The Maasai Mara

The decision to do a safari while in Kenya was one that I will never regret! With a limit on time and funds I decided to do the three day safari to the Maasai Mara in southwest Kenya. It is just north of the famous Serengeti of Tanzania and is 1500 square kilometres, jam packed with the "big five" (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros). As we drove into the park for the first time, I felt as though in a dreamlike state as I literally stepped into a scene from the Lion King (yes, "hakuna matata" is Swahili, the language of Kenya!).

The tour guide and group that I joined picked me up from my hostel in Nairobi and we started the four hour drive on paved roads to start, followed by rough dirt roads to a small Masai village where our camp (named Erkoko, near the Ololainutk gate) was situated. It was really amazing to see the people of the famous Maasai tribe. The Maasai are truly traditional and known as fierce warriors. They have to spear a lion to death as young boys as initiation into manhood! They also drink cow's blood mixed with milk, have distinct traditional dress, multiple piercings, and herd hundreds of cows and goats. The Maasai were truly as fascinating as anything we experienced on our safari. Some of the most memorable moments of my safari were spent talking to the son of the chief and learning about their culture. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maasai_people)

Our group was quite diverse and consisted of a couple from Denmark, a couple from Germany, a couple from Poland and a group of teachers from Spain. The accommodation was very nice and for the first time since France I was treated to my own room (military tent style) with shower! After a quick bite, we headed out the first day and immediately on entering the gate: wildlife was visible as far as the eye could see! I imagined a safari to consist of driving for kilometres, seeing a giraffe, driving a bit further and seeing some gazelle and so on! The truth was that on entering certain areas you would see ten giraffe standing in the meadow with hundreds of zebra, gazelle, elephants and even a pride of lions virtually at the same time! Unreal to see all these animals co-existing in harmony and in such close proximity. We were there for the start of the annual great migration which consists of wildebeest and zebras from the Serengeti migrating to the Masai Mara by the thousands. They walk in single file lines led by the zebras (apparently wildebeests are not the brightest animals!) and cross the Mara river and into the park. It was unreal to witness.

After two full days in the park you actually acclimatize to seeing exotic animals. You become use to seeing these majestic animals from your seat in the van. Three days was the perfect time to spend there and the beauty of the animals mixed with the beautiful culture of the Maasai will remain one of my fondest memories of Kenya. I returned to Canada after a glorious three month trip, rejuvenated and ready for all that my 30th year will bring! Travelling always makes me so appreciative of the life I live and so grateful to be born into the privileged life that I live. Privileged not only to live in Canada but also to belong to my family and a group of friends that are amazing. After the long journey home it felt so good to hug my parents and brother. In the back of my mind I am still vaguely aware that after a catch up with family and friends, a hot shower and a sleep in a comfortable bed; soon enough I would be longing to return to Africa. It's my favorite destination in the world and somewhere I hold very dear to my heart.