In the South West in Kenya we travelled to the Maasai Mara National Park. This was and will most likely be one of our best safari (travel) adventures. We stayed in a tented camp and toured for two days searching for the "Big Five." We also had the privilidge to be invited into a Maasai village for a tour. Below are some pictures of our experience.
We traveled in a rental Matatu organized by our neighbor Tony. Tony had friends in from the U.K. and from India. There was a total of ten of us on the trip. The roads were some bad, some very bad and some good (that is they were paved tarmak)
Some of the scenery enroute.
First night this was our camp site. There was a small problem at the "better" site so we were bumped to this one. It was still fine.
This is how the hot water is heated for the outdoor showers. At first I thought it a still for moon shine!
Dead water buffalo
A nice creek by our camp.
Luciana and Alex were down by the creek having some fun. Luciana is just fifteen and Alex just nine. I (we) all believe someone had a first awakening or crush as it may be!
Lucianna was good to him and played along.
Americans stuck really badly in a water hole. They had an afternoon flight out and apparently they made it! That was good as we were in the middle of nowhere.
Tony on the right and Alex (Sr.) from U.K. on the left. Nice people and had great fun.
I liked this pic as it provided a nice silhouette.
Baby.
The wilderbeast in the background. We missed the migration as it should be coming in about three more weeks. What happens is that these ones come first and call back on their cell phones to tell the rest of the herd that the grass is good and the aligators are sleeping!
Fresh kill by Lioness. Note how the skin is peeled back.
Happy with her kill and a full tummie, this is a soon to be Mommy!
She was beautiful.
Hyena waiting his turn, but Mommy to be still hovering around her kill.
We were very fortunate to come across two Cheetahs. Both had just fed and strolled to lay under a shade tree. Lori was emotional and got weepy...
Full, fed and free...
We travelled some more and stopped by the river to see the Hippos. That big mass behind us are not rocks!
Tony's wife Ruth in center with Rocky on the left. Rocky and I became good friends on this trip. Rocky is Ruth's brother and he works in Uganda.
Another rock outcropping...
This was the whole crew with back row left Tony, then Lori, our Maasi guide, Ken from India, then front row left Ruth, behind her Clara then Alex (Sr) both from UK, then Alex (Jr.) with his new girlfriend Lucianna.
Rocky already giving a "forceful" hug to Alex so Alex knows to be kind to Rocky's daughter!
Three tons of love, but beware these are very dangerous animals.
This is one of the many areas where the Wilderbeast cross to get to food.
The predators wait for their food to come.
And they keep on waiting....
Alex by an Elephant skull.
Close up of canines.
Hot chick...hey, that's my wife there fella...
This is the kill zone when the water buffalo cross.
Alex and his girlfriend.
Alex was look out while we changed tire. No shit, there are lions out here and you do not want to play around.
Our Maasai guide was worried for our safety.
Scenery is grand.
Impala
Seargent Gazelle
Water Buffalo
Bad weather, but almost home and the wheel on the van is still holding!
Alex and Mommy in our tent.
Evening dinner at the camp. Food was good and the company was fun.
Alex is looking across the table at his girlfriend. It is now confirmed.
This guy was a poser.
We were very fortunate to get up close and personal.
Mother with her new baby.
I do not remember the name of these guys but they were kind of a cross between a turkey and a partridge in Manitoba land.
Zebra showing us there tail.
Tails up, be careful the night is coming.
We arrived at our guides Maasai village and did a tour. The men in the tribe had killed a lion about two weeks prior and most of us took turns trying on the Lion's Mane hat. Most likely the lion was old and was abandoned by the females (big surprize) and killed a cow during day time.
The children are healthy and happy living a Nilotic life.
The cows are kept inside a large compound at night so lions and other predators are kept away. All the homes are inside the fenced in compound. The homes are build solely of a inside skeletal structure covered with cow dropping/dung gathered from the inside of the compound. The dung is also utilized for fuel.
This is the entrance to one of the homes. They are about 14 x 14 feet with two rooms. The first room where the entrance is is where the new born cattle are kept for safety during the night.
These are the sleeping quarters for the family. The Maasai are usually not inside the homes except to sleep, cook or during bad weather.
Unless you live herre it is somewhat difficult to understand, but these folks are very happy and healthy in their way of living. The Maasai are a proud people that once controlled about half of Kenya. They have always been opposed to slavery but did conquer many other tribes throughout history. By the 1880's the British took away two thirds of their land and through treaties in 1904 and 1911 the Maasai warrior tribe has been pressed into Southern Kenya and some small pockets elsewhere.
Happy Kids
Mommy with some of the women of the village.
Rocky and his daughter on the sleep home back to camp. Another good day.
High Fives all around.
First night this was our camp site. There was a small problem at the "better" site so we were bumped to this one. It was still fine.
Dead water buffalo
A nice creek by our camp.
Tony on the right and Alex (Sr.) from U.K. on the left. Nice people and had great fun.
Baby.
The wilderbeast in the background. We missed the migration as it should be coming in about three more weeks. What happens is that these ones come first and call back on their cell phones to tell the rest of the herd that the grass is good and the aligators are sleeping!
Fresh kill by Lioness. Note how the skin is peeled back.
She was beautiful.
We were very fortunate to come across two Cheetahs. Both had just fed and strolled to lay under a shade tree. Lori was emotional and got weepy...
Full, fed and free...
Tony's wife Ruth in center with Rocky on the left. Rocky and I became good friends on this trip. Rocky is Ruth's brother and he works in Uganda.
Another rock outcropping...
This is one of the many areas where the Wilderbeast cross to get to food.
The predators wait for their food to come.
And they keep on waiting....
Alex by an Elephant skull.
Close up of canines.
Hot chick...hey, that's my wife there fella...
This is the kill zone when the water buffalo cross.
Alex and his girlfriend.
We had a flat tire that was quickly repaired. Unfortunately the flat caused the tire rod to break later on in our journery. We did finally make it back to base camp.
Alex was look out while we changed tire. No shit, there are lions out here and you do not want to play around.
Our Maasai guide was worried for our safety.
Scenery is grand.
Impala
Seargent Gazelle
Water Buffalo
Bad weather, but almost home and the wheel on the van is still holding!
Alex and Mommy in our tent.
Evening dinner at the camp. Food was good and the company was fun.
Alex is looking across the table at his girlfriend. It is now confirmed.
This guy was a poser.
Mother with her new baby.
I do not remember the name of these guys but they were kind of a cross between a turkey and a partridge in Manitoba land.
Zebra showing us there tail.
Tails up, be careful the night is coming.
The children are healthy and happy living a Nilotic life.
The cows are kept inside a large compound at night so lions and other predators are kept away. All the homes are inside the fenced in compound. The homes are build solely of a inside skeletal structure covered with cow dropping/dung gathered from the inside of the compound. The dung is also utilized for fuel. 
This is the entrance to one of the homes. They are about 14 x 14 feet with two rooms. The first room where the entrance is is where the new born cattle are kept for safety during the night.
These are the sleeping quarters for the family. The Maasai are usually not inside the homes except to sleep, cook or during bad weather.
Unless you live herre it is somewhat difficult to understand, but these folks are very happy and healthy in their way of living. The Maasai are a proud people that once controlled about half of Kenya. They have always been opposed to slavery but did conquer many other tribes throughout history. By the 1880's the British took away two thirds of their land and through treaties in 1904 and 1911 the Maasai warrior tribe has been pressed into Southern Kenya and some small pockets elsewhere. 
Happy Kids
Mommy with some of the women of the village.
Rocky and his daughter on the sleep home back to camp. Another good day.
High Fives all around.
Good bye for now. Love most of you, try to be kind to one another.
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