Masai Mara

Did you notice the little thing that looks like a mailbox on the side of our lodge? It’s the door they deliver our wake-up coffee through! We met Charity, Susannah and Chris in the bar to plan what we wanted to see, and were served yet more coffee (always with hot milk). A hot air balloon floated low over the camp, 4 others were visible in the distance ($600 per person — for about an hour’s ride!). Shortly after leaving camp we drove past the hyena den, where the babies and adults were out and about. We spent some time down at the edge of the Mara River, as did several other vehicles, because the wildebeest were herding up and moving around restlessly nearby. A crossing looked imminent … but didn’t happen until later that afternoon, we heard. Among the rapids we spotted a couple of hippos and several wildebeest carcasses. I read that of the 1.5 million creatures that migrate, 250,000 wildebeest die each year — and the river crossing is the most dangerous place due to steep banks, strong currents, and hungry crocodiles.

We came back for a late breakfast, then had our first real break. Time to shower, write, organize photos, rest, and have a leisurely lunch. The wildlife that lives within the camp’s fenced perimeter includes warthogs, mongoose (banded and dwarf), monkeys, and tree hyrax. We had seen rock hyrax at our Serengeti lodge — cute little critters resembling rabbits without the long ears. Here they live in tree hollows, are nocturnal, and make a shrieking noise that sounds like someone is being murdered! A mama and 2 babies were visible in the large tree by our lunch table, while the warthogs grazed on the lawn (kneeling because of short neck muscles) and a group of banded mongooses charged by.

Off on an afternoon game drive at 4:00, and another sighting of the elusive black rhinos as three of them slipped into the bushes. We returned to camp in time for a Maasai performance around a fire near the bar — popcorn and drinks served all around as we waited for it to begin. At supper, we were shown to a special table all set up for — you guessed it — another birthday celebration!Читать далее