Six months ago today I was on the other side of our planet, in Kenya’s Masai Mara, sitting on the deck of my tent writing postcards home to family and friends. All the spacious tents at the Fairmont Mara Safari club overlook the Mara River. A choir of hippos bob up and down in the river below – grunting and splashing all day (and sometimes all night) long. But I don’t mind, it is music to my ears.
This morning we left early in an open vehicle for our first game drive. Off in the distance we see the red cloth of the Maasai herdsman taking their cattle out to graze and water. We are blessed with many great wildlife sightings. A group of playful baboons grooming one another, a cheetah poised on a termite mound scanning the horizon for a meal, lions feasting on a smelly, rotten buffalo corpse because they are too lazy to hunt for a fresh kill, elephants rhythmically swinging their trunks as the pick grass, not to mention my favorite --the graceful giraffes.
Then we are treated to a surprise bush breakfast with hot Kenyan coffee, fresh baked pastries, omelets made to order, grilled tomatoes and sausages and the juiciest fruits.
And just when I thought it could not get any better we were told that before returning to the Mara Safari Club we were invited to visit a local Maasai village. We were greeted in song by the women. Their brightly colored clothing and beaded jewelry was so beautiful. Then the young teenage men tell us about their responsibilities – primarily school and animal husbandry. They explained the importance of cattle to their culture and then demonstrate the adumu, or jumping dance. A few at a time we are escorted into their timber, grass and mud homes to see where they cook, sleep and escape from the heat of the day. It was such a privilege to be so warmly welcomed into this place. I proudly wear the beaded bangles and necklace that I purchased after our visit.
I can’t imagine a more perfect day, and it is only half way through.
Susannah Zani
susannahz@africantravelinc.com
