THE MIGHTY MARA!

As we arrived at the Mara River there was a small herd of about 300 wildebeest, they were milling around looking very uneasy. This was our chance! This is what millions of people from the far corners of this globe hope and come here to see. This was our once in a lifetime chance.

Were these animals going to cross the river? We were prepared to be patient. We were prepared to wait all day if we had to. We had the perfect position and while we waited excitedly we wondered if the dinosaur sized crocodiles in the murky torrents below us knew what was about to happen? They too have probably been waiting for this moment for a whole year to fill their scaly stomachs. Hippos lazed about in the cool waters while first a Common Sandpiper and then an African Pied Wagtail picked parasites from their tough hides. An Elephant Bull was drinking on the water’s edge too. We did not know where to cast our eyes. This was a true African Theatre!

As the sun baked down on the canvas of our Landcruiser we all started to feel as lethargic as the beastly crocodiles looked. All of a sudden a ZEBRA started to lead the Wildebeest down the “plank” straight towards the jaws of the river but the croc was exposed and tried to slip into the perfect cover but the movement sent the zebra up the bank in a cloud of dust. The Wildebeest followed but the cloud of dust seemed to merge with the another cloud. Through the dirty air more Wildebeest appeared from the distant hills moving fast and determined towards the uncertain and nervous herd spooked by the zebra. It must have been about 2000 grunting Wildebeest and we all shot upright in anticipation, this was it!

NOOOOOO! A single Lioness appeared hidden, stalking this large herd from the cover of the bank. Although unbelievable and awesome, it was going to spoil the grand finale but wait, the thousands had not seen her and she disappeared into the thickets on the river bank. All we could do was wait with baited breath.

An hour passed and the lioness was a no show. The 2000 strong started to wander away and the sun started to turn orange. Disappointedly we decided to head back to the camp. THUNDERING HOOVES AND DUST STOPPED US IN OUR TRACKS as a smaller herd of about 300 Wildebeest were headed like a rally race towards the river. In they went , diving in one after the next on top of each other, splashing, kicking and swimming for their lives. Hippos stopped to watch and the monster Crocodiles headed towards the panicked masses. A big splash and one Wildebeest disappeared under the water, never to be seen again. Before long the Mara returned to its peaceful self while the Lions fed on a Wildebeest on the far side.

We drove back to the camp speechless, enjoying the sounds of the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Posted: Kichwa Tembo Masai Mara by Daryl Dell, Date: 17 November 2011

 
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