To end my time in Kenya, my family and I enjoyed a 5-day game drive in two of the most beautiful reserves in the country. Maasai Mara is located in Narok, Kenya and is mainly populated by the Maasai people. It is a largely important region for wildlife conservation and an incredible ecosystem of lions, elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, hippos, birds, and so much more.
We set off on a 4 hour drive from Nairobi to Narok, and entered the gates of the national reserve. Driving through the park to get to our camp felt like an impossible maze of tall grasses and bumpy roads, yet our driver navigated it flawlessly. Arriving at the Ilkeliani Camp, we were greeted by the Maasai staff who showed us to our tent. Our accommodations FAR exceeded the few expectations I had going into this game drive and brought such a unique feel to our trip. Not only was our family sized-tent by far the coolest “hotel” room I’ve ever stayed in, but the hotel lobby, eating area, and patio was a glamping dream. It was certainly a unique experience to have to be escorted to your tent due to a risk of dangerous animal encounters!
We spent the next three days exploring the reserve through early morning and afternoon game drives. While waking up at 4am to hop in our jeep isn’t my typical routine, seeing the breathtaking views, sunrises, and waking animals was all worth any exhaustion. There was something so peaceful about slowly driving around the plains, stopping to observe an animal, and sitting in complete silence and isolation. As the sun would rise, so would the hot air balloons, and we noticed lions, elephants, zebras, and cheetahs migrating, perhaps to find their next feeding spot. One morning we stopped for a breakfast picnic in the middle of the park, laying out a blanket and enjoying the warm sun and endless views. There wasn’t a single sign of other people or animals as far as I could see, making this one of the most memorable picnics I’ve ever had.
Perhaps the highlight of my time in Maasai Mara was the observing a pack of lions enjoy a midday lunch. For the majority of our animal viewings, we were accompanied by 10-20 jeeps of tourists also searching for animals or looking to get the best photographic shot. However, this particular time our jeep was completely alone and we were able to sit for around an hour and observe a family of lions. There were two lionesses who had just previously killed a gazelle and several cubs by a watering hole waiting to eat. The mother lions were dragging their newly captured meal while their little cubs were playfully scampering after them. Every so often they would get tired and stop to rest or drink from a watering hole, and we would silently follow behind them. Getting to watch these lions interact as the only observers in the area was such a once-in-a-lifetime experience that felt like I had walked onto the set of a National Geographic shoot.
On our third day of the game drive and last day in Maasai Mara, our guide took us to the Kenyan-Tanzanian border. Looking out over the Serengeti was breathtaking, and it was incredible to see how expansive the plains and rolling hills were. Near the border runs Sand River, where we briefly stopped to get a great view of a bloat of hippos. Hippos fascinate me since they are blubbery yet vicious animals; so viewing them from a distance was perfect.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed our brief stay in Maasai Mara. The observations we were able to have of animals in their natural habitat was incredible and beats any zoo experience by far. This environment has some of the most peaceful views I’ve ever seen; they honestly remind me of the desktop screensaver views that look fake. Just beautiful rolling hills, African trees, and thick brush. Additionally, our guide, hotel staff, and every person we came into contact with was extremely friendly, welcoming, and kind. People were so eager to share pieces of their Maasai culture with our family and show a hospitality and warmth that was unmatched to any other place I’ve visited. It was not just the animals, and views, but the people who truly made our experience in Maasai Mara one to remember.
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