African Safari

The Maasai Mara is stunning, of course, but all of Kenya is a wild ride

- Priya Pathiyan

Two fluffy-ruffed cheetahs lounge under a tree, one bright-eyed and alert, the other lolling languorously, safe in the knowledge that its sibling is keeping watch. Beyond the dainty-looking duo, the scrubland stretches to the horizon. For any wildlife enthusiast, a safari in the 1,510 square kilometres of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is a bucket-list experience that's worth every rupee spent.

The walkie-talkie on our 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser crackles "Roja, Roja!" (that's how 'Roger' in the local accent sounds) every few seconds. Since the African savannah is so boundless and the animals so plentiful and used to human presence, the game drives here are not conducted in silence as we try to in India. All the safari drivers are constantly on their walkie-talkies, comparing notes and their chorus becomes a part of the gaming experience.

Safari, so good!

The big five lions, leopards, elephants, Cape buffaloes, and rhinos are quickly checked off our list, but we also see a whole host of many different species. Zebra, two types of giraffes, varieties of deer, gazelle, hippo, hyena, baboon, ostrich, and unique birds aplenty.

In the Mara, we get to experience lions in many different moods too. Huge ones with massive manes sleeping atop spindly acacia trees that seem like they can barely take the weight. A pride of 10 sleepy ones dozing in the shade, only one or two bothering to wake up to notice us. And then the exciting spectacle of a group of sprightly lionesses planning and executing a high-energy hunt together while the males wait lazily to see what will be served for dinner. The female of this species is certainly deadlier than the male!