16

Kenya: A Maasai Mara Safari

We’re in a tiny airplane. I’m in the front seat just behind the co-pilot. There’s a steady engine buzz and cool blast of air covering my neck in goosbumps despite the African heat outside. We’re below the clouds. Rays of sun light up the stunning landscape of the Maasai Mara beneath us, sweeping green and brown hills, lone trees and clumps of trees, small buildings scattered at random with glinting silver roofs. A dirt road slices through, every so often occupied by a tractor or two. The land dips into crevices, rolls along. It is unlike anything I’ve seen before.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist
Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

A few minutes later we’re coasting down toward the dusty Mara North Concervancy Airstrip where we’re greeted by two Maasai guides who will be with us for the next few days: Josephet (our driver) and Kappen (our spotter).

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

We take our drive out to the Offbeat Mara camp in a slow and roundabout way, curving and bumping along the rough trails, sometimes cutting off into the grass and making our own. Somehow, despite the lack of signage and the vast amount of space we covered over the next few days, we never got lost.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

On our way to camp, we spotted gazelles grazing on grass, wildebeest, warthogs (like Pumba!) darting off into the distance with their antennae tails up in the air, a pride of 8 lions and two other males on their own standing guard (very lazily), zebras crossing in front of us in herds, giraffes poking around in tall trees in the distance, an ostrich or two with their human-like legs and some eagles nesting. Just before we arrived, we came across a mother and baby elephant.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

It’s truly humbling to see these incredible creatures in the wild. The lions looked so cuddly (an allusion, I know), the giraffes graceful and playful with their long lashes, and the elephants quite clumsy.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

With the open rooftop and windows of our jeep, we absorbed the constant noises – the chirps, clicks and guffaws. The open land stretched on for miles, as far as we could see.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

If you look on the ground, it’s littered everywhere with bones, carcasses, skulls, horns, evidence of the cycle of life at work.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Our guides got out of the jeep twice to pick up bits of plastic that somehow made their way from other jeeps onto the grass. They said it may have blown over from a nearby mall (nearby meaning, what, like 100 miles away? Because there was no life in sight apart from other safari-goers and all the animals…).

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Later, we arrived at camp where we were met by the lovely Kyle and Lara, their sausage dog called Ponto and two more of the Maasai who greeted us with cold towels and glasses of lychee juice. We stayed in an eco-friendly camp with a bucket shower, natural soap and thick wooden beds. I’d highly recommend it!

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

In the mess tent, we gathered for a delicious dinner each night and tea some afternoons. We were out each day with private guides, so meal times were fun for sharing stories with the other guests. We met a Dutch/American couple, another American couple, a British family and an Australian gynecologist / MSF doctor. All of them were busting with incredible travel stories and amazing life experiences to share. We really enjoyed the company of each and every one of them as well as our hosts who really personalized our experience there and made us feel welcome.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Our first night, we went out on a sunset drive and stopped nearly right away in front of two massive male lion brothers just lounging in the grass near a couple of lionesses and a ton of cubs. Apparently they can give birth to 14 at a time.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Then a herd of buffalo came into sight, one with guts hanging out (ah, nature) and then more zebras, gazelles, baboons, a monkey or two, colourful birds like kingfishers, eagles and guinea fowl. Apparently there are some 550 species of birds in the Mara (of which our Josephet can identify approximately 330 – pretty impressive!).

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

The highlight that evening was sitting in the jeep, drinking gin and tonics and watching one of the elusive leopards getting ready to jump down from a tree and stalk some nearby gazelles. Eventually we drove closer and he jumped out of the tree right in front of us.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

That night, it was absolutely pitch black as the guard walked us back from the tent guided by lanterns along the edges. Looking up, the magical bright stars of the Milky Way were scattered across the sky. All night, the sound of wild animals near the tent – the trumpeting of elephants, the grunting of warthogs, the skimpering of a monkey (whose paw prints we found on our tent in the morning) and the unmistakeable roar of lions. We heard over breakfast the next day that the guards had spotted a hippo in the camp that night as well.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

The following day, Josephat and Kappen packed up our breakfast and lunch and picked us up bright and early to spent 11 hours out in the Mara. It was freezing in the morning (like winter coats freezing…) and sweltering in the afternoon. The sunrise, bright orange with a fiery ball on the horizon, was breathtaking as it cast a calming glow over the landscape.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

After a while, we stopped for a picnic breakfast under a small lone tree, next to a herd of zebras grazing and a random ostrich. There, in the middle of nowhere, we ate eggs, bacon, sausages, toast with peanut butter and muesli with yogurt. Yup, all of that.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Later that afternoon, we stopped for a picnic lunch of chicken drumsticks, salad, couscous and biscuits while we were overlooking a river full of hippos and crocodiles.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Some of the highlights from our second day were seeing another leopard (poor thing had a leg half eaten from a fight with a lion), a group of hyenas feasting on the bloody, torn carcass of a wildebeest which was more or less just a skeleton by then, more male lions with their heads held high in a proud gaze or sleeping with their heads on their paws like sweet house cats.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

We also spotted two black rhinos which are endangered and a rare sight considering they only come out every six months or so and are otherwise in the forest. There are only about 5,000 left in the world (although this is up from some 2,500 back in 1993). They are majestic creatures, truly surreal to see in real life with their massive horns and 1.4 ton bodies.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Of all of the animals we’ve seen, the one I’d probably least like to have an encounter with is the crocodile. They creep me our with their muddy, camouflage brown skin, gaping mouths stretched open to cool down, sitting completely still like the buskers on Southbank who pounce when you least expect it. And we saw a lot of them.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

They were hanging out quite peacefully with families of hippos, popping in and out of water with bubbling noises. We saw a family of elephants crossing nearby, the little ones slipping in; the grown ups offering their trunks to help them up again.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

The landscape itself is diverse, sometimes lush, sometimes sparse, full of exotic trees and miles and miles of open plains and savannah. It’s dotted with buffalos, impalas and wildebeest chilling out as the great migration begins to take place during which an estimated 1.5 million wildebeest make their move across the nearby ecosystems. Along with them, 400,000 zebras and 200,000 gazelles migrate at the same time.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

On our last morning drive before flying down to Mombasa, we stopped briefly so that Kappen could gather rocks to protect two vulnerable eggs left by a Crown Plover bird.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

 Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Driving on, bouncing over rocks and tire tracks, we stopped again to cut the engine and look for cheetahs – the only animal we didn’t get to see on our short visit that I had really wanted to spot.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Such silence when the engine wasn’t running! Heat glimmered across the horizon and we spotted eight giraffes then, with their elegant long limbs and flirty eyes.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Lunch was another picnic, this time above the bend in a muddy river, under a bright blue sky, surrounded by lush green foliage, a croc-in-waiting at the edge of the water, holes made by birds along the riverbank wall and about 20 hippos bobbing in and out of the water, just the tops of their backs showing, like boulders.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

And before we knew it, we were boarding another tiny plane (the first of three that afternoon) to Mombasa for a friend’s wee-long Hindu wedding ceremonies on the coast and a case of food poisoning and hospital visit I won’t soon forget.

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

Maasai Mara, Kenya by Stephanie Sadler, Little Observationist

As for the safari, I’d go back in a heartbeat. The Mara was such a peaceful place, but also dangerous and raw and exhilerating – an experience unlike any other. I’ll write a second post soon about the Maasai people, so stay tuned for part 2. (If you’re interested in organizing a trip of your own, get in touch with Rose Hipwood from The Luxury Safari Company!)

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16 Comments

  • Reply
    Art Farm
    September 23, 2015 at 4:47 pm

    Steph, your photos are absolutely stunning!! Wow! I’ve always wanted to go on a safari, but after reading your words and seeing your photos, I know I need to make this a priority in my life. Good to have you back. And I love the site redesign. It looks fantastic! xo, Katie

    • Reply
      littleobservationist
      September 23, 2015 at 5:50 pm

      Aw, thank you so much – about the photos and the site! If you have the opportunity, do. It’s really not what I expected at all and it was so worth it. Hope all is well with you! 🙂 xoxo

  • Reply
    Diana Mieczan
    September 23, 2015 at 5:25 pm

    Oh my goodness, I’m speechless…totally and utterly incredible and beautiful. I agree with Katie, your photos are stunning and I’m about to send the whole post to Balazs to read. I’m so daydreaming about safari now… Welcome back, darling. xo

    • Reply
      littleobservationist
      September 23, 2015 at 5:50 pm

      Thank you Diana! You’re so sweet. I hope you and Balazs get to go one day. I’d definitely recommend it. Hope you’re having a good week! xo

  • Reply
    Ashley Fitzgerald
    September 23, 2015 at 8:08 pm

    Truly beautiful photos and storytelling of your adventure. You’ve sucked me in!

    • Reply
      littleobservationist
      September 23, 2015 at 8:25 pm

      Thanks so much, Ashley! If I managed to suck you in with such a long post, that means a lot 🙂 x

  • Reply
    Chris
    September 27, 2015 at 11:30 am

    I did this trip in July – my fourth visit to http://www.offbeatsafaris.com properties. Josphat was our driver/guide too and we had a brilliant time. Despite being my 10th African safari, I still saw more game than I’ve ever seen before. That’s the wonder of safari – you never know … you just never know. I very much enjoyed reading your account and think you’ve captured the experience brilliantly with excellent photos and commentary. My photos for my visit to two other properties in the Offbeat family (Sosian on the Laikipia Plateau and Meru – of Born Free fame) are the first two albums here https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctmlondon/albums If you loved the Mara experience, you’ll love these two as well. My Mara photo album is nearly finished and will be up soon at the same url.

    • Reply
      littleobservationist
      September 27, 2015 at 3:35 pm

      Hi Chris, Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to leave a comment and link to your photos. I’ll go have a look now. We’d love to go again one day. I can see why you’ve done 10. It’s so different from any other type of travel experience. Funny you had Josphat as a guide as well! 🙂

    • Reply
      littleobservationist
      September 27, 2015 at 3:40 pm

      Just checked out some of your Flickr photos. You have some really incredible shots. Especially love the ones of the lions eating the carcass…! Thanks again for sharing those. Makes me want to book another one asap!

      • Reply
        Chris
        October 20, 2015 at 7:11 pm

        Hi thanks for the nice comments. I’ve finally finished my Mara album – the latest album here https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctmlondon/albums You’ll see, amongst other things, the Offbeat Pride’s cubs a couple of months younger than when you saw them.

  • Reply
    sheloveslondon
    September 28, 2015 at 11:19 am

    Absolutely amazing photos – this is one trip that’s definitely on The List. Especially like that you got to see nature just going about its business – just brilliant.

    • Reply
      Steph
      September 28, 2015 at 11:40 am

      Thank you so much! It definitely deserves a place on The List. I hope you get to expereince it one day. You’d just love it. x

  • Reply
    Offbeat Mara – Kenya | Hunt for Design
    September 29, 2015 at 9:30 am

    […] Check out amazing pictures from Little Obervationist. […]

  • Reply
    Janice Chung
    October 17, 2015 at 5:07 pm

    Fabulous trip report and photos. I can’t get the picture of the bug out of my mind! It was so colourful! Like your other readers, it is a MUST on my list of trips.

    • Reply
      littleobservationist
      October 20, 2015 at 12:37 pm

      Hi Jan! Nice to hear from you. Oh, you would love it on safari! I hope you get to go one day.

  • Reply
    Interview: Joseph Lepore - Little Observationist
    November 4, 2015 at 11:36 am

    […] (along with his spotter Kappen) was an amazing guide for Jorge and I when we went on our safari in Kenya. We became Facebook friends because he loves to take photos when he’s out in the Maasai Mara […]

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