Masai Mara - Day 3

Masai Mara

-January 2, 2014-

-Day 3-

For Adrienne's Birthday, she wanted to see male lions (we did not see them during our first 2 days) - and we ended up finding 5! We also saw a failed cheetah hunt by the same three cheetah brothers on our last day. 

Beautiful Sunrise (with Hot Air Balloons)

 Grazing Hippo 

Villa Essence Shot 

We Found 3 Male Lions - All Sleeping, Of course

Looks a Bit Sinister?

In Search of Shade

Jumping Across a River to a Small Island to Join His Brother

The rest of the Pride - Adult Females and Young Lions -Were  Close By. About 15 in Total were Sleeping in the Bushes.

All the Safari Vehicles Lined up - By the Again, Unknowing Impalas - as a Cheetah Hunt is on! 

Stalking Cheetah in the Tall Grass
-Ultimately he is unsuccessful this time - he started his run too early and the impala were able to escape.-

Post Chase 

We found the cheetahs again on our afternoon game drive.

Surveying the Land for Prey - They must keep hunting as they had not eaten yet that day.

Giraffe Crossing

2 More Male Lions

Masai Mara - Day 2

Masai Mara 

-January 1, 2014-

-Day 2-

We had an epic first day of 2014 by Safari standards! We stayed out on the same safari trip for 7.5 hours, from 6:30AM - 2:00PM and saw two successful kills. The three cheetah brothers successfully caught an impala after a long, patient wait. Then, we learned the true meaning of the phrase "the grass is greener on the other side"! 

Grazing Buffalo 

Warthog on the Hill 

A Lone Elephant

Zebras playing Khloe-Style - Go for the Legs! 

Taking a Break to Have Breakfast

Feeding Baby

Trying to Get the other Baby to Play Too

Post-Kill Cheetah
-We watched for about 30 minutes as impalas unknowingly grazed and the three cheetah brothers (well hidden) slowly crept closer. A warthog spooked the impalas, pushing them into the same area as the cheetahs, and the chase began with the cheetahs successfully cornering one.-

We learned that cheetahs have to eat their prey as quickly as possible after the kill.

Within about 10 minutes (maybe less), 2 Hyenas showed up
-The cheetahs will not fight the bigger hyenas. This first cheetah tries to intimidate the hyena to buy time, but ultimately the cheetahs will lose their kill.-

The hyenas take away the impala as the cheetah watches

Within minutes of the hyenas showing up, the vultures started circling the area and ultimately land. It was very cool to witness the cycle of life (although sadly, not a good result for all).

 Vultures watching from a distance, hoping for a share 

Resting and Cleaning Post-Kill

It's good to be a lion!
-After the first kill, we came across the same pride of lions as the night before, all relaxing. About a kilometer in the distance, our guide pointed out a group of zebra, getting ready to cross the Mara River. The guide indicated one of the lions was watching the zebra, but for awhile, we forgot his comment in the excitement of the day.-

The watchful lion - rubbing herself in the plant to pick up a scent that will keep insects away

Baby hippo on the bank of the Mara River

Taking the plunge!

The zebras gathering to cross the river
- It was a long wait before they crossed. It just takes one to start crossing (they have no clear leader), and they all follow. The guide plainly said "They will cross - The grass is greener on the other side." We all laughed, but he meant it literally and sincerely as the rain patterns were different on each of the river, and the zebras wanted to get to the side with better grazing.-

The crossing begins
-The biggest hazard (we thought) for these zebras was the gigantic crocodiles in the river, ready to snatch them as they swam by. We were so focused on the river crossing, we had forgotten about the nearby lions. As the zebras had loitered by the river, the female lion had made the trip from 1 kilometer away. As the first zebras made it up the bank after swimming across, the lion was right there waiting for them! It was a surprise to all of us! Needless to say, the other zebras turned right back around and didn't cross.-

 RIP Zebra
-Lions usually hunt at night, and relax during the day. Our guide said they will not pass up a good opportunity like this one, however.-

 -Unlike the cheetahs, the lions have the luxury of waiting to eat. A hyena will not challenge them. The lone female lion walked back to get the rest of the pride, and they slowly made their way across the plains to eat.-