Lake Masek - more wildlife while departing the park

Robin's chat bird

Giraffe cross the road

Jackson Horn Bill bird



Thompson's gazelle grazing on the plains

 

two White headed vultures in the top of an acacia tree

Tawny eagle in flight

crowned plover bird

Lake Masek Tented Camp - our favorite tented camp!

Beautifully decorated.  The shower was outside

Our tented home - very luxurious!  Spacious and well appointed. 

 Lake Masek was our favorite tented camp.  Also the food was wonderful!  The chef was a woman - Veronica. The tents were double screened with a screen on the deck then another inside.  Less chance of bugs.

Additionally - the camp is more isolated.  We were not surrounded by safari vehicles all day.  Also - we were not required to stay on the road.  By going off-road we were able to get a much closer view of the animals.

The skies were so clear - we had views of the stars and the Milky Way

Lake Masek - views of the lodge from the lake

 Lake Masek is a salt lake and has no outlet.  The water comes from the rains - but the ground has "soda".  The acidity makes the lake salty.

views from the deck of the lodge

 

Map of Lake Masek

Lake Masek - The Masaai warriors kill and cook a goat for our group

The Masaai warrior first smother the goat.  This stops the blood from flowing

They begin skinning the goat

The intestines are removed in tact.

Sections of the goat are staked near the fire for cooking.  Acacia herbs "Masaai Medicine" are mixed in water to cook the internal organs of the goat.  The men ate the kidney raw.

The hide will be used by the tribe.  Every part of the goat was used.

Darrell and members of our group await a taste of the goat

Darrell tries a bite

Comradery of the tribe along with our guide and drivers

Lake Masek Game Drive 11 - Views of the plains

The shy dik dik

Views of the plains just south of the Serengeti

Acacia Trees

A goat herd blocks the road as we return to the lodge

Lake Masek Game Drive 10 - Our last glimpse of the abandoned baby lion cub

Our last glimpses of the abandoned baby lion cub

 We have always known about Survival of the fittest and the laws of nature in the wild.  But this was an unbelievable example. Our guide did not think that this baby's mother was a part of this pride.  Frequently the other lioness in the pride will help care for the babies.  Or perhaps this baby was ill.  We will never know why - but we were really sad to drive away and leave this helpless baby along on the plains.

The older the giraffe - the darker the coat.  This giraffe's coat is almost black

The two males from the pride have just moved into a shaded area of the scrub of the plain



The alpha male



An amazing up close photo of the younger male

Lake Masek Game Drive 9 - The Lion hunt and kill

A Bohor Reedbuck at the water hole has caught this hungry lioness' attention

The lioness took off and quickly chased the reedbuck

Success!  We have just witnessed a hunt and kill by the lioness.

The lioness with the reedbuck seeks a protected place to eat the prey

The lioness takes several minutes to rest before starting her feast



Darrell and the guys in the other vehicle

One of the other lioness is interested in the prey - but the lioness that killed the reedbuck is not sharing

Lake Masek Game Drive 8 - More Lions - The mothers and babies

A rest under the shade tree for the mothers and babies



The cubs nurse

Marital Eagle watches the lion pride

This mother lion is roaring

Lake Masek Game Drive 7 - The mother and cubs cross the marsh

The watering hole in the marsh

Nile monitor lizard swims past the wading birds

a heard of Bohor Reedbucks at the watering hole

The 2 male lions leave the resting place.  They leave the tiny baby behind

The female lioness and cubs emerge from the marsh

Mother lioness and baby

Lake Masek Game Drive 6 - The pride abandons the baby cub

Its obvious that the lionesses in the pride are totally ignoring the little baby



The larger cubs play with the little baby



The lionesses lead the larger cubs across the plain and cross a marsh

The little baby cub is left behind.  The male really does not pay any attention to the baby

The alpha male