The location of this Maasai Mara safari adventure is in SW Kenya and it is comprised of the northern tip of the Mara Serengeti Ecosystem. Maasai Mara safari reserve is contiguous with the much larger Serengeti National Park that lies south of the border in Tanzania. Indeed, Maasai Mara forms a small 1500 sq kilometer section of this greater 25,000 sq kilometer ecosystem.
Due to the abundance of wildlife in the reserve, Maasai Mara creates some of the best game viewing in the world. Indeed, Maasai Mara safari is a world class experience year round. We had an excellent guide and we were first on the scene for some thrilling wildlife viewing. Follow along below, see the photos and learn how you can have the same high quality adventure.
After our arrival at the Maasai Mara Sopa Lodge we set out immediately to get in a late afternoon game drive. We were in luck because we would soon learn that our guide was one of the best in Kenya.
Maasai Mara Safari – Day One
We soon encountered this giraffe trio who were fighting among themselves. After dishing out a few blows they took a short break to pose for a photo.
Lions at Maasai Mara
While we enjoyed observing these amusing giraffes, I noticed our guide had taken a keen interest in something on the horizon. After confirming his intuition with the binoculars, we moved in for a closer look. As we approached, he explained that he had seen lion cubs standing on a termite mound. Naturally, as we moved closer their shapes began to take form.
The lion cubs seemed keenly interested in something off in the far distance. I could not see or hear anything, so I was a bit perplexed by what was going on. Then the lion cubs began to quickly trot off towards whatever it was that they were observing.
Our guide began following the cubs……
Tracking Lions to the Kill
Some questions that were in my mind included: What were these cubs doing away from the rest of the pride? What were they looking for? When would we find the adult lions? As we were pursuing the lion cubs, our guide told us the details.
- The cubs are usually left alone while the adults are out hunting game
- The cubs were in fact leading us back to the adult lions
- Although inaudible to human hearing, the cubs could hear from a couple kilometers off in the distance that the pride had made a kill
- The cubs were in fact leading us to the kill!
Then sure enough, we drove right up to a fresh kill that the pride had made. Fortunately, we were the first ones on the scene until some other safari vehicles showed up (our guide tipped off his associates with the radio).
The cubs quickly jumped in the fray to try and swallow a few bites. The target of the kill was suspected by our guide to be a baby African buffalo and unfortunately there was not much to go around.
Maasai Mara Safari Day 2
Day one had concluded with a bang. Therefore, day two would have a tough act to follow. Indeed, finding a fresh lion kill such as the one we were able to observe is not always so easy.
Nonetheless, day 2 started out very well. Our guide got clued into the location of some cheetahs that were hanging out on the savanna. Fortunately, they were still there when we arrived and we got some great photos.
Pride of Lions Day 2
On the 2nd day we had an encounter with a new pride of lions. However, this pride of lions was in a much different condition than the large pride we discovered on Day 1.
Our guide explained that this pride was not as healthy as the pride we observed on day one. It was likely they had been blocked out of the best hunting grounds by a stronger pride.
- This pride did not have many cubs indicating that the pride was not able to feed very often
- The single cub we were able to observe with this pride was in very poor condition, it appeared to be malnourished.
A single cub that was part of this pride can be observed in the center of the picture. Additionally, it is lying down in between the two lionesses with its head resting against the shoulder of the one lioness. Indeed, we were able to observe that lion cub was not very healthy and it appeared very thin.
The Mara River
After observing the lions, we ventured off towards the Mara River. The Mara River is world famous for being the best location in the world to observe the great migration of wildebeest. Unfortunately, the wildebeest do not enjoy it so much because they must try and cross the river while being attacked by giant African crocodiles. Indeed, the giant crocodiles were there waiting.
Male Lions Maasai Mara
As we were scouting around the banks of the Mara river, suddenly our guide swerved of the trail and began directly driving into the brush. This made us a bit nervous….
However, what are guide has spotted was some branches that was out of place indicating something large had walked through it.
Our guide’s intuition was correct and we found an adult male lion sound asleep. Additionally, this lion did not so much as open an eyelid even though our vehicle was idled about 2 meters from its head.
It was now late afternoon and it was time to start heading back to the lodge. On the way we spotted a group of elephants which made for some good photos. However, we would be seeing many, many elephants in the near future at Amboseli National Park.
Maasai Mara Sopa Lodge
Our accommodation at Maasai Mara was the Sopa Lodge. The facilities were very welcoming because the rooms were done up with traditional African colors and furnishings. Additionally, they had large fireplaces in the lounge and restaurant. Also, the staff was very professional and overall our experience at this Sopa Lodge was very satisfactory.