Journey from Kisii to the Masai Mara

A pale yellow full moon graced the black, tree silhouetted horizon, and myriad stars blinked in the inky pre-dawn sky as I arose at 5am for our long day journeying to the Masai Mara for an eagerly anticipated safari drive in the late afternoon and evening. The horizon then turned almost imperceptibly into a translucent mango orange edged with strawberry pinks as the truck engine roared into life and we departed the Itobo Resort campsite for the next adventure. The headlights of the Kisii early morning rush hour traffic bounced and bobbed over the muddy road, with old style motorbikes, the vehicle of choice for young African men, along with vans filled to bursting with brave souls clinging to the outsides. African mornings are filled with a humming vitality of human life, people setting up their street markets, engaged in lively conversations and bartering their produce. The road then wound it's way up into the mountains and we looked down over valleys filled with billowing white cloud seas. We descended into thick mists as some of us travellers on the bus debated issues relating to the UK general election happening that day, ways of managing the economy and the NHS. We drew out of the morning mists and entered an area of large heavily cultivated fields stretching into long wide plains dotted with clumps of acacia trees, and the shadows of clouds beneath a strengthening sun. We arrived in Narok which seems to be a way-station for travellers to the Masai Mara, and had a large number of 'street cattle' mingling easily with the busy traffic. We bought lunch in a local supermarket and then boarded our safari vehicles, small green vans with lift up rooves for viewing the animals, and set off with our friendly driver. Alex, for our accommodation, Mara Springs Safari Camp, in the Masai Mara reserve.Read more