Jambo, Welcome to the 3rd installment of "My Great Kenya Adventure"! (Jambo is Swahili for Hello!) If I go back to Kenya, I believe I will take a course in Swahili. Most Kenyans speak three languages. Kenya was formerly a British Colony, until they got their independence in December 1963. English is taught in all the schools and Swahili is the national language. In addition, many of the villages have their own language, or dialect. 

Before I continue with my day to day accounting of this "Great Adventure", one of the readers asked if we felt safe during the Safari, or did we feel we were in any danger? I thought this was a good time to relate one story that happened to a few people in one of the vehicles. There was one scary moment that involved a Black Spitting Cobra. One of the vehicles had stopped to look at some game when all of a sudden the Black Cobra raised up to window height to spit its venom. The young lady at the window jumped back with a scream. The venom did not hit anyone and the Cobra immediately crawled into a hole and out of sight. The vehicle I was in pulled up about 2 minutes later and the Cobra was gone. Our guide said in his 25 years of guiding in the Masai Mara he had never seen a Cobra before. A close call that gave everyone a story to tell. As far as the Safari Vehicles are concerned, the game accepts them as just part of the landscape, albeit a moving landscape.
Lion

The 6th day of the adventure we were able to sleep in an extra 15 minutes. The first game drive of the day left at 0530. We started the day looking for Lions, and we were not disappointed. We had found a rather large herd of African Buffalo with an obviously injured one slowly trying to keep up. It was limping and falling further and further behind. Stalking it was a couple of female lions. One of them crept closer and attacked. The Buffalo did its best to hold off the Lion and let out a few bellows for the herd to hear. About a dozen broke from the herd and came to his defense. Seeing them rapidly coming to his aid, the Lion backed off and put a lot of space between them. African Buffalo in numbers are not to be trifled with, by even a fully grown Lion.

It was time for breakfast on the Savannah and our Guides found a nice spot. We were eating, talking and laughing when one of the Guides noticed a pride of Lions moving our way. Breakfast fixings were quickly packed up and everyone was back in the vehicles before they got too close.

Saw the herd of Buffalo again and witnessed a battle between two very large males. Quite a sight to see. Shot some nice Ostrich photos on the way back to the camp and saw a beautiful Long-tailed Widow Bird on the Savannah.

After another great lunch and a couple hours of down time, we started on our last evening game drive on the Masai Mara. I can not emphasize enough the quality of our Guides/Drivers for the success of the Photography during this adventure. The sunsets on the Mara were fantastic. I have heard that sunsets in Africa are the best in the world, and I believe it.

Topi at Sunset
Back in camp, we were treated to a fantastic evening meal and desert. The Masai performed a traditional dance of the warriors and the entire staff came together for a parting celebration. The Masai gave me a name while I was there, Lolparpit. I have not had a haircut in over two years, and it is quite long now. Lolparpit was the name of a Lion with a rather large, bushy mane.

One last game drive before we head to the airstrip to fly back to Nairobi. A few final hours on the Savannah and then back to camp for our last Breakfast on the Mara. It was phenomenal, and a great way to end our stay at the Mara Olapa Camp. We came upon a Cheetah walking on the road, with a Lion following. The Lion did not have a chance with the Cheetah, as they can not run near as fast. The Cheetah kept ahead of the Lion whenever he approached a little too close. Pareet said it was only the second time he had ever seen a Cheetah on the road. 

Secretary Bird Pareet knew that the one bird I had been hoping to see had not shown itself. Jonathan, our Guide/Driver for that morning, got on the radio and it was only a few minutes later that we were driving rapidly to the spot where two Secretary Birds were eating. These Guides are amazing. If you want to see something in particular, they will get on the radio and if any guides on the Mara have spotted it, away you go.

Back to camp for Breakfast and load our gear on the Safari Vehicles for the short drive to the airstrip. A one hour flight to Nairobi and then a 5 hour drive to Amboseli National Park. It will be a long day....  The plane came in but had a flat tire. The flight was delayed 45 minutes while they repaired the tire on the runway. The Kenya Airways flight made two short stops on the hot flight to Nairobi. 

Please join me for Part 4 of My Great Kenya Adventure for the drive and a couple of days at Amboseli National Park. You won't want to miss it.

Please click on the following link to view all the photos I have processed from the Great Kenya Adventure: jimwalkerphotography.smugmug.com/Travel.../Kenya-/