This is a view of the Rift Valley from the road towards Narok on the way to the Masai Mara game park
from Nairobi. The Rift Valley is part of the extensive fault system running all the way up to the
Dead Sea in Israel, and is the site of much of the discoveries of early hominid life forms by
anthropologists such as the Leakey family.
The view from the back of the minibus on the way to the game park shows
some typical buildings and vehicles.
We stopped in the conveniently situated town of Narok to fill up with
petrol before our first day in the park.
The Olper Elong camp site was to be our home for the next two days,
admirably looked after by Kiprono and the other staff. The camp is
located a ten minute drive from the main entrance to the Masai Mara
game park.
Enjoying some refreshment in the mess tent - our group of eight was
very multi-national, with representatives from England, the Netherlands,
Sweden and India.
At the main gate, it is necessary to stop and deal with the payment
of park fees. The local Masai women take advantage of the captive
audience waiting in the minibus to ply their wares, including bead
necklaces and bracelets. They do not appreciate being photographed
without some reward - these two received some money after this shot
was taken. The Masai are now setting up 'tourist' villages where visitors
pay a fee to enter the village but are then free to take as many photos
as they wish.
The first of the thirty-two species we saw in three days were lion.
These lionesses are relaxing in the midday sun. When one vehicle stops
to look, invariably others will turn up to see what's going on.
The definite highlight of the visit to the park was our first sight
of the majestic elephant - a small family group walked out from some
bushes to wander across the track in front of our vehicle. The weather
was just turning and rain had just started when this picture was taken.
It took a while before we came across these giraffe in late afternoon
of the second day.
This wonderful old bull elephant approached our vehicle to the apprehension of
most of the inhabitants except Patrick, our driver, who happily sat there with
the engine switched off. We needn't have worried - the elephant wandered alongside
and started munching on a bush, providing the perfect photo opportunity.
This is one of the posts marking the border between Kenya and Tanzania
running through the park. In the foreground is Tanzania, and the Serengeti
National Park - in the background is Kenya and the Masai Mara game park.
Presumably the wildebeest don't bother showing their passports when
migrating across the border in their millions each year.
And finally - you've not truly been on safari until you have to get out and
push! Our vehicle got stuck in the mud the morning after the rains, and
it was all hands to the pump. Fortunately, we were in a wide open space
with a good view of any approaching wildlife.
