Day 4 May 9, 2025 Lake Elementaita to Masai Mara
Breakfast this morning begins at 6:30 with departure at 7:30. We have about a six hour drive to Masai Mara which is a huge national park. The park borders the Serengeti in Tanzania and is home to the great migration of wildebeest which occurs in July. Thankfully they do stop for the wash room. Of course it is at a shop and snack area. Lots and lots of carved and homemade items.
It rained heavily in the night so everything is wet. At least it didn’t rain while we were out yesterday. We had only gone a short distance when we encountered a van stuck in the mud. It was blocking the road. The passengers had begun taking items out of the van to lighten the load. Our guides got out to help. They had a brand new tow rope that they used to pull the van out. It seemed a little touch and go at the time but they did succeed. Surprisingly the guides remained clean. They road was definitely more muddy today.
The sights along the way are interesting. Schools don’t seem to be in every village. Some have bright yellow buses. These are the private schools. The public schools don’t have buses so most of those kids walk to school. No bikes or scooters. There are still lots of trucks delivering goods to the outdoor markets. They are very loaded. The markets look to be selling just about everything. One town was having a special market where livestock could be sold.
Lots of farmland along the way. The fields look well cared for. Often people are out working by hand. We don’t see many tractors.
We made a short stop at a hot air ballon shop so those going on the balloon ride tomorrow can sign the waiver and receive their briefing. Rob is going but Connie is not.
Road construction is a little different. The ruts are being patched in one stretch. The workers wear bright vests and are scattered along the way. Not a flagger in sight. No warning signs and no heavy equipment. Not sure how long the repairs will last.
Our accommodation for the next two nights is at Mara Leisure. We ate lunch here before going to our rooms. We are just outside the park so we are not to cross the bridge. A small river runs along the units. The units are very large tents complete with bathrooms. Hardly what one would call roughing it. The beds are covered with mosquito netting which at this time of day is held up.
At 4 pm we get in the vehicles and head for the park. We are met at the gate by numerous ladies selling items they have made. Once inside the park the sales ladies are gone. Lots of four wheel vehicles here. Lots of tour companies but the vehicles all look similar. They all put their tops up just after entering. The park is large with only a few trees. Lots of tall grass that waves in the breeze. Some is taller than others based on animals in the area.
A baboon met us just inside the gate. Then came a few lone male antelope of one type or another. Too many types to keep them all straight. They are all close together and seem quite peaceful.
Some of the roads in the park are good dirt roads. Others are a couple of tire tracks. It rained here last night also because some of the ruts are full of water. In the distance we could see several vehicles in the same location. So off we go. The drivers talk to one another but some are better about it than others. We nearly got stuck trying to take a short cut. When we got close a park ranger was in the road. Our guide says we were not to go cross country without permission of the rangers. Lucky for us that they gave their permission.
When we go the sort distance to the top of the rise we could see all the lions and their kill. Two of the young males had killed a full grown water buffalo. At least six lions were eating on the carcass. The ones that made the kill weren’t allowed to eat yet. They were laying off a ways from the kill. We were so close we could have reached out and touched them. At least six vehicles were in the area. Of course they all wanted front row seats. The sight was so remarkable. We didn’t see the kill but impressive all the same. Hyaenas and jackets were in the distance. They wanted in on the feast but the lions weren’t ready to quit. Hyaenas and jackels often work together to clean up once the lions quit. We watched for quite some time before leaving to look for other animals.
Next came a large male elephant. Like most males he was not with the females. They weren’t far away however. Several young ones were with them also. A really little one was so cute. Our guide guessed it to be less than a week old.
Another herd of giraffes was making its way along a ridge. Beautiful sight against the cloudy sky.
The sky in the distance looks threatening. At one point a double rainbow appeared. The rains did come for a few minutes on the drive to the lodge. The sunset was gorgeous. Somehow it never rained on us during the time in the park.
Dinner was a buffet at the lodge. When we returned to our tent, the beds were turned down and the mosquito netting was in place. Internet access is only at the lobby so no posting. Tomorrow for Rob is a very very early morning so off to bed early.
Spoffords Travel 