AFRICA- Flight to the Mara, Kenya – 16th Sept 2018 – Day 3

An early start to ensure our gear is loaded on the utility which will take 6 hrs to get to the Mara Camp. We flew in a small plane after a tasty breakfast, to arrive about 11am, to be confronted by 15 safari vehicles going to other camps.

We drove for 30 mins over the bumpy track on the endless grass plain, past various antelope, a multicoloured Lilac-breasted roller and a large elephant family silhouetted against the sky, crossing dry stream beds, now a series of pools lined by trees and thick bush. The plain is well grassed and green, shaded by occasional lone flat topped acacia trees.

The camp comprises tents for a lounge/bar, dining, media, a hidden kitchen, and 8 self contained double bed tents, with shower and toilet, all set on the edge of a gully, shaded by large trees. We were serenaded by cooing doves and numerous twittering small birds. The numerous staff are helpful and considerate. The lunch was so tasty it will be difficult to restrain overeating. The camp manager gave us a rundown on the camp; solar power by day, generator till 11pm. No leaving the tent! Lions have even been through. David gave a run-through on how the week will go, and we then had 2 hrs to sort out gear. I commenced this blog before setting out at 4pm.

We have done well: elephants and buffalo on a lovely stream bed, zebra, impala, topi, warthog, tails in the air, and two very sleepy old lions under a shady bush who didn’t move from 4.30 till 6.30 when we left, and a couple of curious young jackals.

We use two Toyotas; three rows of seats on the rear, one each for David, Ailine and I, plus the driver and David L in the front. The driver ensures we can always shoot out the left side so we have ample viewing. The middle of the rear rows has a seat on the right, cushions on the left, so I could kneel, camera on a bean bag supported on a rail. Very easy to use a large lens. I have taken a lot of shots, still to sort out. I will endeavour to put a few in here later, but time is running out. 7.30, dinner at 8 and up tomorrow at 5.30. (Added final shots Dec 2019)

I have enjoyed today. Privileged to be here and overwhelmed by the stark beauty of this Africa of my birth.

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