Safari in Masai Mara, Kenya (Photos)

Ah, the Masai Mara. Not only was it the dreamy setting for the final scene in Out of Africa, but it possesses a serene natural beauty. The Masai Mara, in the Great Rift Valley of southwestern Kenya, is one of the most densely populated animal reserve parks in Africa, despite being rather small. It’s roughly the size of Rhode Island with 95 species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles and over 500 different birds, including the annual Great Migration involving over 1.5 million wildebeest.

It is named in honor of the Maasai people, the indigenous tribe that own the reserve. They described the region as “mara” in their language which means “spotted”. Aptly named, the acacia trees’ circular shape (behind lion in photo above) from the sky does look like a cheetah’s spots.

Glamping in Masai Mara, Kenya

For our three nights in Masai Mara, Kenya, we stayed at the more luxurious of the two AndBeyond Masai Mara properties called Bateleur. AndBeyond Bateleur Camp is tribute to vintage African safari stays. It’s what you imagine Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart staying at in the movie African Queen. The lobby is decked out with old leather suitcases, hard helmet safari hats and black and white photos of Hollywood’s jetsetters circa 1900s mid-century.

The glamp style tents look out on the Masai Mara. It’s a common sight to wake up to zebras, giraffes or wildebeest on the horizon.

The dining, like all of the AndBeyond properties we visited during our first trip to Africa was stellar. And cocktails too. It was here we learned how to make Kenya’s national drink – the Dawa cocktail (vodka, honey and lime).

On Safari in Masai Mara

Masai Mara was special for another reason besides the glamorous digs. You see, we had been on safari game drives for a week before this in Ngorogoro Crater and the Serengeti. We were privy to many incredible wild animal sightings, including the Great Wildebeest Migration, but we had yet to see the endangered rhino or the shy leopard. If you’ve been, you know it gets tiring and dare I say, boring, if you don’t see anything special for hours on end. Lindsay convinced me to go out one more time for a half day. I begrudgingly agreed, saying I’d rather just do yoga on my tent’s porch and relax.

And I’m glad I did. It was in four short hours we saw seven lion cubs all lined up a grassy knoll, like they were posing for a family portrait. Our jeep was charged by a curmudgeon hippo. An ostrich, doing a wacky, elaborate mating dance, the like I’ve never seen via an animal or human. A cheetah in pursuit of her prey – gazelles that actually outran her. A mamma rhino and her ‘wee’ little baby rhino. And the grand finale? The elusive leopard made an appearance, if only for a second, perched in a tree and then dashing lighting fast into the bush for cover.

The last day on safari in the Masai Mara, Kenya was unique as well. It was the first and only time we went on foot. With a guide and bodyguard armed with a rifle, we marched out in the field to the river to watch the hippos by the riverbanks.

Our guide also pointed out helpful survival tips like how to avoid dangerous animals in the area by identifying their poop and the handy Elephant Ear tree. When in a pinch, the leaves are large, making an excellent eco-friendly substitute for toilet paper.

Bonding with a Maasai Tribe

One of my favorite experience of the entire 10-day African safari adventure was a visit to an authentic Maasai village in the Masai Mara. There’s a $30 dollar fee but the money goes to support the tribe.

For the fee, we received a tour by a sassy young, English-speaking tribesman (who wanted to marry us both in exchange for cattle!), a song by the Maasai women, a fire starting demo the old fashioned-way, permission to take photos of the locals and excellent ’boutique’ jewelry shopping from the women’s beautiful handiwork with beads.