Masai Mara – The African Safari
A long cherished desire materialized, when a chance to visit Masai Mara National Reserve came on 25th August 2013.The tour operator 'Fnkewa Mara Bush camp' picked up us from our Nairobi hotel early in the morning. The tour operator has designed tour itinerary specifically keeping Indian needs and their food habits .There are two options to reach Masai Mara from Nairobi either by road or by air. We have preferred the long drive covering about 260 KM by road than availing air travel in order to enjoy the panoramic and breathtaking views of the African country side.
After covering a distance about 90km at a place Mai Mahiu a picturesque view point of Great Rift Valley escarpment we halted for tea break and looked down at amazing gorge from a height of 7062 feet and stupefied at the vast expanse of the Great Rift Valley running 9650 km. from Jordan in north to Mozambique in the south . We purchased some souvenir from Mombasa curio shop to take home to enliven our memory of African Safari. Then we crossed the Great Rift Valley and proceed to Masai Mara through the Narok county town which is 3 hours drive from Nairobi. As it was about lunch time we took sumptuous lunch at a motel run by a Gujarati hotelier settled in Kenya. Then our journey started towards Masai Mara which took 2 hours to arrive at Oloolaimutia official entry gate of Masai Mara by 4pm.We checked in to" Fnkewa Mara Bush Camp" eco cottage, situated beside the Oloolaimutia entry point. Masai Mara National Reserve - a game sanctuary is an extension of Savannah Wilderness comprising of 1550 square km, where Lions, Elephants(Tuskers), Zebras, Giraffes, Wildebeest, Hippopotamus, Cheetahs, Ostrich and Hyenas abound aplenty. After checking into the Bush Camp and enjoying snacks, we drove into the vast expanse of Masai Mara game sanctuary through Oloolaimutia entry gate after completing entry formalities. At the entry gate we were approached by local Masai women folk who were peddling their art work.
As darkness was descending over the game sanctuary we could proceed a little distance and could be able to watch spectacular migratory animal formations .Usually the migration period starts from mid-June and continues up to October .During migration animals migrate from hot Serengeti National Reserve to comparatively cool Masai Mara located in Kenya. They remain until October, when they move back to the Serengeti National reserve in Tanzania.The Serengeti National Reserve is more wilder ,five times bigger in size and not accessible. The long formations of migratory animal offered a spectacular view just like passing out parade of military, one regiment after another. As it was getting dark we retired to our base camp to spend the night in a tent amidst African Jungle animals at the other side of the fence. We were provided with a powerful torch light and some candle for our personal use as the tents were not supplied with electricity. Only electricity was provided to common utility areas like the dining hall, toilets and lawn. After taking a frugal dinner we retired to our tent to sleep with much apprehension of marauding jungle animals across the fence but enjoyed deep slumber as the impact of hectic safari tour acted as a panacea.
Early in the morning the driver- cum guide Mr. Peter Gonthanju wake up us and after a heavy breakfast we proceeded deep inside the Masai Mara up to the Tanzanian border & Mara river to locate hundreds of hippopotamus and crocodiles there in groups known as family, each consisting of some 50 or odd animals, coexist in the Mara river bed with a harmonious coexistence. The thumb rule is, if an errant baby hippopotamus would cross the family boundary, then it would fall prey to the crocodiles in wait in the vicinity. The vantage points on the banks of Mara river affords strategic points to the professional photographers who perched on the makeshift tents on tree tops to capture some sensational photographs of the migrating animals at their natural environ and instinct and sold out the films at hefty price to National geographic and Discovery channels. The keeper of the Bush Camp had arranged a guide, the local game warden, armed with a rifle to instill a sense of security to the visitors, who explained us the niceties of co existence of families of hippopotamus and crocodiles in the Mara River. We have witnessed large numbers of the Wildebeests crossing the Mara River risking the pangs of marauding crocodiles. It was really memorable migration scenery to cherish with; packed with thrilling, sensational and exciting, once in a life time experience. After covering a distance about 150km we came out of the Masai Mara game sanctuary after taking some photos of the Wildebeests crossing the Mara river, the lioness with her cubs, a Cheetah on prowl upon an impala, a pride of Ostrich, a pride of Lions, a parade of African elephant (Tuskers) and a tower of Giraffes abundantly located in their migratory trail.
During early seventies our college syllabus offered study about David Livingstone (19.3.1813 -1.5.1875), a Scottish missionary and explorer who discovered the Dark Continent. Deeply inspired by the travails and exploits of Livingstone, most popular and Pioneer explorer and one of the most famous British heroes of the late 19th century Victorian era, I have cherished an intense desire to visit Africa, which was ultimately materialized because of my son’s posting at Nairobi as a business executive of a MNC for Africa. However, present day Africa has come up ages and cities like Nairobi of Kenya and Kigali of Rwanda have been topping the world smart city list in recent years. Future investment destination lies in AFRICA.
Gouranga Charan Roul (gcroul.roul@gmail.com)
The author, after completing post graduate studies in political science from Utkal University, Odisha in 1975, worked as a senior intelligence sleuth in the department of Customs, Central Excise & Service Tax and retired as senior superintendent. As a staunch association activist, he used to hold chief executive posts either as General Secretary or President of All India Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officer's Association, Odisha for 20 years. Presently in the capacity of President of Retired Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officer's Association, Odisha, coordinating the social welfare schemes of the Association. Being a voracious reader, taking keen interest in the history of India, Africa, Europe and America. In his globe tottering spree, widely travelled America and Africa. At times contributing articles to various magazines.
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