Having struggled past Tim’s mattress, complete with mosquito
net, we left at 8.00am for our
5 hour journey by matatu to Fig Tree Camp in the Maasai Mara. We made a short stop at a
garage for provisions and another one at a Rift Valley viewing point, before entering
Maasai Mara National Reserve, arguably the best animal reserve in Kenya. Our safari
hadn’t even started, when we saw hundreds of Thomson’s Gazelle, Grant’s
Gazelle and wildebeest. It was the perfect time to go, with the wildebeest having migrated
from the Serengeti. We also saw giraffes and elephants right beside the road, seemingly
unperturbed by our presence. Maasai tribesmen were selling photographs and trinkets.
The Great Rift Valley
The campsite itself was excellent. Each tent was fixed and had a purpose-built shower and toilet block at the rear. This
was definitely luxury camping. The site is in the reserve, but protected by a river/moat
with a wooden bridge across. Our friendly Maasai warrior guide pointed out the hippo in
the moat, before we had a fabulous lunch. It was easy to see why most tourists in Kenya go
there purely for safari. It was also clear that we were getting first class treatment.
Honestly! There is a hippo in here --->
The showers were hot, though a leak outside my tent reduced the
flow to a trickle. We had the first of our two safari drives
between 4pm and 6pm. The team were split between two matatus, and it soon became clear
that our driver didn’t know what he was doing. While the others were being treated to a commentary on
the different animals they were seeing, we were getting lost. Instead of looking for
animals, we spent some time trying to find the other matatu. Eventually, we found it, and
about 20 other matatus, encircling some trees where a pride of lions was at rest. This was
our first lion sighting for most of the team. It was a shame that there were so many other
tourists. We saw thousands of wildebeest, more elephants and a hyena before returning for
another excellent meal.
Anyone Seen a
Matatu?
After dinner, we retired to the bar for tea, coffee and hot
chocolate. The entertainment was provided by Tom, with his lion impression; Amy, with her
hamster impression; and me, with my impression of a bit of bacon. Tim then recounted
Johnny Morris’s Animal Stories from his childhood.
Carolyn and I went on a torchlight hippo hunt, as the others
retired for the evening. We failed to find the hippo, but we could hear the monkeys up
above us in the trees and big cats roaring on the other side of the moat. It was hard to
make out exactly what was what by torchlight, except for the bats, which dive-bombed us,
seemingly attracted by the light.
our
5 hour journey by matatu to Fig Tree Camp in the Maasai Mara. We made a short stop at a
garage for provisions and another one at a Rift Valley viewing point, before entering
Maasai Mara National Reserve, arguably the best animal reserve in Kenya. Our safari
hadn’t even started, when we saw hundreds of Thomson’s Gazelle, Grant’s
Gazelle and wildebeest. It was the perfect time to go, with the wildebeest having migrated
from the Serengeti. We also saw giraffes and elephants right beside the road, seemingly
unperturbed by our presence. Maasai tribesmen were selling photographs and trinkets.
purpose-built shower and toilet block at the rear. This
was definitely luxury camping. The site is in the reserve, but protected by a river/moat
with a wooden bridge across. Our friendly Maasai warrior guide pointed out the hippo in
the moat, before we had a fabulous lunch. It was easy to see why most tourists in Kenya go
there purely for safari. It was also clear that we were getting first class treatment.
While the others were being treated to a commentary on
the different animals they were seeing, we were getting lost. Instead of looking for
animals, we spent some time trying to find the other matatu. Eventually, we found it, and
about 20 other matatus, encircling some trees where a pride of lions was at rest. This was
our first lion sighting for most of the team. It was a shame that there were so many other
tourists. We saw thousands of wildebeest, more elephants and a hyena before returning for
another excellent meal.
