Kicheche in the Masai Mara

We had a bumpy but interesting plane ride as we watched the landscape change from dry reserves to farmland to the open green of the Masai Mara. They had some rain here.

Upon landing, we met our guide who put us in a land rover for the drive to camp. During the half hour drive we passed several animals, the cutest of which was a mob of mongoose. We also saw hyena, elephants, warthogs, and topi (called tessabe in Southern Africa). Upon arrival, we were escorted to our tent overlooking the river and fields. Trees next to the tent promised a good selection of small birds.

It's nice to see a green landscape

Spotted Hyena

Striped Mongoose

As at Ol Pejeta, this is a real tent placed on a cement slab. We only found one electric outlet, but everything else was perfect. Actually, everything is tented here and we would eat all of our meals under the stars.

Our home for the next three nights

Our first drive just provided more than a taste of what was to come at this beautiful camp in the Masai Mara. The Masia Mara is the Kenyan portion of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. On that first drive we had our very best views of Lilac-breasted Rollers, Secretary birds, and Black-shouldered Kites. It helps that our guide, Richard, is also a birder and photographer. We found a mother cheetah with her three cubs and finished the evening with a G & T while watching a lioness and her two cubs. She had had four cubs, but buffalo got the other two. Even lions have predators and one of the most dangerous is the buffalo.

Lilac-breasted Roller

Yellow-fronted Longspur

Topi

Eland

Secretarybird

Grey Crowned-crane

Black-shouldered Kite

Dinner was most interesting. For the first time, we are not the only guests. We are joined by several Brits and a talkative, opinionated Kenyan who manages the camp. Among the conversation topics were the future of South Africa, Uganda’s present and the role of China as Africa’s source of aid. He is worried about South Africa, especially if Malema gains power. He could turn South Africa into another Zimbabwe especially after all the problems created by Zuma. He said that Uganda is the best country in Africa now. Since they have overcome the killings that were only a few years ago, they seem to have learned to live together and are doing some great things to care for the wildlife and keep the people safe. It’s interesting that Uganda has chosen to support Arsenal as their soccer team. He told us that since Kenya learned that violence is not the answer to political disagreements things are much improved. Corruption is coming under control and crime is way down. Kenya has told China it doesn’t want more aid because of china insist on too much control and require too much use of Chinese workers. These Chinese expectations are good for China, but ultimately leave the recipient with all the maintenance costs and not much in the way of training or actual development.