Kenya Gallery
Rendez-vous Masai Mara
From breathtaking Masai Mara safari moments to intimate encounters with iconic species, I share with you a space that celebrates African wildlife photography set agains the sweeping Masai Mara landscapes that define one of my most unforgettable destinations.
Jump to the chapters:
Getting there - Accommodation - Safari Drives - The Lion King and the Lionesses - Elephants and Rhinos - The Masai People - Safari Wardrobe - Heading back home
Getting there was its own journey!
Three flights total. Yikes! First was the long flight from home to Qatar's Hamad International airport. I got there, tired, disoriented, and met a GIANT teddy bear :) That was unexpected! Then, there was the lush garden nearby. Finally, I made my way to the Al Maha Lounge and chilled until my next flight to Nairobi.
The last flight, (3rd flight), was to get in Air Kenya from Nairobi to Masai Mara. Gotta be honest and tell you those toy airplanes are a bit un-nerving. But, I made it :)
Accommodation: Treehouse!
We stayed in a treehouse where monkeys would wake us up bright and early each, using the tent as their pathway. Our accommodation was provided by Kichwa Tembo from &Beyond. The staff was beyond: genuinely attentive, caring, accommodating. I give it 10/10!
The food was served buffet style. It tasted generic which I understand because they are trying to not offend anyone's taste. But, it wasn't to my liking.
Safari drives - It's all awe from here on!
"Talk to the cheeks" said all the animals as soon as I pull out my phone! I felt targeted LOL
I was so happy to capture this moment! This male giraffe crossed over to check out a couple of female giraffes on the other side. Then he checked to see if they're in heat. (What I was told by the guide).
The Lion King and the Lionesses
Our guide tracked a lion with his lionesses. And after all that searching, the rumors are true: all they do is sleep during the day LOL.
The lioness in the far right is thought to be pregnant.
Elephants, Rhinos, and Topi
The beautiful giants. Elephants were everywhere and each were so photogenic!
The rhinos couldn't be bothered! LOL The guide told us that they sun-bathe all day.
I had never heard of this guy before. Meet the Topi. It's part of the antelope family but a fashionable version with the colors on its legs...
The Masai People
The Masai People welcomed us with their dance and showed us their village, their way of life. They taught us that the women there are the architects and builders. All the mud houses are built by them.
Wardrobe I Wore
Different days, SAME CLOTHES. Thing is, when you go on a safari, you must wear colors to blend with nature as to not disturb the wildlife. So, beige, olive green, brown. The fashion was atrocious. & Beyond does provide dry cleaning services. Plus, packing was odd for that whole trip because mornings and nights were cold. Think 50F and colder. As soon as the sun is out, it's HOT; say, 80F and beyond.
The picture on the left is me standing at the border between Kenya and Tanzania. I saw an elephant just cross the border without a visa. Gotta report him/her!
And just like that, it was time to go home. I spent some time in Nairobi but the highlight was the Masai Mara. So, back to the questionable little airplane, two more flights and home. In the picture below on the right is the boarding gate... Yeah. The hut...
Last Looks
