Pictures from my week in the Maasai Mara

As I oft repeat: the Mara is one of the finest places on earth for wildlife viewing, and there is rarely a better time than during the Great Migration, with the hordes of wildebeest and zebras resulting in a huge density of predators nearby.  I just spent a week at the Great Plains properties, all found close to each other, in the Mara: Mara Nyika, Mara Toto (no relation to my favourite Japanese brand) and Mara Plains.  Here’s a selection of my favourite wildlife pictures from my time there.

Proud

We stumbled upon a pride of over 30 lions that had just made a kill and were tearing into it in the nearby bush. Now, I know I reference Jurassic Park more than I talk about luxury travel, but this was basically the raptor scene from the movie—30 lions feasting in the undergrowth, and all you can hear are growls and crunches without seeing a thing. It was like living out my childhood dream.  I had a weird childhood.  Here’s some nicer pictures of the cubs.

One minute you’re king of the world

The next you’re being pooped out by a hyaena.  This took place right beside the camp, where as we were coming back from a morning drive we could hear the warthog was not living his best life.

Hyaenas eat their pray alive.  You know like what else?  That’s right, velociraptors. The whole scene was dramatic to say the least—first the growls and squeals, and then the eagles swooped in for the scraps.

Look carefully

See anything at the back of this topi?

What about now?

This is honestly one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever witnessed—more beautiful and memorable than the birth of my own kids. Don’t worry, they can’t read yet, and given the state of the British education system, I’m fairly confident they never will.

We really hit the jackpot when my guide spotted a pair of hooves sticking out as we drove past. We waited for over two hours, and then—out popped this beauty.  It was a true lesson that patience often wins when it comes to wildlife sightings.  Another vehicle drove by, couldn’t be bothered to wait, and just 10 minutes later, the topi made its grand entrance. It only took four minutes for it to find its legs and start walking.

I saw the topi before the mother, which I think means I have paternity to pay for the rest of its life.  It was the only time I’ve watched an antelope and didn’t want a predator to come along, as it would have disturbed this miraculous event.

Now where’s a predator when you need one? Oh, too soon?

You’re having a laugh

There are so many hyaenas around that it needs more than one area dedicated to them.  Let me ease you in with some baby pics, as they are darn cute.

When hyaena met wildebeest

This did not end well for one of those parties.  I will let you guess which one.

Two’s company, three’s a crowd

This was an epic encounter where a male lion and two lionesses were tucking into a zebra tasting treat when a large clan of hyaenas showed up, and jackals were right beside them.  I was able to capture the hyaenas homing in before the lioness retreated.

Play time

This may look like your traditional English pub on a Friday night.  Or Saturday night.  Or Tuesday mid-morning.  But they’re actually just playing around.

River dancing

A river crossing is high on most people’s wish list when it comes to the Great Migration, and this one was nothing short of spectacular. Just one small issue: the crocodiles were so stuffed from their earlier feasting that the wildebeest were practically stepping on them, and the crocs couldn’t be bothered—they just slid out of the way.

Yep, that’s a crocodile in the middle there.

Cheeting

There were a lot of cheetah encounters too, including a failed hunt for some topi.

Just because

Some snaps that I just like.

You’re having a giraffe

The most epic moment of the trip? No photos—just a grainy video to prove it even happened. Mara Plains offers night drives, and in just two hours, I saw more lion action than I have in the last seven years of safaris combined.