Our welcome by the Masai

This was the only lodging where we were in "tents"

 Basically canvas walls and roof and wooden floor.

The tents were arranged along the river.

Which was home to a collection of hippos

Topi

Topi

Giraffe

Female Giraffe

A spotted hyena enjoying the fruits of some one else's labor

A cackle of hyenas have raided a buffalo kill.

A cackle of hyenas dining on a cape buffalo

Right around the corner we came across these lions resting in the grass.  More than likely they took down the buffalo and the hyenas were there to pick up the scraps.

These were contented lions and paid us no attention.

We could get within 50 feet of them and it did not phase them one bit.

This gal walked around the vehicle and joined the pride.

Oh well, another day, another tourist.

The next morning we took a balloon ride over the Masai Mara.  We had to get into the basket while it was on it's side.

Start filling up the balloon with hot air

Almost there!

Resa and Dave

Tom

Ready for take off

We're on our way.  What a peaceful ride it was.  This region is contiguous with the Serengeti in Tanzania.  Can you imagine the site of 1.5 million wildebeest, 0.5 million zebras and countless Thompson Gazelle migrating through here?

The grass is still green from all the rain the region go this year.

Great traveling buddies!

Janet and Tom

On the ground safe and sound.

On the way to our bush breakfast,we came upon a pride of lions.

This is a younger male who was part of the pride.

After breakfast we came across this Cheetah, right out in the open.

Something caught it's attention.

It took off and passed right under our vehicle.

He was after an Impala but wasn't fast enough.

Close but no cigar

"I can't believe he out ran me!"

An iris outside our tent.

As I was walking back to me tent, a groundsman pointed up into the tree next to our tent.  I caught this owl there.

As I was shooting it leaped off the branch and flew away.  You can see it here with its legs off the branch ready to fly.

On our last game drive we spotted our first leopard. I wasn't fast enough to catch his face before he darted off.

It's so peaceful out here.

Waterbuck