Masai Magic…. by Vijayalakshmi

Let us start the story from the beginning – the planning. The incessant phone calls, the 24 x 7 chatting, even a flight to Mumbai for the VISA were all part of it. Long discussions, decisions taken, altered, some cancelled, the process continued. The classmates enjoyed it very much and so did their family. The co-ordination between the friends and the remarkable efficiency of the committees made it a hassle free trip.
The flights were comfortable. Each stay – tented or star hotel, was unique; noteworthy for the comfort, the facilities and the general ambience. And at each place that we went, the Kenyans were warm and hospitable, ready with a helping hand, ready to escort us around, warn us about the dangers around. The folk dance and songs in most places added to the festivities. Their vibrant dance reminds us of the natural athleticism of the Africans. The food too was good, especially the fresh fruits and vegetables. The food was the part everyone was most apprehensive about.
The Savannahs were simply breath taking. The vast expanse of grass land – never saw a sight like this before and just couldn’t believe we were in a forest. The African flora and fauna lay wide open in front of us. Each animal sighting brought in a fresh wave of excitement. It started from Ol Pejeta, even before we reached Masai Mara. The deer, the zebras, the fox, the birds – remember the secretary bird, wild boars, wild buffalo and finally, the royal one – a lioness. We had to wait till Masai to see the king himself.

The visit to the chimpanzee park was fun – come to think of it man has not evolved much from the time he was a chimp. The angry chimp responded just the same as our angry young men do, by pelting stones. Thankfully, the chimp could only gather some mud. The philosopher Socrates seemed aptly named – he continued his meditation.
From Ol Pejeta as we travelled to our next destination, we reached the Equator which traverses across the center of Africa, where we had some photo sessions.

The boating on lake Naivasha was a treat for the bird watchers. The handsome Fish Eagle swooped down to catch the fish our guide threw into the water. The nesting site of cranes was crowded with birds chirping and flying about – a bustling colony. There were many Hippos in the lake, but may be due to the heat in the afternoon, they remained submerged in the waters. The sight of hippos at night around our Sopa Lodge was thrilling. We could see them from our balcony. They seemed so harmless grazing around, not at all the dangerous killers they are made out to be.
Morning walk at Naivasha Sopa Lodge was really refreshing. Both sides of the road were full of giraffes. One baby giraffe crossed to the other side of the road and then the whole herd crossed over. It was a feast to the eyes. Later on, at a giraffe park in Nairobi, our children even got a chance to kiss a giraffe.

Then came the long journey into the jungles. Nairobi was a city like any in our country with all facilities and modern amenities. But as we moved into rural Africa, we could see miles and miles of barren land – no cultivation, no water bodies, just a few herds of cattle or a few donkeys here and there. The population too was sparse. May be the third World War is really going to be for water. The poverty was in stark contrast to the prosperity in Nairobi.
The journey to Masai Mara was a real roller coaster ride, but we all emerged intact and with enough energy to visit the model village, though it turned out to be a sham. The Game Drive in the Masai Mara National Reserve was the highlight of the whole trip. An African Jungle Safari was a dream come true. We drove through the Reserve, on the roads, off the roads looking for animals and we found plenty.

The graceful and agile Cheetah remained elusive until our driver cum guide Willy spotted him in the grass. Then he came out and walked around for all to see and walked back into the grass. He seemed made for the savannas – the same height and same colour as the grass, ideal for the camouflage while hunting.

The wild beasts and zebras were innumerable all over the place, they kept moving on and on. Even the horizon was marked by the dark line of wild beasts in migration following one another, just like in the pied piper. Plenty of deer, different types of antelopes – impalas, water bucks and gazelles could be seen. Again, we spotted some giraffes. Vultures and hyenas, the scavengers were also spotted. Vultures were busy with their job of cleaning up the place. Herds of elephants were rather fewer than expected and our guide was wary of going near the elephants. Lions were spotted again and again. A pride of lions lay in the sun satiated from a fresh kill. The carcass nearby was surrounded by vultures. A group of young cheetahs resting under the shade of a tree after their successful hunting was also spotted. Before lunch we found time for a walk along the Masai river where we saw the hippos and crocodiles resting.
The bush lunch arranged for us was a novel experience. Post lunch session of the journey witnessed two flat tyres. But the energetic drivers took it in their stride and our young turks considered it another adventure. At the end of the day, everyone was happy; man and animal.
Finally about the cultural events and the informative sessions we had. The young and old (?) all took part in the music session. The special Masai song performed by the ladies gang was fun – everybody could join in with the chorus ‘Asante Sana’.
The Past, the Present and the Future were the topics of discussion. The past was full of amusing anecdotes. The present – now it was becoming serious talk and there was variety too – aerospace, flood and crisis management, personal tragedy and child abuse and so forth. But the most extensively discussed session was the Future – it required a full evening. The charity work launched by CET Alumni – HOPE – was highlighted. The new gen was opening up – their ideas, their ambitions and their fears were spoken out loud and clear. They didn’t shy away from speaking their minds. The debate continued – were they being tied down by traditions and conventions – the youth and some of the older ones thought so. Was the wisdom of the old being ignored – the rest of the group thought so. The jury is still out on that. Let us wish our children the very best. Let their dreams come true.
The Masai Mara days ended with a bush dinner and camp fire. Then it was a long journey back to Nairobi through the Great Rift Valley. Back in Nairobi, we visited the Elephant Camp where the orphaned elephants were well cared for. The visit to the giraffe park followed. The giraffes – the tallest animals alive – are an endangered species and if we are not careful, the future generations will surely miss them.
We also found time for some shopping and then it was time to go back home. Memories of Masai Mara linger on….