Going on safari was always a dream of mine so when I booked myself on a Masai Mara safari, I was excited to witness all of the animals that you normally associate with a safari such as lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and cape buffalo – popularly referred to as Big Five game. Of course I wanted to see them all. I don’t know if I was just lucky or simply had a brilliant guide (probably both), but I was fortuitous enough to tick a fair few off the list and appreciate lots of other animals that I’d dreamed of seeing within the first day or two of my five-day safari. All of The Big Five were spotted but I had a few other favourites too.
Here are my top five favourite animals spotted during my time in Kenya’s fascinating Masai Mara National Reserve.
Black Rhino
Numbers of black rhino left in the Masai Mara are dwindling and they are a seriously endangered species so to see one was like striking gold. Rhinos are endangered because they’ve been hunted for their horns which some cultures believe have disease curing qualities. Seeing these specimens in their natural habitat, it’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to shoot these creatures down!
Hippo
Our game lodge was located close by to a watering hole patrolled by hippos so we managed to take some first class snaps for the album. Watching nostrils emerge out of the muddy water was a surreal and unforgettable experience.
Elephant
Driving very close by a herd of elephants was utterly amazing. I was a little worried about a stampede so asked the guide what signs to look for (they rumble and roll their trunks) but luckily none were showing any signs. We saw baby elephants too. The baby elephants were so cute and they linked trunks with their mother’s tails just like they do in cartoons.
Zebra
The iconic black and white stripes just look so amazing and mesmerising in real life against the backdrop of the savannah.
Lion
The ultimate spot was many people’s king of the jungle. Did we see one roar? No, we saw one yawn whilst taking shade under a tree. Well I guess we all need a break from work once in a while! Rare glimpses or witnessing herds in full, a Masai Mara safari in Kenya is the best place to experience your ultimate African adventure!
By Paula M.
