Our final Maasai Mara National Reserve safari started at 6am. The sunrise was brief yet spectacular. Our guides hoped to find a leopard before we left, but the search turned up a family of giraffes instead. Two of them were play fighting and I was more than happy to sit and watch their antics instead of driving around.
After seeing several lions, including a beautiful full-maned male, it was time to head back for a full breakfast before departing. British tourists (and those who ended up with a taste for British food because of colonialism) are a clear market demographic as the breakfast included baked beans. Coconut has also been used heavily in the meals, which I love.
While waiting for our ride we had just enough time to check out the Enjoolata Center, which includes an educational component for tourists, a community education area, and a craft area for locals to make beadwork to sell. One reason I chose Basecamp is that they work extensively with the local community.
The drive to Basecamp Eagle View was around an hour. The distance is short but the road is unpaved and rocky. It was surprising to see how much the landscape changed going from the National Reserve, where no cattle are allowed, through a community area, and finally to Naboisho Conservancy. Conservancies start by everyone living in an area agreeing to move in exchange for a portion of yearly conservancy fees. Naboisho also allows the grazing of livestock, so the grass is very short compared to the National Reserve.
Some of the area’s rock includes salt, so the exposed surface near the river creates a natural salt lick that attracts animals. When we first arrived the scene was like someone’s idealized view of wildlife, with literally hundreds of zebra and 24 giraffe (Soren counted).
After lunch and short naps we had our afternoon safari. Our guide was excellent, relaying information about the animals and area while also scouting areas to visit. The relatively small size of the conservancy made for a much more relaxing pace. Our top request for animals to see was “babies” and they were in abundance: two young elephants, a wee hippo (still terrifying), three itty lion cubs (too hidden to get great photos), and more zebra than I can count. Somehow we also came across a lion pair who, after walking by the vehicles, decided to mate.
We will be sad to leave Eagle View after only one night. It’s treating us well.
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