Masai Mara Safari – Day 3

On the morning of our third day…a rainbow over our tent!

A Giraffe next to a wild olive tree in the early morning light

Our third and final day on safari was heralded by a brief but intense rain shower just before dawn, which gave way to a beautiful double rainbow and a landscape sparkling with raindrops and spring green vegetation.  In true Safari tradition, we were woken by a soft “hodi (May I come in?)” from the camp staff who were bearing coffee, tea, and cookies just as the sun rose over the wet landscape.  Having slept in the day before, we wanted the boys to experience a true morning game drive.

Awakened by the hot drinks, we walked outside and were greeted by our guide in the truck. As we turned to look back at our tent, we witnessed a beautiful double rainbow.  Film cannot capture the intensity of colors splashed across the sky…we marveled at the hues seemingly painted on the gray clouds above.

For our last game drive, we asked our guide to head back to leopard territory, and spent an hour weaving through a river gorge.  No luck–the leopard was not interested in socializing–and so we headed north towards Aitong and the Mara rhino conservancy. After a long bumpy ride punctuated by a brief snack stop, we reached the conservancy which is located on the side of the mountain escarpment that forms the northern border of the Mara ecosystem.  After climbing out of the truck, we began ascending the mountain with armed guides following.  A few minutes later, the rhino were in view–three adults, and a one-year-old youngster named Kofi Annan who was born when Annan was mediating the election crisis.  Though rhinos are dangerous if not accustomed to humans, with the guards we were able to walk just feet away from these massive creatures, who cared more about grazing than paying any attention to our presence.

Two of the adult rhino, overlooking the Mara plains

Kofi Annan, the "Baby" Rhino

Laurie and the boys in the Rhino sanctuary

The second big cat surprise of our safari was spotted on the way back to camp.  As we were driving along, our Masai guide spotted a chetah, resting after a kill under a bush about 200 yards from the road.  Though we could not see the cheetah at first, we eventually were able to drive just a few feet away and watch as it pondered a nearby herd of Thompson gazelle.  It was clear from the bulging belly and dried blood on its whiskers that this cheetah had already eaten, so we were not going to witness a kill.

The cheetah, resting in the shade with a full belly

A close up...note the dried blood on the whiskers

We reached camp at about 10:30, just in time for a late breakfast and then some packing and downtime as we prepared for the end of our safari.  

After another delicious barbeque lunch on the banks of the Mara river, we loaded our luggage into the truck and waved goodbye to the camp staff as we headed for the airstrip.  Our plane was waiting for us when we arrived, and the boys eagerly climbed aboard for the flight back to Nairobi.  As we flew back, we recalled all that we had seen–lion, cheetah, elephant, zebra, countless plains game and birds–and the beauty of the Mara reserve.  This was truly a wonderful safari for the boys and a fitting birthday celebration for Ethan.

For more photos of our third day on safari, please click here.