by Leigh Murray, Associated Press (2006)
 '…
The short drive from the airport to Kicheche Mara Camp, which
provided our lodging and tours to see the animals, was itself
a mini safari. We spotted hippos lolling about in the river, giraffes
strolling across the plains, and antelopes and gazelles watching
curiously as we went by.
Kicheche which houses up to 22 guests is not your ordinary bush
camp. The secluded tents have a double bed and private bathrooms
with flushing toilets. Deck chairs out front allow you to soak
up the view across the sweeping plains. Unfenced, the camp often
finds itself hosting hungry wildlife roaming in search of food.
We were awoken the next morning by camp staff—local maasai
warriors—who would deliver tea, coffee and biscuits to our
tent just before sunrise. Shortly after, it was time for our first
game drive of the day.
…. Setting off in a customized four-wheel drive our guide
Ronjore found a secluded spot where he laid out our continental
breakfast as we watched dozens of hippos bathing in the Mara river.
Behind us, giraffes chewed at the treetops.
… An added novelty for my wife and me – coming from
our current base in the polluted and chaotic Thai capital, Bangkok
– was the Mara"s incredible tranquility, with the few noises
heard often just the distant roar of a pride of lions.
We came across one group of elephants and managed to stop within
10 yards from where they were resting in the shade. A baby elephant
was lying under his mother, sleeping. The mother maintained a
stare which we knew was a sign to keep our distance. We had no
intention of pressing the issue and slowly drove off.
As we soaked up the clean air and kept our eyes peeled for other
big game ……. We came across a huge pride of lions
slowly walking across the plains. Several big females, closely
followed by about a dozen cubs and young lions, with the male
head of the pride not far behind. They eventually stopped under
the shade of some overhanging trees, providing us with the perfect
viewing spot. The cubs playfully wrestled with each other, while
another sought the attention of its mother, who obliged by giving
the youngster a quick wash.
As we continued our drive across the Mara …….. a
couple of hundred yards ahead of us, we spotted a leopard lazing
high up in a tree, its legs flopped either side of a branch. We
managed to get a little closer, but the leopard – generally
shy and elusive – slipped down the tree and into the deep
rough terrain below.
…. Later, as the sun began to dip, we headed out again
to enjoy a traditional ‘sundowner". Sitting in our four
wheel drive, Ronjore popped open his cooler, handed us each a
gin and tonic, and we settled in to watch a group of elephants
on the side of the hill eating the trees as the sun set.
Back at camp, we showered before joining the rest of the guests
around the campfire where everyone shared stories of their day
in the Mara. A huge dinner followed, and then back to the fire
for more drinks. |
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