Safari Day 6 - Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara

After a restful night's sleep at the Great Rift Valley Lodge & Golf Resort we are up early and prepare to travel to our next safari camp at Masai Mara in southwestern Kenya. This day's breakfast was different; Instead of going to the restaurant for breakfast, we were driven to the golf course overlooking Lake Naivasha, Mount Longonot and the Aberdare Mountains.



Our breakfast was served under the trees at the edge of the golf course ...



and a view of Lake Naivasha and Mount Longonot.



A full breakfast, including made to order omelets, were available.



Local birds, such as this Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus), watched from the trees.



After breakfast it was time for some pointers from the local golf pros and a few practice shots.



The tips from the pros must have helped. It has been 20+ years since I've hit a gold ball, but I was able to drive the ball straight down the fairway.



A flower at the lodge parking lot.



As we travel from Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara we can see the plumes of steam rising from geothermal power plants in Olkaria.



We leave the main paved roads and travel down dusty dirt roads into the Masai Mara area where members of the Maasai tribe tend their cattle.





Safari balloon rides.



After hours on the road, we arrive at our safari base camp for lunch.





The camp swimming pool.



The camp is located along the Talek River and has a footbridge to cross to the other side. Also note the electrified fence to keep wild animals out of camp.



Our camp tent. This safari camp is run by the same company as our camp at Samburu.



In the early afternoon we are out for a game drive and soon find this spotted hyena not far from camp.



A Masai giraffe, also called Kilimanjaro giraffe, is the largest subspecies of giraffe.



Crossing the Olare Orok River.



A Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri). This is the largest species of hornbill worldwide and can reach a height of 4 feet.



A group of banded mongoose foraging for insects and small reptiles.



As late afternoon/early evening approached we started finding lions.



This pride of lions, consisting of several females, cubs and one male, was resting in the shade of a brushy area.



As evening, and the end of this game drive approach, we again cross the Olare Orok River and head back to our safari camp.



As we return to camp, we find this lioness with two playful cubs.



Not far from the lioness with the cubs, we find this male lion resting next to our jeep trail.



The activity from our Land Cruiser wakes up the lion as we return to camp for the evening.