After enduring the MASAI MARA MASSAGE that's what the locals call the drive from where you leave the metalled road to the camp,its like a three hour dust bath in a tumble drier.However the Chinese are building a new road alongside the dirt road, but they seem to have gone on holiday at present.
Anyway when we arrived at Basecamp it made it all worthwhile...……..
We had only been out a short while on our first safari when we came upon this fantastic scene, nature truly is red in tooth and claw,and in this case red in the face.
CHEETAHS AT A KILL,they are four brothers and a cousin,we were told.
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-Note the bloated stomach
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A RAINSTORM APPROACHING....
Moving on as they say,we left the cheetahs and went in search of a pride of lions,which we soon found.
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-A YOUNG MALE
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A CUDDLY YOUNG CUB...
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-THESE LIONESSES WERE ON THE PROWL
THE CATS WHISKERS.
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-THE YOUNG MALE AGAIN
-The lions were watching a family of giraffes but the long necked ones had seen them already and were on the run.
Back to see how the cheetahs were doing...….it was raining quite heavily now.
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-with stomachs full they gradually wandered away from the carcass
-THEY WERE CALLING TO EACH OTHER.....
THEN THE CLEAN UP BEGAN.....
BROTHERLY LOVE..
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A FULL STOMACH....
THE CLEAN UP CONTINUES A TAWNY EAGLE EATING THE SCRAPS,THE CONTENTS OF THE STOMACH IS THE GREEN MASS OF GRASS.
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-SHE IS JOINED BY HER MATE.
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TOPI-This is what the cheetahs had caught... and eaten.
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On the way back to camp we came across a lone female Cheetah,she had a small Thomsons Gazelle in the grass.
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FULL MOON OVER THE MASAI MARA.
And in the morning,hot air balloons.
-Today we were going out for the whole day, who knows what`s in store...…….
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GIRAFFE WITH YOUNGSTER....
STILL TAKING MILK..
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HYENAS were gathering together in a pack numbering about 30
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WHAT WERE THEY WATCHING SO INTENTLY
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THIS LIONESS
-CHASES THEM AWAY
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WITH A WILDERBEEST CARCASS
THATS WHAT THE HYENAS WERE AFTER.....
We left them to their game of " whats the time Mr Wolf " and went on our way.
WATTLED LAPWING
WATTLED LAPWING
BANDED MONGOOSE
A SCRUMMAGE OF MONGEESE?
TYPICAL MASAI MARA SCENERY
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KORI BUSTARD
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HIPPO COOLING OFF
THREE BANDED PLOVER
ROSY BREASTED LONGCLAW.
RBL
A MALE LION AT HIS TOILET
HE SEEMS A LITTLE CONSTIPATED
BY THE LOOK ON HIS FACE
ANOTHER MALE WITH JACKAL BEHIND.
RUPPELS GRIFFON VULTURES
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GOT HIS EYE ON THE VULTURES
A FEMALE APPROACHES WITH LOVE ON HER MIND..
AND HE IS HAPPY TO OBLIGE
LAPPET FACED VULTURE
MARABOU STORK COMING INTO BREEDING PLUMAGE-The red swelling on the neck.
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ROSY BREASTED LONGCLAW
RUFOUS NAPED LARK
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SADDLE BILLED STORK.
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THERE WERE ONE BIG OLD LION CALLED WALLACE
-HIS FACE ALL COVERED IN SCARS
-HE LAY IN A SOMULENT POSTURE, AND TOOK NO NOTICE OF CARS.
THE MARA RIVER where the great wilderbeest migration crosses from the Serengetti into the Masai Mara and the crocodiles,lions and leopards have a feast..
At present it is just a tranquil trickle,but soon the rains will come.
There were only a handful of crocs that were seen,two are just visible if you look closely.
THE LAST OF THE SO CALLED BIG 5 THE LEOPARD.She was making her way along the river bank and we were lucky to get a good vantage point.
We were lucky that Dave found this ideal spot to watch her walk along the river bank.
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-WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CREATURE,AND A LOVELY EXPERIENCE.
After the excitement it was time for lunch...
LADIES WHAT LUNCH.
MEET PATRICK OUR MASAI GUIDE.
ARROW MARKED BABBLER
-SCARLET TIP?
FEED THE BIRDS -Took on a whole new aspect.
STRANGE FRUIT -THE SAUSAGE TREE.
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THOMSONS GAZELLE
IMPALA
A LINE OF GIRAFFES
SECRETARY BIRD
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COMMON OSTRICH
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BIRDS OFF A FEATHER
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ROAD BLOCK See how this elephant is resting his trunk on his tusks.
We had almost reached home when I spotted these beauties lurking in the grass,
CASPIAN PLOVERS a new bird for everyone.
CPs
CP
CP
There were 7 in this group.
-Always exciting to see an iconic bird.
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THE BACK ENTRANCE TO THE CAMP -a very bouncy suspension bridge.
UNDER CANVAS....Very cosy. and just outside.....
WOODLAND KINGFISHER
WK
WHITE BROWED ROBIN CHAT
YELLOW PANSY
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RED BILLED FIREFINCH
RBFF
PURPLE GRENADIER
PG
PG
PG
RBFF
RED CHEEKED CORDON BLEU
PURPLE GRENADIER.
Our time here was nearly over we leave for our last venue in the morning....
THE BALLOONS WERE UP AGAIN
VIOLET BACKED STARLINGS-The hot air balloon is very close and nearly hit the ground behind us.
GREEN WOOD HOOPOES
BARE FACED GO AWAY BIRD
BROWN PARROT
BROWN PARROT
MARICO SUNBIRD
MARICO SUNBIRD
MARICO SUNBIRD
THE OBAMAS HAD BEEN HERE AND PLANTED SOME TREES...
MORE CASPIAN PLOVERS IN BETTER LIGHT AMONG THE ROCKS.
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Only one more chapter to endure...……...
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