We first visited the Mara Safari Club in September 2002. That trip was at the height of “The Migration” when herds of wild African animals move from grazing in Kenya through the Masai Mara for winter feeding on the Serengeti Savannah. We were not sure what to expect this time ‘round. Would there be animals?  Would there be the usual April rains to wash out our safari? Our dreams came true as we had excellent weather and a bounty of wild animals.
 
The following photos are of our experience, the Mara Safari Club where we were based. The many game animals we saw during out time there can be seen on the Kenya Wildlife page.
Our Safari Trip
On Air Kenya flight to the
Mara Safari Club
Traditional farmland seen as we fly in to the Safari Club
Commercial Farming is coming to Kenya, Looks a lot like USA
The Mara River as we were landing
Mae with a large friend in the background
Mae by our safari transport, a modified Toyota Land Cruiser
Striking a Massai pose
Not striking the pose
Our guide and driver, Sankei
His Massai name is Kanyinke
Art, Mae, Sankei, Sharon and Shelly, Digital Hunters!
The Safari Club Welcome Tent
The Safari Club Welcome Tent
Beverage Bar
Breakfast and Lunch Buffet
Evening sit-down dining tent
The Buffet Area
The Buffet Area
The Buffet leads to
The Dining Tent
Food pavilion and outdoor dining
Swimming pool, keeps visitors out of the Hippo and Crocodiles reach.
Out riverside tent
The path to our tent
another view of our tent
The Hippo Viewing Platform along the Mara River bank
Sankei took some time to show us the new tent sites
A back view of the new “Tents”
Your tent cot
Your tent bathroom
Right this way to the outside shower
Your outdoor shower
Down the trail to our “Bush Breakfast”
The Chef is ready
... and so are we! What an experience!
A Massai man set up his shop by the breakfast site, Curios anyone?
Massai children greet us from across the river as they herd goats
This Massai Gentleman gave a cultural talk about his people.
Traditional Massai Dancers joined us one evening
The asked for volunteers to dance with them, I volunteered Mae! (Art)
The Dancers
The Dance
(With apologies to Garth Brooks)
The Massai are known for their high, straight legged jumps
Another jump
Iris
Iris
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Flower
Imagine being awakened at 5 AM by the bellow of a Hippo
Later they basked in the sun below our tent
Also basking, a Crocodile
The Obligatory “Missionary Sunset” over the Massai Mara