Thursday, September 19, 2013

3 Cheetahs take down a gazelle, Male Lion brushes bumper of our vehicle

IWell, the morning started out as a beautiful sunny day.  But towards nightfall, the rains came rolling in again.  The trade off was a beautiful sunset and a magnificent rainbow.

This morning we ran across our three Cheetahs again ( mom, young male cub and young female cub). Thw "kids" are still a bit anxious and don't have the patience yet to hunt.  They ran too early and once again the impala escaped...however, a short while later, there was a baby gazelle who was not so lucky. They made the kill and the gazelle, bones and all, were gone within 30 minutes!!!

The Masai take their cows out to pasture during the day and there is one place on the river where everyone must cross -- including vehicles.  We were literally in a traffic "cow jam" with hundreds waiting to cross!! And, as Grant put it, they weren't "moo - ving!"   :).  We did see Wildebeests and zebras cross the river as well.  There are literally thousands of wildebeests on the plains -- sometimes as far as the eye can see.  It is very difficult to catch the feeling with a camera!  In fact, there are so many animals that you see something everywhere you look.. You do NOT struggle to spot game!  

A bit after the Cheetahs hunt, we had a male lion walk directly up to our jeep.  He was so close he brushed our front bumper.  If he had yawned, I could have seen his tonsils!  Incredible experience.  Mary was probably 5' away from him!!!

We did spot a leopard high in the tree tops.  She probably took refuge there because of the male lion we saw.  Leopards fear the lion.  Later in the day, we saw here again.  She has an 8 week old cub hidden.  She had her kill up in the tree and we waited as long as possible for her to bring the cub out to eat, but it just got too dark.  It was a MAGNIFICENT day... 

Tomorrow we have a very early reveille --4:15 am-- to do a hot air balloon ride, weather permitting.
Then we are going to the Masai village.  (I have to give out my notebooks and markers!) :)

It's really chilly at night-- especially with the rain, but we all just keep adding layers!  Wish I had a dollar for every time I've had to take my jacket off and then put it right back on!  

Grant has taken some amazing photos, but he has taken so many I can't download them all to the IPad. The Lodge has loaned him a 400 lens (really big!) and he is doing a great job with some of his close ups!  

More tomorrow!  Beware if you have a squeamish stomach because I am posting the kill and the aftermath...

Hunting...



The kids!





Sharing breakfast...



Cleaning up...


The giraffe line up...


Breakfast in the bush for us...


Masai herdsman


Cow traffic jam




Crossing the small river.

Warthog






Crossing the swinging bridge back to the lodge.. Duffy doing great!



The joy of it all....





The pot of gold is truly Mara Plains!





Our wonderful guide, Daniel.


Sunset on Masai Mara..



Good night!  







































1 comment:

  1. How lucky to get a kill. I am thrilled for all of you. Sorry about the weather. The photo's are amazing I can't wait for the book.

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