January 3, 2010 to January 5, 2010
Masai Mara, Kenya
After meeting the other members of my overland group in Nairobi, we loaded into pop top minivans and headed to the Masai Mara Conservation area. Those of us starting in Nairobi are joining about ten people who have been trekking with gorillas in Uganda. We consist of 1 German, 1 Austrian, 2 Kiwis, 4 Australians, one token American--me--and the rest are Brits, totaling 19 travelers. Mostly of the group is in their mid 20s to early 30s.
Acacia, the overland company, uses local operators for parts of the tour. We drove to a permanent tented camp with cots and hot water bordering Masai Mara and went on a game drive, where we saw this lion cub, which was only a few days old, and mother.
The next day, we saw the same lion cub and mother. The mother was clearly having trouble picking up the lion cub; it's possible that she was a new, inexperienced mother. She was trying to pick it up at the back rather than at the nape of the neck. Sadly, an hour after I took these pictures, an eagle carried the lion cub off. I still can't believe it: it was the cutest cub I had ever seen (and, truth be told, the only lion cub I have ever seen)! It's true that lions eat cheetah cubs, and after all, the eagle had to eat too, but I was really sad to hear that it was snatched.
Masai Mara, Kenya
After meeting the other members of my overland group in Nairobi, we loaded into pop top minivans and headed to the Masai Mara Conservation area. Those of us starting in Nairobi are joining about ten people who have been trekking with gorillas in Uganda. We consist of 1 German, 1 Austrian, 2 Kiwis, 4 Australians, one token American--me--and the rest are Brits, totaling 19 travelers. Mostly of the group is in their mid 20s to early 30s.
Acacia, the overland company, uses local operators for parts of the tour. We drove to a permanent tented camp with cots and hot water bordering Masai Mara and went on a game drive, where we saw this lion cub, which was only a few days old, and mother.
The next day, we saw the same lion cub and mother. The mother was clearly having trouble picking up the lion cub; it's possible that she was a new, inexperienced mother. She was trying to pick it up at the back rather than at the nape of the neck. Sadly, an hour after I took these pictures, an eagle carried the lion cub off. I still can't believe it: it was the cutest cub I had ever seen (and, truth be told, the only lion cub I have ever seen)! It's true that lions eat cheetah cubs, and after all, the eagle had to eat too, but I was really sad to hear that it was snatched.
The following day, we again saw the lioness. Not to be too anthropogenic about it, but it seemed like she was being consoled by a member of her pride. Better luck next time.
In other news, I tried to sneak out of our campsite this morning for a run. I knew it was prohibited--there are buffalo around, which can be dangerous--but, on the other hand, local Masai live and work nearby. In fact, I had just seen a herder pass with a group of cows. Needless to say, although I left before the sun rose, I was herded back by an irate staff member. It quickly became a running joke in the group; "So, Maria, are you going for a run?" someone would ask, to much hilarity, every time we were in a game reserve / area.
Books read: When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present by Gail Collins
Birds spotted: Lilac breasted roller, Grey-crowned crane
No comments:
Post a Comment