4 Reasons why the Masai Mara is the Safari experience you have been dreaming of

Yes… there are the BIG 5 in the Mara. But there are TONS of other, just as amazing, species to discover and track down. Giraffes (a bunch of different varieties), Cheetahs, Ostriches, Zebras, Wildebeests, Hippos, Crocodiles, Wildpigs, Hyenas, Antelopes, a billion monkeys, snakes and birds…. The list goes on and on…

It is quite remarkable the variety of terrain that is present in a relatively small area. Depending on your movements you will find patches of surprisingly dense trees, sandy soil expanses with bushes, wide stretching plateaus, undulating hills, lush woodlands, marshes peppered with birdlife, and of course the winding Mara river system with occasional cliff drops.

We went from:

-tracking a leopard through a small forest ducking our heads under low branches as we stood up in our 4×4…

-tracking a few lions on a few occasions, also ducking our heads and trying not to shit in our pants as we sit quietly in our 4×4…

-to admiring a tower of giraffes (yes that is the collective noun.. pretty cool!) taking shade under a single tree seemingly in the middle of nowhere….

-to startling a pod of hippos sunbathing by a river as we looked from high on a clay clifftop.

-to simply enjoying every bit of scenery on the road, which was always filled with beautiful amazing animals

The diverse scenery adds to the Masai Mara’s charm and means that no two days are alike as you explore this safari paradise.

3. MASAI PEOPLE & CULTURE

I think this was a real highlight for us. We were fortunate to have an authentic Masai as our guide, Jonathan.

Yup… Jonathan.

He was sincerely one of the nicest, most kind hearted people we met during our time in Kenya. It was a genuinely emotional moment saying goodbye to him when we left. He took time to share his knowledge not only about the wildlife, but also about the Masai culture and way of life. Being exposed to this completely foreign and thoroughly fascinating culture gave a depth to our experience that cannot be overstated.

We were even fortunate enough to visit a Masai village in the middle of nowhere. We were welcomed with singing and dancing and met the head of the village with some of his young warriors who gave us a demonstration of the incredible jumping dance or adamu.

This traditional dance is performed during the ‘graduation’ of young warriors who have completed their time away to become a man. This time away from the home village can be up to 10 years and during this time the group of young warriors or morani learn how to hunt, take care of livestock and protect their family. When they return the Eunoto ceremony takes place and the newly ordained Masai men perform in order to attract a bride! The higher and smoother the jumps the more the Masai ladies will be swooning for them. It is safe to say there were not so many impressed Masai women when myself and our dear friend Josh decided to have a crack.

We were shown the thorny trees that the Masai use specifically to protect their villages from lions. According to Jonathan, 100% effective unless someone forgets to close the gate. Having witnessed a pride of lions dismantling a wildebeest that morning I would suggest that’s a gate I would be double checking is closed.

The beautiful songs of the Masai women draped in bright dazzling colours (somehow immaculately pressed), also struck a chord with us all, as did their smiles and laughter. The easy cheerful nature of everyone we met at the village had us all questioning whether modern western life offered any real advantage in as far as happiness was concerned. The Masai, with their simple living and traditional way of life, farming goats and living off the land, sleeping in mud brick homes, with no electricity in the middle of a grass savannah.. certainly didn’t seem to be suffering.

Back at our camp we were also very lucky to have several Masai warriors ‘on-staff’. They were tasked with making sure we got back to our tents safely and would also walk us to the toilet if we went during dinner. Animals have inherited a well placed respect for the bright coloured red and blue blankets worn by the Masai and apparently they have learned to not pursue a meal if they encounter one. Being based right at the edge of the reserve and hearing the soft growls of hyenas and lions most nights, I cannot emphasise how happy we were to have some Masai security in place.

As it was my birthday during this trip, Bee, Josh and Kat surprised me on the last day by asking Jonathan to get me my own Masai blanket. I don’t generally like ‘souvenirs’, but this beautiful gift was more than that.

As I press it to my chest even now, memories flood back of the smiles of Jonathan and all the beautiful Masai people we were so fortunate to meet, I can almost hear the singing and laughter…… and let’s be clear, should there ever be a roaming lion problem in Bangkok… I’ll be fine.

Should maybe get some of those thorn trees for the gate though.

4. ACCOMMODATION & TOUR OPTIONS

I will not go into big detail here. There are simply hundreds of options you can go for in order to explore Masai Mara. I want to single out what we went for, simply because I can speak best about it and because never in my life have I been so overwhelmingly satisfied with a booking of accommodation while travelling. I should say accommodation AND guide, because they are interlinked and both play a huge role in how much you will enjoy your time in the Mara.

Spekes Camp is simply outstanding. The staff are phenomenal with a level of service unparalleled anywhere else we have been to this day. Every morning we were sent off by the team on our game drive and every evening we were welcomed back with cold towels and an invitation to sit in the lounge with a drink.

Sitting by the camp bonfire sipping on a whiskey, or even nicer, an Amarula on ice, watching zebras graze as the sun set is a memory I will always cherish. The evenings by the bonfire are also a chance to meet any other guests in camp before you all dine together at the long dining table.

The food is, as you might have guessed by now, exquisite! Mouth watering meals of fish, game meats, couscous, perfectly roasted vegetables, fresh local fruits were just some of the dishes we crossed.  The kitchen team also managed to cater for vegetarian diet without missing a beat.

The tents…. Just unbelievable…. The level of luxury that has been created essentially in the middle of nowhere is nothing short of incredible. The authentic local decor and design lets you be truly immersed in your safari experience. Hot showers are provided…. yes… you read that right. HOT showers are even managed in the middle of nowhere at Spekes Camp. They take the magical form of one of the staff arriving at the same time each day carrying pots of hot water directly from the fire. It is poured into a tank mounted ontop of your tent ready for you to pull a lever and have gravity make the experience complete. Each night, you sink into the massive bed to drift off to sleep, knowing that tomorrow another once in a lifetime epic adventure awaits.

For the guide, I have mentioned Jonathan already. He was exactly the guide we dreamed of getting for our experience. A huge plus was the fact that we had a 4×4 to ourselves meaning we had total freedom and no potential tension being stuck with people we didn’t know or have the same goals as. I cannot recommend this enough. GET YOUR OWN VEHICLE. We were also super fortunate to get a GREAT jeep! Open sides with an open roof to stand up in. I must admit that on our first morning as we parked 10 metres away from feasting lions, or later in the day as a leopard walked past our vehicle… I was not so confident a good vehicle choice had been made… Hahaha…

BONUS ADVICE – FREE OF CHARGE

Chances are that if you are going to the Masai Mara, you will also spend some time in Nairobi.IF YOU DO…… Make sure you check out THE GIRAFFE CENTRE!

• Speke’s Camp official website
• Life Out Loud’s Make A Difference Project: Shine Academy Kibera Slum