NidalM Photography / Blog / Travelography / The Mara

The Mara

Posted by NidalM on Sep 11th, 2009 | 21 comments

Traveling south from Lake Nakuru, we made our way through some amazingly terrible roads to the most densely populated animal reserves on the planet. The Masai Mara. Just 3 hours from Nairobi to the edge of the game reserve, it is a credit to the Kenyan government and conservationists at how untouched the Mara is. The reserve is connected to the Serengeti in Tanzania and is named after the indigenous tribe that calls the place home (and the people featured in my epic tale of trading cows for female attention), the Masai.

This was quite possibly the highlight of our trip to Kenya, which is why I’ll be devoting another two posts to it. The next one will feature more Masai wildlife (and some of the same ones in new poses ) and the final one will follow the life cycle of the Sarengeti: The wildebeest migration, where millions of wildebeests will cross over from Tanzania to Kenya (without passports!) in a trip that drives the ecosystems of the two countries.

Of course you didn’t come here to hear me ramble on… here’s your pics!

When I said there were a lot of animals, I meant seriously a LOT of animals. Every now and then you drive into a small valley, filled with hundreds of beasts just moseying about, eating and resting.

Brief sparks of intelligence? Or is it inborn. And antelope stands guard on a high rock as the rest of its herd rests (look closely, they’re all there). Poor guy, guess he drew the short straw this time. Makes you to wonder, do they have a watch system, when the next antelope will get up to relieve this one of duty? Or is this like that poor Asian guy we all have at the office who does all the work while everybody else stands around the water-cooler.

A family of elephants slowly makes its way across the plains. Oh there’s a tree there too. And a Giraffe. And a ninja. But don’t bother looking for the ninja.

“YOU’RE NEXT!!!”. Ironically, that’s the same look and phrase my aunt said to me at my cousin’s wedding.

A giraffe munches on some leaves as others from its herd stand guard. I found out that giraffes don’t fast during Ramadan. Hmm.. come to think of it… I also don’t think I saw them at the Hajj either…

Ostriches are extremely shy. They’ll start walking away at any approach of humans. I don’t blame them, after seeing the size of that bird, I’d love to try those drumsticks!

A lion sits on a hill, surveying the land around him. An outcast from the main pride, he keeps close to the main group of lions for to freeload of the food the lionesses bring in. And the will also stalk the pride to get…. umm.. “at”.. the females. Man, sorry to use the Urdu terminology, but Mufasa is such a Kamina. (Is there an equivalent to ‘kamina’ in English?)

A watering hole in the northern (and greener) part of the Mara which has been taken over by the local birds. These watering holes are part of a seasonal river, which dries up in August.

A hyena walks by our car as we move past the dried up river. This Hyena has something that might inconvenience it and other in its pack! No, not herpes… A collar! A van marked “Hyena Research” followed close behind.

As long as we’re talking about animals with negative reputations, here’s a couple of jackals we almost ran over.

Walking along like they owned the place were these “Secretary Birds”. Despite their names, I feel the birds are seriously deficient in typing and Microsoft Excel skills.

Fastest creature on land (unless you’re considering Saudis on the road, late for iftaar). If you’re one of the two people in the world that can’t identify this animal, get off my internet.

Sunset at the Mara, at the end of our first day there.

And that was just Day 1 of the Safari. Stay tuned for another post highlighting the animals of the Mara as well as the Main reason we were there in the first place: The Wildebeest migration!

Tags: kenya, masai mara, safari, wildlife

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http://precognitive.wordpress.com/ Qusay

Nice, but what is a kamina?
http://precognitive.wordpress.com/ Qusay

Nice, but what is a kamina?
http://sophiaali.blogspot.com/ Sophia Ali

As usual…Wonderful…
http://sophiaali.blogspot.com/ Sophia Ali

As usual…Wonderful…
samaher

ohMG i wanT ME that elephant so cuteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

i love that you get to live the wildlife , educated and fun
can't wait for more travel adventures
samaher

ohMG i wanT ME that elephant so cuteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

i love that you get to live the wildlife , educated and fun
can't wait for more travel adventures
Chiara

Fabulous! And we're going to Mombasa! (“This river lives in Mombasa” best line in which film?)

“Mufasa is such a Kamina”–translation?
Chiara

Fabulous! And we're going to Mombasa! (“This river lives in Mombasa” best line in which film?)

“Mufasa is such a Kamina”–translation?
SarmadR

damn you abdullah!!

AWESOME!! u friggin saw…nay, Witnessed a Lion a Cheetah and what not!! i bloody hate you man!!
you're living my dream!! get out of it!!
SarmadR

damn you abdullah!!

AWESOME!! u friggin saw…nay, Witnessed a Lion a Cheetah and what not!! i bloody hate you man!!
you're living my dream!! get out of it!!
susanne430

Great pictures! I love these updates soooo much!!
susanne430

Great pictures! I love these updates soooo much!!
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

It's sort of like a guy who uses the most underhanded methods to get what he wants. Usually in the domain of love, money and power
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

It's sort of like a guy who uses the most underhanded methods to get what he wants. Usually in the domain of love, money and power
http://purple-headphones.blogspot.com/ Soumz

lions are just big kitties!! look at him, dont u want to scratch behind his ear??
http://purple-headphones.blogspot.com/ Soumz

lions are just big kitties!! look at him, dont u want to scratch behind his ear??
Nabil

Some of the best photography I have seen!
What camera and lens do you use?
Nabil

Some of the best photography I have seen!
What camera and lens do you use?
Nabil

Some of the best photography I have seen!
What camera and lens do you use?
Nabil

Some of the best photography I have seen!
What camera and lens do you use?
http://twitter.com/sumi_k08 Sumayya Khalid

i am so so so jealous of u -_-.
AMAZING work tho