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After an early start - up at 4.30 am - we had breakfast and made our way to meet the 4-wheel drive Land Cruisers. We were to return to our camp at Lake Naivasha two days later, so we were able to leave the tents erected. After a very bumpy 2 hour ride, we met up with the three Land Cruisers, and our guides for our three days in the Masai Mara. We made our way to our camp at "Siana Intrepids," our base for the next 2 nights. On arrival, around noon, we had a complimentary cold drink, and were shown to our "tents," Tents they were, but any similarity ended there. They had en-suite shower and toilet, large comfortable beds, veranda with easy | |||||||||||||||||
| chairs and electricity (for most of the time anyway) and bedroom furniture that rendered you very liable to injury if you were to try and move it !! It was an early opportunity to recharge camera batteries etc. (Note: As it transpired, there were numerous opportunities to charge batteries over the course of the next two weeks - so along with a plentiful supply of batteries, it is advisable to bring your battery charger with you.) After a very pleasant lunch, we had time for a little relaxation and take in a talk by one of the local Masai warriors, who worked at the camp. |
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At 4pm - we were off for our first game drive We made our way into the Masai Reserve, and saw our first lion, not a very impressive sighting to start - he was asleep! Nearby we met up with the lioness and her cubs resting at the roadside. We watched the cubs at play for some time before the lion we had seen earlier started roaring nearby. The lioness responded, and a short time later, the lion strode past - looking much more impressive than he did at our previous meeting. We also saw, amongst others, impala, gazelle, mongoose, buffalo and a lone elephant, though he was some distance away. A tremendous start to the holiday. | |||||||||||||||||
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That evening, with everybody
on a high following our sightings that afternoon, we had dinner,
during which one of our group, Claire went through an honorary
Masai naming ceremony - which involved some Masai dancing (on
Claire's part anyway) Claire, who quickly picked up
the Masai "jambo" beat, was given the Masai name of
"Nashipia," which mean "happiness."
(That's what Claire
tells me anyway !!) The evening was
completed with a dance display by the local Masai. A very
energetic display, with the familiar jumping (spotted one or
two potential centre-backs amongst them) which - thankfully - we were
not invited to
join! After a very satisfying day, it was another (relatively)
early night, though we were promised a "lie-in" the
following morning, not getting up until 5.45 am !! |
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