12/27/15
Meet Dan my driver/guide for the week and James, my guide for the next month. Both are Masai men – James is a Masai elder, Dan a junior elder. I am so fortunate to have these 2 men as guides, tutors, and companions – they hold such a wealth of knowledge and their passion for conservation and wildlife is overflowing.
Each day, i learn countless useful pieces of information regarding the eco-system, political situation, tribal culture, wildlife challenges, animal behaviors…the list goes on. They are instrumental in my immersion in the Mara. My goal to learn and truly understand the dynamics, challenges and opportunities here in the Mara is being met ten-fold due to the willingness to share, and the open hearts and spirits of these two gentleman.
My endless gratitude and friendship is what i have to offer. and a small promise of not forgetting what i’ve learned, but taking it and doing something..anything with it so that we can preserve and conserve this amazing natural wonderland.
speaking of wonderland, the patterns on giraffes is exquisite. look at nature’s artwork!
We then run into another group of lion’s – one of handsome’s pride’s – he’s sired a few 😉
the pride is young and on the way to shade before it becomes too unbearably hot in the sun.
In fact, the one above hovers near our truck so she can catch a bit of precious shade. she’s about 6 inches away from my hand….
And then it’s nap time. completely relaxed, stretched out, legs open so as to cool every part of the body…these lions seem to have no care in the world – yet we all know that come dusk, they are on the prowl for what might be the only meal in days.
about 30 mins later, we stumble upon a mommy cheetah and her 3 cubs! they are laying on a rock, but keeping low. why? to not be seen by others and to scope the area around them for prey…cheetahs hunt during the day whereas lion and leopards hunt primarily at night.
though you can only see 2 cubs here, there are 3.
mom is alert as ever!
Look at that stare! intense. and they move at up 92mph!
Look at these little ones – so sweet – but don’t be fooled, they will be hunting soon enough.
After about an hour hanging with the cheetahs, it seems they may be chilling for the evening, so we set off back toward camp and have the pleasure of running into this lovely bull elephant that has a distinct ear marking. Maybe a tree, a fight, or who knows out here, but his ear’s been torn up for sure.
Ears are the fingerprints of elephants.
He doesn’t seem to mind as he makes his way through the thick nutritious grass, spitting out the roots so as to not eat much of the dirt.
there is zero doubt that elephants are sentient beings- now that i’ve had the opportunity to be in the presence of them.
Compassionate, aware, communal and emotional – one look from this pachyderm and you know you are in the presence of a beautiful conscious and sentient being.
Thank you Mara for allowing me to experience your beauty, majesty and being.
Goodnight.