On second Xmas day we were off to Masai mara. The complete trip was bo
oked with help of ICRAFs travel agent. We took a taxi to Wilson airport and some later we waited a few meters beyond the small planes that were coming and going, like a busy bus stop. With a total of 14 persons including pilot we were lifting off viewing Nairobi and especially Kiberra from above, but very soon the land was almost empty for apparent human activities except for an occasional boma. Then the grounds turned greener and we landed on a gravel airstrip with a little round shelter with a banana leaf roof that had seen better days, besides a toilet facility. The driver picked us up for a game tour right away and we saw a lot of beautiful animals before we arrived at the Intrepides campsite just before sundown. So we were having sundowners with some snacks. Merijn was invited by the Masai to take part in a kids quiz. We had already ordered our diner when he finished. The menu consisted of four courses with for each several options to choose from. After which coffee or tea could be requested. All was of the highest standard I have seen so far in Africa including friendliness and speed of the waiters. Following the illuminated path we found our way to tent #1&2, which are connected with a middle tent. Technically they are tents, since the walls are of canvas with mosquito netting windows, but size and standard there are more equal to European four star hotel rooms, with toilet and shower ensuite with new soft towels arranged in a inviting display. There were four poster beds for everyone of the usually Kenyan standard, which is very hard. On the 
backside we had a small private terrace with free view on the river. One night a hippo was taking a very noisy bath waking us all very early. There are three game-drives per day offered, the first before breakfast between, driving off 6 ‘o clock, breakfast can be brought along also for a picnic. The second from 10 to lunch, this started around 1230. The third in the afternoon, starting around 16 so everybody will be back before dark. Since this is our holiday and some of us are not fond of waking ea
rly, especially Merijn, we arranged with our driver that we would start our first drive after breakfast around 830 till lunch. We had a second game-drive too later that day for which my mom did not join us; her aging bone-structure does not appreciate off road driving. Although I have to say that the tracks were mostly very good, I have seen worse in Nairobi. From other Mara visitors I have heard that sport underwear is necessary attribute for well shaped ladies. A summary of the animals we saw can be viewed in the link at Flickr. I was very much impressed by the cheetahs, they are pretty big outside the tv box and even more beautiful, Merijn favourite too as well as many others. When we were watching them trailing over the plain we and another dozen cars were joining us, hoping to see the tree brothers hunting, but they never did that day. The lions were doing well, we saw youngsters with prey, just out of sight in the river bank, parents with cubs and a pair working on the next generation. The rivers were pretty crowded with hippos, which were totally not appealing to me; big, bad tempered, lazy and quarrelling. Besides the big five there were also many beautiful birds and butterflies to see. We saw a flock of female elephants with young, somewhere only few weeks old. The ladies were systematically selecting the small acacia between the grasses. Those were get a firm hold with the trunk and a few beats with the front leg, so they were uprooted completely and eaten, so the plains will remain grasslands for many more years. On our last game-drive we got a petrol car, which was not able to cross the risen river. We observed a giraffe for some time that was crossing carefully and slowly. We drove along the curling river viewing and photographing all kinds of deer and other animals in the far end we found a dead hippo which had become a vulture feast, where several dozens of birds had gathered. The foul smell prevented us from watching those birds for a very long time. Merijn was ha
ving fun with other kids in the camp making bow and arrow under guidance of the Masai. He also learned the local hole and bean game. The flight home went according to plan, and from above we saw many large herds of cows close to the Mara. At Wilson our driver was entering the gate as we were coming through with our suitcase.
Link to Heritage intrepid camp in Masai mara
oked with help of ICRAFs travel agent. We took a taxi to Wilson airport and some later we waited a few meters beyond the small planes that were coming and going, like a busy bus stop. With a total of 14 persons including pilot we were lifting off viewing Nairobi and especially Kiberra from above, but very soon the land was almost empty for apparent human activities except for an occasional boma. Then the grounds turned greener and we landed on a gravel airstrip with a little round shelter with a banana leaf roof that had seen better days, besides a toilet facility. The driver picked us up for a game tour right away and we saw a lot of beautiful animals before we arrived at the Intrepides campsite just before sundown. So we were having sundowners with some snacks. Merijn was invited by the Masai to take part in a kids quiz. We had already ordered our diner when he finished. The menu consisted of four courses with for each several options to choose from. After which coffee or tea could be requested. All was of the highest standard I have seen so far in Africa including friendliness and speed of the waiters. Following the illuminated path we found our way to tent #1&2, which are connected with a middle tent. Technically they are tents, since the walls are of canvas with mosquito netting windows, but size and standard there are more equal to European four star hotel rooms, with toilet and shower ensuite with new soft towels arranged in a inviting display. There were four poster beds for everyone of the usually Kenyan standard, which is very hard. On the 
backside we had a small private terrace with free view on the river. One night a hippo was taking a very noisy bath waking us all very early. There are three game-drives per day offered, the first before breakfast between, driving off 6 ‘o clock, breakfast can be brought along also for a picnic. The second from 10 to lunch, this started around 1230. The third in the afternoon, starting around 16 so everybody will be back before dark. Since this is our holiday and some of us are not fond of waking ea
rly, especially Merijn, we arranged with our driver that we would start our first drive after breakfast around 830 till lunch. We had a second game-drive too later that day for which my mom did not join us; her aging bone-structure does not appreciate off road driving. Although I have to say that the tracks were mostly very good, I have seen worse in Nairobi. From other Mara visitors I have heard that sport underwear is necessary attribute for well shaped ladies. A summary of the animals we saw can be viewed in the link at Flickr. I was very much impressed by the cheetahs, they are pretty big outside the tv box and even more beautiful, Merijn favourite too as well as many others. When we were watching them trailing over the plain we and another dozen cars were joining us, hoping to see the tree brothers hunting, but they never did that day. The lions were doing well, we saw youngsters with prey, just out of sight in the river bank, parents with cubs and a pair working on the next generation. The rivers were pretty crowded with hippos, which were totally not appealing to me; big, bad tempered, lazy and quarrelling. Besides the big five there were also many beautiful birds and butterflies to see. We saw a flock of female elephants with young, somewhere only few weeks old. The ladies were systematically selecting the small acacia between the grasses. Those were get a firm hold with the trunk and a few beats with the front leg, so they were uprooted completely and eaten, so the plains will remain grasslands for many more years. On our last game-drive we got a petrol car, which was not able to cross the risen river. We observed a giraffe for some time that was crossing carefully and slowly. We drove along the curling river viewing and photographing all kinds of deer and other animals in the far end we found a dead hippo which had become a vulture feast, where several dozens of birds had gathered. The foul smell prevented us from watching those birds for a very long time. Merijn was ha
ving fun with other kids in the camp making bow and arrow under guidance of the Masai. He also learned the local hole and bean game. The flight home went according to plan, and from above we saw many large herds of cows close to the Mara. At Wilson our driver was entering the gate as we were coming through with our suitcase.Link to Heritage intrepid camp in Masai mara
www.heritage-eastafrica.com/tented-camps/mara-intrepids
Link to a selection of animal photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30081401@N03/sets/72157623069427879/
Link to a selection of animal photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30081401@N03/sets/72157623069427879/
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