Laurie and the boys on the flight line at Wilson Airport with our plane in the background
As a birthday present to Ethan (and in fact to the whole family!) we took the boys on a safari to Masai Mara in early May. For three days we had a wonderful time exploring God’s creation together–the Mara was a bright spring green following the long rains, there were many baby animals about, and the boys loved the adventure of the flight, game drives, and “camping” in a tent!
We flew down to the Mara on a small bush plane–though it is possible to drive, the roads can be bumpy and we didn’t want to arrive at the camp tired and carsick. It was amazing to fly at just 4,000 feet above the ground and watch the landscape rolling slowly beneath us. Upon landing, an open sided LandCruiser was waiting to take us to our camp. Jonathan had met the owners of Royal Mara Safari Lodge a few months prior, and we didn’t regret our decision to stay with them. We had our own huge tent suite built on the side of the Mara river which was fitted with hand carved furniture crafted from local wood. From the teak deck we could watch hippo and crocodile in the waters below. The father and son team who run Royal Mara are working with several other camps in the Mara conservancy area to preserve the natural habitat against the encroachment of farmers, overgrazing by cattle, and unscrupulous investors who seek to build mega camps in ecologically sensitive areas.
Laurie on the drive from the airstrip to the camp
Wildebeest...Cavorting in the Spring Grass
Laurie and the boys on the master bed in our tent
After settling into our tent, we climbed back into the truck for a short drive to a “bush lunch” set on an untouched bend in the Mara River. Refreshed, we set out on our first game drive, working our way across plains and through riverine valleys as we searched for big cats. Early on we spotted plentiful plains game–zebra, waterbuck, antelope–and the stunning Lilac Breasted Roller. We also surprised a group of three adolescent giraffe as they munched through the local acacia trees.
Lunch...on the banks of the Mara River
Off on our first game drive
Lilac Breasted Roller
Adolescent Giraffe
After two hours of exploring, we found a small pride of lion resting amongst shrub near a river. An adolescent male was in a spotting position in the grass, but the pride didn’t seem all that interested in hunting. Nevertheless, we spent a half hour amazed at the beauty of these animals. The sighting was particularly exciting for David, who loves the Jan Brett book “Honey, Honey, Lion!”
Adolescent Male Lion
As the sun set on the lion pride, we worked our way back to camp against a stunning slate blue sky. Dinner was waiting for the boys in the tent, while mommy and daddy were planning for a later evening candlelit dinner. Those plans had to be put aside as David was not comfortable with sleeping in the tent knowing that his parents were going to slip away with a strange babysitter in place…and so we improvised a late dinner on the porch instead. Despite the last minute change in plans, our first day had been a success, particularly for the boys who were beginning to like the adventure that a safari brings.
For more photos of our first day on safari, please click here.
Dusk on the Mara plains
