First Animals in Masai Mara

“Is that a buffalo? What is that colourful bird? Oh my God, look at the zebra!” Those were the first reactions we got, Joumana and I, as we entered the Masai Mara National Reserve. We still had an hour drive to get to the hotel because the road was not paved. Albert was driving and Peter, the Serena Hotel manager, was sitting next to him. Albert didn’t make many stops because we had to arrive quickly at the hotel for the restaurant to serve us lunch.

We arrived at the Mara Serena Hotel at 2:30 pm. The hotel was in the middle of the reserve with a fence around to prevent the animals, all but the baboons, from jumping inside. No one was allowed outside from 6:30 pm to 6:30 am. It was a little like a prison, but what choice do they have, it would be very dangerous wandering outside at night.

We checked in quickly at the front desk and had lunch at the restaurant. Our room was fine and colourful but without a television, which was kind of good.

At 4:30 pm we would have our first safari! If we went earlier, it would have been too hot to be able to see animals, since most of them would be sleeping in the shade. Albert came to pick us up at the hotel’s lobby and off we went. We saw cheetahs, lions, zebras, and many more creatures. It would only be an appetizer for all the other great safaris we would come across.