Masai Mara

Masai Mara

One of the well-known reserves in Kenya is Masai Mara. It just means the land of the Masai, one of the tribes. The Masais are cattle growers, nomadic, and wears very colorful attire. They have some unique cultural practices. After a long drive from Nairobi you pass through the arid, dusty open lands through the gravel road to the Masai National Park. All along you see the Masai tending to their flock... huge flocks of cattle one after another; and few wildlife in between.  The park is one of the largest in Kenya. This is very open grasslands, hills after hills. 

Cattle are their wealth and are often marked on their skin with patterns (scars)...

 

These ostriches enjoy the vast grasslands. 

 Masai Mara is popular for the annual migration of Wildebeast and Zebras. They migrate from Serengeti in Tanzania. These two parks are on the border of each country with Mara River in the border. The migration season starts sometime in July, August. But there are many animals which live in the park all year around.  Herds of Buffalos, Lions, Elephants,  Gazelles, zebras, few Rhinos etc..  When we visited  we saw these animals. Enjoy these photos.

This was a treat, as the Cheetah indulging on its prey a poor impala. 

After the sleep these goup of lions were active as soon it was dark.

Group of girrafs... grazing along with Zebras..

This was one of the big herds of Buffalo we spotted.

It's nap time in Mara...

A very big family of over sixty Hippos in the Mara river.

Hey don't push...  Its bonding time when water is less.

Another herd of Buffalos.

Some Wildebeast ... early arivers or stay put in Mara.

You see these funny wild hogs take off through the grass with their tails standing erect as soon as they spot you.

We spotted small groups of elephants all around the parks, most of them with little ones, some may be few days old.