Into The Mara

It is about a 45 minute drive to the Mara National park from the conservancy, this is undertaken at high speed on very bumpy & dusty roads. I wonder if I am going to loose my breakfast at one stage. It is a warm sunny start to the day. The Maasai are out on the plains herding the cattle. The bright colour of the Maasai dress stands out vividly against the green plains and is clearly visible for miles around. As we cross a

bridge we see a yellow billed stork fishing in a river, not much else in the way of wildlife. we pass through some Maasai villages, you can smell them before you can see them. It is not a pleasant smell, pungent, but not what you think it might smell like. There are some shops, which are just rough shacks but there is a chemist, pub & hotel.
Soon we are waiting outside as the gates to the National park are unlocked and we are allowed to pass through into Paradise. We are harassed by some young girls desperate to sell us some wares. I am not sure how much of it is actually made here anymore, but it is their only source of income.
Our guides tell us we are not allowed out of the vehicle and they must stick to the roads. No-one is allowed to drive off track. There are a lot of little mini buses with pop up roofs. We are very glad for the comfort & open high sided land cruiser, and only the 4 of us as guests. With our super driver we soon leave the masses behind and start to enjoy the marvel that is the Maasai Mara.