Last views of the Mara

 

We took a short break on top a hillside with wonderful views of the plains of the Masai Mara.

 

Darrell enjoying the views with George and Tony

Our safari vehicle while in the Mara.

Herd of Water Buffalo in the Mara

Pack of Hyennas on the Hunt

 

We tracked a pack of hyenas hunting along a creek bank in the Mara.  They are so ugly - but so powerful its scary!

Picnic on the Mara

 

Setting up for a wonderful picnic lunch on the Masai Mara savannah 

 

Our guides - Tony and George - Maasi Warriors.  These guys were so much fun!

Tony with Patricia and Steve with Darrell and Elaine

 

Tony and George - really took great care of us - but gave us such a realistic Masai experience!!

 

George and Tony just had so much pride about their home turf as well as knowledge about caring for the lifestyle they live.  George was selected to go to Nairobi to attend a British School.  He was the guide leader.  Tony stayed in the village and he was the driver.  But they made such a wonderful team!

Black Rhinoceres - The most elusive of the Big Five!

Seeing the Black Rhinoceres was a highlight.  These are the most elusive animals on the savannah.  We watched as this rhino wandered down the hill side - (we could see a little better than the photos show).  With this sighting - we completed the Big 5!  on our Mara visit

Views of the Savannah

The sausage tree - above and below.  With Egyptian geese on the tree limb below.



Vultures arrive on the scene pretty quickly after the cats have finished their meals



Views of the savannah

Waterbuck, in the Mara

The Waterbuck is one of the large antelopes found in the Mara. A member of the "kob" family - they like staying near the river.

A Leopard on the move! In The Mara

A rare encounter to find a leopard on the ground during the middle of the day!  We drove right past this leopard.  Darrell spotted him through the window.  We were just 5 feet away!

We watched as he decided to make a move through the bush.  We actually tracked him - watched him enter the woods then we circled around where he came out on his way to the Talek River.  So cool!

Our guides - Tony and George were really thrilled.  Their excitement was contagious!

Leopard on the move- In The Mara

Taking a crap.  It's part of life.



Marking territory.



Leopard spots really camouflage in the bush.



It is very rare to track a Leopard in the middle of the day.  In The Mara.

Crossing of the Zebras at Talek River, The Mara

The wildebeest lead the way.  Then the zebras follow the heard to cross the Talek River in the Mara

Mara Giraffes

Random views of zebras as seen in the Masai Mara

The Crossing of the at Talek River, in the Mara

We had been waiting for the wildebeest to decide to cross - then just in a flash - there they go!  Leaping down the river bank and making a mad dash to clear the "croc" infested waters.  On the Talek River in the Mara