed and telling them about the lee-o-paad we'd seen. Then he was talking at great speed in swahilli on his radio - persuading the gate attendants to wait for us? We reached the gates just in time to pass through and drove the short distance to our hotel. We recovered from our exciting and bone-shaking ride with a hot shower and leisurely dinner.

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Comments

[Judy and Nigel Blagden]

Lovely photos - seems quite an adventure hope you manage to survive the rather reckless driving!!!!