After a long day yesterday, we drank some strong Kenyan coffee and had an early breakfast before heading to Wilson Airport in Nairobi. It’s a cozy little airport, a stark contrast to the sprawling giants we’re used to. But that’s because our real adventure was about to take off, a flight in a tiny plane landing on an even tinier dirt airstrip right in the heart of the Maasai Mara!
We finally arrived at the stunning Mara Serena Safari Lodge! After a whirlwind journey, checking into this beautiful lodge felt like stepping into another world. Three whole days to explore one of the best wildlife reserves on the planet. We can’t wait!
As we walked to our room, we spotted playful baboons and furry hyraxes, a taste of the incredible wildlife encounters to come. The room itself blew us away. Beautiful décor and the view! Oh my goodness. We opened the curtains to reveal an unbelievable panoramic view that seemed like miles stretching out before us.
After a delicious buffet lunch and a little rest, we unpacked and got ourselves prepped for our first epic game drive in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Here we come, adventure!
So, it turns out working with so many photos and videos after each incredible sunrise and sunset safari takes longer than I had expected so I’m a little behind. However, preserving these memories is priority number one, wouldn’t want to lose proof I actually saw a lion up close (and wasn’t just daydreaming in this heat!)
Besides, between game drives, delicious meals, and soaking up the scenery, who has time to be glued to a laptop? Honestly, creating lasting memories feels way more important than capturing every detail in the moment. But fear not, my friends, the blog will rise from the ashes and I’ll get it all written up eventually.
Speaking of capturing moments, my iPhone has been surprisingly good at whipping up these cool little video reels. Who knows, you might see some of those pop up on a YouTube channel near you soon!
The game drives here are just breathtaking! Each one is around two hours, and we usually do one or two a day. Let me tell you, our first Maasai Mara adventure completely blew Nairobi National Park out of the water. It was ten times the wildlife, ten times the awe!
But the real star of the show was our guide, Joe. This guy knew more about birds than I knew existed! He could identify everything from a tiny lilac breasted roller to a majestic Steppe eagle soaring overhead. And his knowledge of animal behavior was incredible. He’d point out subtle interactions and explain the fascinating social dynamics unfolding before our eyes. We couldnt have been more pleased with him being our guide for three days.
Today’s game drive was everything we dreamed of and more! We spotted ten different wild animals, each one more incredible than the last. Our six-seater jeep, with our awesome friends from our cruise (one Aussie and four Americans!), was the perfect way to experience it all. It’s amazing how well we’ve all been getting along, sharing the thrill of every sighting and the laughter in between.
One of our first spottings was a beautiful yellow-bellied sunbird. This tiny bird, with its vibrant colors, was a real charmer, kind of like a hummingbird on steroids! Right next to it, munching on some grass, were a few adorable bushbucks. These spotted deer-like creatures seemed genuinely curious about us, stopping to check us out as we snapped photos.
And just to make sure we weren’t ignoring anyone, a chorus of grunts erupted from the far side. A bunch of warthogs, with their hilarious little snouts, were letting us know they were in on the action too. It’s truly incredible to see how all these different animals coexist in the wild, each playing their part in the amazing circle of life.
The undisputed highlight? Lions! The Maasai Mara is home to a staggering 850 to 900 lions, making it one of Africa’s biggest lion populations. They live in social groups called prides, with the lionesses handling most of the hunting and the males acting as territorial protectors.
We learned that when a female brings down particularly large prey such as a zebra or buffalo, the male steps in to assist. Some even have a system to corner them if the prey is too large.
Our adventure truly began after about 30 minutes cruising through the sprawling pasture of land. 150,000-hectares of emerald green grass with unique trees and shrubs was incredible. Then, the moment we’d all been waiting for, our first lion sighting!
The thrill was exhilarating! There were actually three lions, lounging lazily amidst the tall grass, only we could barely see two of them. They barely acknowledged our presence as if they see humans all the time. One did grace us with a few yawns and a quick scan of his surroundings, like a king surveying his domain (which, I suppose, he was!). We were all mesmerized, completely captivated by his beauty and didn’t want to leave! I’m sure I took 20 or 30 photos of just him. While we didn’t witness a hunt we did get treated to a display of yawning lions. It was almost comical how many yawns we saw. Guess even the king of the jungle needs a good nap after dinner!
Despite the lack of roars, seeing these incredible animals up close was breathtaking. We were practically close enough to touch (although let’s be honest, that wouldn’t have been the smartest move!).
The best part? The three jeeps in our group worked together seamlessly. The drivers were all-stars, positioning their vehicles perfectly for everyone to get incredible photos. The open-air jeeps added to the experience – we could stand up inside the jeep for a panoramic view or snap pictures from our seats with open windows. There was no jockeying for position, just a shared sense of wonder as we all observed this magnificent creature. Our group had the best experience.
With unforgettable memories etched in our minds, it was time to explore further. Our next encounter was a solitary giraffe. These gentle giants are rarely seen alone, so our guide assured us her herd was likely nearby. And sure enough, using our binoculars, we spotted them in the distance. The guide promised closer encounters with elephants, and he wasn’t wrong!
Before long, we stumbled upon an elephant herd. Watching them interact was pure joy. Their movements powerful yet graceful, their social bonds were heartwarming.
Our incredible two-hour game drive was winding down, and a delicious dinner awaited out in the bush, not in a fine dining restaurant. As we headed back, we passed a hippo pool, a muddy haven for these gentle giants. We could barely make out their forms, but luckily, one was outside the mud taking a stroll, giving us a full view. Honestly, with the scorching 82 degrees and soul-crushing humidity, I couldn’t blame them for wanting a mud bath!
One is well hidden
Back at the lodge, the excitement continued! On the walk to our room, we spotted a troop of playful baboons, the adorable rock hyraxes, and a red-headed agama lizard! This “superhero” of the reptile world, with its stunning colors, put on a brief but dazzling display before dashing off.
Dinner was a bush barbecue under the stars, complete with amazing local entertainment. We had a blast interacting with everyone, but there was one detail a little different from our usual dining experiences, the bathroom facilities.
Apparently, toilet paper was BYOR (bring your own roll), and more importantly, for safety reasons, bathroom trips involved an armed escort. Not exactly scary, but definitely an unusual experience. The real shocker, though (according to our friends who braved the adventure), was getting locked in the bathroom by the escort during use! This was for their safety but thankfully, for my sake, nature didn’t call for me that night. Whew!
Back in the room, things got interesting again. The staff thoughtfully set up mosquito nets around our beds (we’re taking malaria meds just in case, but better safe than sorry). Then came the window security briefing. Apparently, the baboons are skilled at unlocking windows. So, both top and bottom latches had to be engaged at all times when outside the room. We will definitely make sure that gets done!
Tomorrow promises an early morning game drive and breakfast with the hippos – this safari just keeps getting better!
May God bless you always!
Chuck & Lea Ann
WorldTravelReynolds 