Ahhhhhh….the Mara-there is nothing quite like it. It is famously known for the great migration of wildebeest and zebra that takes place in July every year when thousands of animals invade the lands of the Mara from the Serengeti and call it home for several months. I unfortunately missed this attraction and went just a little too early. There were extra zebra and a few wildebeest already entering the park, but not the multitude that would be there in just a few short weeks.

I would be in the park for less than 24 hours so I was ready to see as many animals as possible. It didn’t take long to spot our first one, a giraffe….then zebra…and lots of antelope and gazelle. The guides are constantly talking to other guides to get locations for specific animals, ours would quickly tell us to sit and off we would go on the hunt for something exciting. We spotted a cheetah right beside the road thanks to tips from others.

We happened upon a pride of lions-hidden in the tall grasses-lying beside the road. More and more heads kept popping up to show us their numbers.

The beauty of the savannah lies in it’s simplicity. The vastness of the native grasses, weightiness of the baobab and acacia trees and an endless sky create an ensemble that orchestrates a simple and profound connection to nature. It’s easy to get lost in the moment.

Everyone will have a different story from their trip to Maasai Mara, it’s never the same. You don’t know which animals you will see and if you will get to see a kill, feeding on a fresh carcass or witness the one that got away. We met people who showed us video of lions hunting and catching buffalo, but we did not see it ourselves.

When I visited, we were able to safari in the afternoon and again the next morning if you were staying for 24 hours. They have changed their rules and increased their pricing so now you are only able to safari on one day, unless you are staying multiple nights. We stayed at Fig Tree Camp, which was fine-I will post on it later, but I would like to explore other options there. I would also like to go back and do the hot air balloon ride-I would love to see the park with a birds eye view. Different tour companies will schedule picnics inside the park where you can get out and eat in an area that does not see as many predators. Or you can carry food and drinks with you and snack along the way…share with your driver lest he get hungry and want to take the last of your meal!