Maasai Mara

 Saturday April 18

Another early morning game drive, left at 7.30. See the usual suspects but then find some ostriches as well as a big herd of Cape Buffalo where we get quite close. This is followed by a herd of about 12 elephants and then it is off to pick up those who did a balloon ride. We are going deep into the reserve this morning and head towards the Mara river to view some hippos. As we get close to the river it is getting very muddy and slippery and we managed to get bogged After a lot of spinning we break free but the tracks are very slippery. We do get to see a couple of hippos in the water, but it is too muddy to get any closer.

The main roads in the reserve are gravel but they do get rutted and develop some large potholes. Off the main roads are dirt tracks where vehicles drive through the long grass and these are muddy and bumpy in areas. Our vehicle is fitted with all terrain tyres while the other two have mud tyres which give them more traction. We press on and come across a very large bull elephant just off the road. Onwards we go passing herds of topi. 

There must have been a lot of rain last night because the tracks are very muddy. Abdi gets word of a pride of lions so the three vehicles head off onto nothing more than tyre tracks through the long grass. We head in a long way to a cluster of trees, shrubs and bushes along a creek. There looks like a treacherous crossing to get to the other side. Because of our last experience Abdi is a bit reluctant to try it.

One of the other vehicles goes ahead. It is a steep muddy downhill drive and then through water over the track and up a steep slope on the other side. The vehicle takes off and guns it just before the water and then bounces and slides its way up the slope almost bottoming out on a couple of deep holes going up the slope, but makes it. The other vehicle looks for another way while the first vehicle heads along towards the shrubbery. Abdi is undecided. Nothing can be found and as the vehicle starts to move on I and Luggy see a lioness walking towards the bushes. We alert Abdi who radios the other vehicle and directs them to the area. They drive around a bit and then park- they have found her. The other vehicle comes back and makes the crossing almost tilting over. We try to get close from our side but can not get a good view. Abdi decides to give it a go!

He tells us to hang on tight. We start off slowly but near the bottom he speeds up through the water and we slip and slide and bounce our way through. Wheels spinning mud starts to come in through the open roof as we duck, some quicker than others. Having got through it is still a treacherous ride to where the others are. One moves off and we get a great view of the lioness feasting on a dead buffalo.

Now we have to find our way out to a gravel road. It is not easy as the grass is high and you cannot see any gravel roads. We come across a particularly slippery and steep part and almost slide front on into a bush but Abdi manages to get us through. We seem to be getting somewhere when Abdi gets a call on the radio one of the other vehicles is stuck and needs assistance. We head back and the vehicle is bogged side on across the track right near the bush we just missed. We pull it out and head on our way eventually getting to a gravel road. 

We arrive back just after 12.30. What a morning! 

What will the afternoon bring.