Um, Joseph, I may need your help!

 ‘Um, Joseph, I may need your help!’

 ‘It’s so good to be home again’ whispered Mary as we drove back into our luxury mobile camp. There is nothing like the feeling of having your own private camp, with your own private staff and your own private view across the Mara plains. I could feel everyone was excited about the Mara. Joe, Amanda, Seb and I had all raved about it and now we were there and had to produce the goods! I would love to take the credit for it but actually the Mara itself produced it for us. We had an incredible time with wildlife viewing that can only be described as out of this world.

It was the wildebeest that surprised us most. Not by their social behaviour (because that will never change – they are very intelligent!) but by their movements; unbelievably the migration had arrived. I would not normally expect it until mid to end July but this year it seems to have moved North early. And I am not talking about a couple of thousand, we were in the midst of 300 thousand. I think it really became clear when we did the hot air balloon. The high vantage point allows for a spectacular view across the savannah that was literally teeming with animals. Landing in the middle of several thousand was awesome whilst the champagne breakfast set under a lone tree overlooking some wildebeest crossing the Mara River was a special treat.

So in between the wildebeest we were after some felines and we certainly found them. We saw lions in big prides as well as small, mating as well as sleeping and huge black maned males as well as tiny cubs. For me the most memorable moment was finding a pride of 7 lion atop some rocks 50 feet above ground level. You could almost see them looking over towards the nearing wildebeest licking their lips and saying ‘Christmas has come early!’. Their focus was changed pretty swiftly though as I sunk my trusty landcruiser into a big muddy hole right below them. Begrudgingly, and I say this because you never want to ask another guide for help as you know you will never live it down, I had to call Joe to the rescue! The cubs looked on in curiosity as we (these strange bipedal mammals) waringly scampered around the cars attaching tow ropes and offering advice on how to get out. A quick tug and we were away, my pride only slightly knocked. The lion lifted their heads again and checked on the wildebeest as though we were of no actual interest at all anyway.

As for the spotted cats it was great to see the 3 cheetah brothers. Although they were lazing around under a gardenia tree they rolled about and groomed themselves allowing for some lovely photo opportunities. There was a very quick glimpse of a leopard but the grass was so long it disappeared with the usual stealth. On a sadder note we did see a dead serval cat. On closer inspection it had definitely been killed by another cat with the obvious bite marks to the neck. For what reason we don’t know. 

The Mara is never complete without sundowners. With Gin & Tonics in hand we toasted to Kenya, its wildlife and new friends that have been made. I look forward to seeing the Pressman family again soon.