The Maasai Mara is maybe one of the most famous and important Natural reserves in the world, mostly known for the Great Wildebeest migration that crosses the Mara River. One of the greatest natural spectacle in the world.
This year it was all different, this year in september 2020 the Mara was empty. Not of Wildebeest, Zebras and Antilopes but of tourist. If you have ever visited the Mara you will remember the huge amount of Jeeps, Minivans that drive around hurrying to a location when wildlife is found. Even more during the Migration period, and when there is a possible crossing of the Mara, the vehicles gather around the shore of the river in hundreds.
This year is different....this is the worse year for traveling world wide, but it's actually the best year to travel. If you are allowed to travel, if all the quarantine rules of your country, and the country you want to visit mix and match allowing you to travel, do it. This year is the year you will be in the most busy place, at the most busy moment, by yourself, literally. And of course I have mixed feelings about this moment, I was almost the only international tourist in Kenya, all the lodges where at 0% to 30% occupancy, and this thanks to the locals. Countries that rely on tourism are now in really bad shape, so while I was enjoying the national parks all by myself, I also felt bad.
I Witnessed 7 crossings in 3 days, and on the last day, Saturday the 19th of September, being it weekends there was a "lot" of cars; maybe 20!
The other days I witnessed maybe the most incredible natural spectacle I've ever seen with maximum 6-7 cars on each shore, I even saw a medium sized crossing all by myself, and my Maasai Guide, Njapit.
What is the Great Migration in the Maasai Mara? Over 2 million animals, mostly Wildebeest, follow the rains in a clockwise migration between the Mara and the Serengeti. It is impressive to see infinite plains full, and I really mean full, of animals grazing. The noise of their "muuu" "mee" "mööö" fills the air, together with flies.
What's even more impressive than herds of 20 thousand or 200 thousand Wildebeest grazing? When they attempt to cross the Mara River.
Its a moment so tense that you feel it in the air, the animals know what could happen:
Crocodiles waiting under the rivers surface, the rivers current, fatigue, get trampled from the herd, Leopards hiding in the bushes that grow along the Rivers shore, Lions, Hyenas... all waiting the migratory herds...
In a total of 8 days I witnessed everything I wanted, I could imagine, and more...
The big cats activity was of course excellent, being this period of the year the best period for predators. Food is everywhere. For everyone.
First day we encountered my favourite African animal, the Cheetah. The fastest land animal in the world reaching over 110 km/h. And it got better, she the Cheetah mom had two 3 months old cubs following her. We stayed with her for a while, photographing the young cheetahs playing and training their skills while mom was checking the surrounding. All of a sudden, Njapit (Maasai Guide), says to me "we must leave, she wants to hunt" and we moved 300-400 meters away to let her choose the prey. Yes, we witness a perfect kill of a Gazelle! Well actually it wasn't such perfect kill because, mom left the gazelle hurt and brought it to the cubs, to make the kill it, or at least to show them how "food" actually reacts. The cubs looked a bit confused, and still have to learn that food runs, kick and has to be killed, at least it looked like that.
what an incredible day....here some snaps of that encounter.
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