Safari Day 7: Amboseli to the Masai Mara: Bush Planes, Bye to James, but Hello Jackson and Lions!

 

Our first male lion of the trip. This golden maned male was set up on a termite mound, checking out possible opportunities for hunting.

    Today we had to say goodbye to all the wonderful people at the Serena Lodge, and all of the wonderful animals of Amboseli National Park. They have all put on quite the show for us here over the past few days. But, perhaps hardest of all, we have to say goodbye to our wonderful driver, James. His ability to drive through any kind of condition, whether its on a highway with no rules and tons of trucks, to road with potholes and bumps that you have to creep through, he just keeps going. He knows all the roads in Kenya like the back of his hand, has impeccable timing, is always at the car waiting for you before a game drive with a smile, and just a genuine niceness that everyone around him picks up on, no matter what language he might be speaking at the moment. He works very hard, and tirelessly, and we appreciate him so much.

Zebra leaving the elephants of Amboseli in her dust.

Amboseli is incredibly dusty, but sometimes it makes for mesmerizing photos. This was a herd of wildebeest, followed by zebra, followed by elephants, all kicking up dust in the early morning light.

    Our last activity with James was a truncated game drive on our way to the bush airstrip in the middle of Amboseli National Park. Our safari is hiking it up a notch today as we switch from private vehicle, to small bush planes taking us from camp to camp. We had a wonderful encounter with a long line of elephants and zebra on our way to the airstrip. They were streaming out of the forest, crossing right in front of us, with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background. Then we drove past flamingo filled lakes, hippos surfacing in the water, and an old abandoned lodge that the monkeys have taken over. Our small bush plane, Air Kenya Express, was actually early, and just checked our name off the list and brought us aboard. It was probably a total of 15 minutes from the plane dropping off incoming guests to liftoff with us. Talk about efficient.

The team, saying goodbye to our wonderful driver, James.

    After a quick stop in the domestic airport in Nairobi, we hopped on a slightly bigger (but still prop) plane that took us for a short thirty minute flight to Masai Mara Kichwa airstrip. I was so excited to see my friend Jackson outside waiting for us. He is an absolutely stellar guide here that I always try and request but can't always get. Even though it was sad to say goodbye to James, I can't wait for everyone to meet and get to know Jackson. We are in very good hands here.

Close encounters from our vehicle on our way to the tent camp, which you can see in the background towards the forest.

    And then there is our new lodge. Or should I say Luxury Tent Camp. Kichwa Tembo is an andBeyond property located on a private conservancy adjacent to the Mara proper. Just in the ten minutes from the airstrip to the tent camp we passed zebra, giraffe, elephants, topi, a hippo, and a rare migrant from Europe called the black stork.

Getting the lay of the land with our Maasai guide, Jackson.

    After an incredible lunch we met up with our Maasai guide, Jackson. He has been guiding here for sixteen years now and knows the place and animals so well. After loading up in our open safari vehicle, the kind with no doors, Jackson gave us the lay of the land and where we were going to concentrate our efforts for maximizing wildlife encounters. We told him that we hadn't seen a male lion yet, and wouldn't you know, one of the first things he finds for us is a male lion. Welcome to the Masai Mara everyone! It was a golden maned beautiful male, set up on a termite mound. He posed perfectly in the afternoon light for us. We ended up seeing a couple more females before the drive was over. Then as we neared the tent camp after dark, we stopped to watch a family of hyena with very small babies play near the road.

    The Mara is very green after getting some good rains over the past few weeks. It looks absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to see what else lies in store for us here!

The elephants of Amboseli giving us a final curtain call, on our way to the airstrip.

Elephants roaming past us with Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance.

Loading up for our first bush flight of the trip, Amboseli to Nairobi.

Getting a birds-eye view of Amboseli.

One flight down and one to go. We had a very smooth transfer at the little domestic airport in Nairobi. I even had time to put out a blog and get a cinnamon roll.

Our group, fresh off the plane. Stepping foot into the Masai Mara for the first time.

We thought this lioness might be on the hunt, but she gave up after a while and went back to nuzzle with her sister.

We hadn't seen a male lion yet, so of course Jackson shows us this golden maned lion during our first afternoon game drive.

Views here in the Mara go on for days.

In a pool with 30 hippos I finally got the chance to photograph a good open mouthed yawn.

A new, and very unique species for us, the Southern Ground Hornbill.

The bar looks stocked with Tuskers and coffee. They must have heard we were coming.

Inside the tent it is like no other tent you have ever been in. A spacious, comfy bed, a deck with table and chairs, and a huge bathroom area.

Walking around camp is a wildlife experience of its own. Blue monkeys are often all around us.

I always request Jackson when I come to the Mara, and feel very lucky when I can get him before other groups!

View from our safari vehicle with guide Jackson showing us the ropes.

The chefs prepare some amazing meals here at Kichwa Tembo.

This was our view as we were driving away from the airstrip.

Entrance to the tent, located deep within a riverine forest.

Our lunch spot at Kichwa Tembo Luxury Tent Camp in the Masai Mara

Setting the mood at Kichwa Tembo Luxury Tented Camp, in the Masai Mara.