We started early this morning from Nairobi, after saying goodbye to our wonderful hosts Millicent and Stephen. Our jeep was fully loaded and we started off on our 6.5-hour drive to the Maasai Mara. Traffic was super thick but the roads, at least initially, were in pretty good shape. After 4 hours, we stopped for a restroom break and to stretch our legs. Soon after departing the rest stop, the roads turned to dirt with washouts and potholes galore. It was very slow going and the trip turned into 7.5 hours. We pulled in to Mara Crossing Camp at 3pm.

After lunch, we climbed back into our Land Cruiser for a late afternoon game drive. We had not been out long before our guide heard of a lion sighting. We pulled up to see a mating lion and lioness, napping in the shade of an Acacia tree. Lion pairs mate for 5 days and can often “wear themselves out”. These two were definitely not interested in the 4 or 5 jeeps that had circled around them, watching them sleep.

Next, we found a lioness with her three cubs, likely part of the lion pride that the last two belonged to. The guide says the cubs were between 1 – 2 months, and they sure were cute. They frolicked and rolled around, while mom slept. Off in the distance, we saw another lion and lioness napping in the shade.

The sun was going down and the colors were amazing against the vast landscape. What a great first day on safari.

Tomorrow: All day game drive in Maasai Mara.