Phew! It’s been a long taxing absence from the blogging scene. You know it can be addictive sometimes and my two cent worth of advice to addiction prone folks out there is to beware. I am saying this because I don’t like the fact that my blog has missed several daily posts that I and my readers are accustomed to. What with my loyal readers wondering what could have become of me. You see my readers had every reason to especially following the infamous political skirmishes that rocked my country Kenya some weeks ago. Thank God all that is now behind us and our traveling and excursions to the savannahs can now resume with renewed hope.
While we are at it, the wagon "fled" with us to the Mara to “escape” the noise in the city. For those of you who have not ventured here, you don’t know what you’re missing. It is the world’s most famous safari destination. It's a lifetime experience.
Today’s a nice hot afternoon and the Mara plains stretch a lush green into the horizon after the usual rainfall in January. Herds of Maasai giraffes, gazelles, zebras, buffaloes and other plains animals fill the grassland with predators hovering by. Several hours we have not chanced to spot the rhinos, our today’s interest. Mr. Ole Susuma our guide scans the vistas with binoculars to no avail. The grassland expanse is breath taking. We feel like we are the only people on earth.
Feeling tired and disappointed, the rhythmic bounces of our four-wheel truck lullabies me to a welcome doze. After what appears like an eternity, my peace is suddenly interrupted by Ole Susuma’s cries, “there.” It can only mean one thing. A rhino has been spoted.
We race across the plains. The rhino must have been two kilometers away only possible to see with super strong binoculars. True as the sun is making its way down in the horizon, the majestic 29 year old male steps out of the thick scrubs munching away. It’s easy to drive past the enormous mega-herbivore – he’s really just a dot on the plains not like the giant that fills the TV screens unless you get real close to him.
We spend a bit of time with him with a herd of elephants close by. Naumi doesn’t like to be followed for long,” Ole Susuma warns referring to the rhino. “He will soon start chasing us.” Sure enough, Naumi turns around with a grunt and a short run, sends us away.
We think we have seen it all. The previous day, we watched four lionesses with their eight cubs gorge themselves on a buffalo, which had just given birth. Too weak to defend herself, she was easy prey for the pride. We think we couldn’t get luckier – away from the noisy media and political skirmishes of the time.
Contacts:
Take advantage of a specially priced road and air safaris promotion that African bush Excurssions is running until June, 2008. Tel: 254 204450910 and 254 204450911
About the Author:
Nyambosa G. Maroa writes exclusively for Safari Wagon located at www.safariwagon.blogspot.com
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