Game drive in the conservancy

Josphat & Simon

Our guides introduce themselves Josphat is our naturalist and Simon is our driver. They will accompany the 4 of us for the time we are here. They both wear the traditional shuka, no spears & I notice no guns, what protection from raging animals do we have then - Uh just Simons fast driving. OK but remember the roads are rough which makes for a slow drive. I am thinking a lion will have us before you can say spare tyre. (not that I have seen any lions so far). We all climb aboard the land cruiser, wreathed in cameras and binoculars and full of excitement. We leave the camp in the opposite direction to which we entered it. Tonight we drive in the conservancy; it is hot & sunny at 5pm, some good game & the promise of a G&T for sundowner. The guides have to study and pass exams at various levels. Josphat is a bronze guide and Simon a senior silver. Their knowledge is outstanding and they know the conservancy like the back of their hands. We tell them we would like to see as many birds as possible, Barbe is thrilled to hear this as both her & Stan are birders. Looks like we fell lucky to get paired up together as we are all not just here to see the big 5. We see many birds during the evening, the barefaced go away bird, arrow marked babbler, my favorite the Lilac breasted Roller and a paradise flycatcher. The track that we are on to begin with is extremely bumpy I don't know how we manage to stay upright. They call it the Maasai massage. In fact sometimes we go sideways down ravines and river crossings. Giraffe, buffalo & elephants are scattered around. There are Gazelles everywhere, Thompsons, Grants, Impala, Dik Dik, Topi, Eland & Duikers not to mention Water Buck & Bush Buck. Soon the sun starts to set so we head for a high ridge to sit outside & view the spectacle with the aforementioned G&T. However we have company, on the edge of the ridge sitting looking for prey & just generally keeping an eye out are 2 female lionesses. They are quite sleepy so we park up, just about 8ft away from one. We enjoy the G&T whilst keeping an eye out for the lions, yes we did stay in the jeep. How amazing is that for company. They are so beautiful & to be so close to a lion in the Mara is a dream come true, are we really here? I really did not think we would be able to get anywhere near to the wildlife & all the photo’s would be of things in the distance. How very wrong I was. There are so many animals here 20 - 30 zebra in one go, herds of elephants and lots & lots of wildebeest.