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The struggle for survival is ever apparent in Africa. This lioness had already lost the rest of her cubs to other predators. Our hearts went out to her. This was a solemn reminder that even the queen of African predators is vulnerable and exposed.

Unfortunately for the mother, the sole remaining cub is rebellious and independent. Strong willed and lacking basic caution, the young cub bounded off into the plains alone, despite the horrors it has witnessed previously. We watched helplessly as the less than confident mother scoured the plains for her child, growls growing louder and more frequent by the minute. The sense of panic was palpable – we knew where the cub was hiding, but she did not. Despite the droughts, the short grass makes a veritable hiding spot for young cubs who are eager to practice their hiding and stalking skills.

After a few minutes the cub lost its confidence and began to cry out for its mother – who ran quickly to its side, and took it lovingly and gently in its mouth. The ever playful cub protested at being carried but the mother resisted its cries, ever mindful of the need to protect her sole remaining child.

This post is the sixth in the series “Memories of the Maasai Mara” and is an extract from the Taraji Blue book “Memories of the Maasai Mara” …

Privileged to spend eight nights in the Maasai Mara in October 2009, we relished the opportunity to revisit our land of dreams.

Ever since our first visit to Kenya in 2005 we’d fallen in love with the continent and had longed to return. For four years we’d played our Africa CDs daily and viewed our photos longingly, anticipating the day we would return. Back in 2009 we had our chance…

Each morning we bounded out of our beds and into the wilderness, eager and hopeful of what the day would bring. We owe much of our success to the fantastic guides and staff of the Kicheche Bush Camp, Mara Safari Club and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, who we cannot praise enough and to whom we long to return.

It is through our experiences and time in Kenya that we tell, and re-live, our memories of this amazing continent, and above all, of the Maasai Mara.

Lion cubs rely on their mothers to not only protect, but strengthen them and teach them the skills essential for survival. This small cub, barely months old, displays not only respect but awe for its elders.

The Maasai Mara is a brave new world for this one month old lion cubs. Occasionally venturing away from the watchful eye of his mother the cub practice’s stalking in the short grass, pouncing on his brothers and sisters  to hone vital skills that will be required in later life if he is to survive beyond infancy.

 

This post is the 5th in the series “Memories of the Maasai Mara” and is an extract from the Taraji Blue book “Memories of the Maasai Mara” …

Privileged to spend eight nights in the Maasai Mara in October 2009, we relished the opportunity to revisit our land of dreams.

Ever since our first visit to Kenya in 2005 we’d fallen in love with the continent and had longed to return. For four years we’d played our Africa CDs daily and viewed our photos longingly, anticipating the day we would return. Back in 2009 we had our chance…

Each morning we bounded out of our beds and into the wilderness, eager and hopeful of what the day would bring. We owe much of our success to the fantastic guides and staff of the Kicheche Bush Camp, Mara Safari Club and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, who we cannot praise enough and to whom we long to return.

It is through our experiences and time in Kenya that we tell, and re-live, our memories of this amazing continent, and above all, of the Maasai Mara.

 

 

Infant elephants have little control over their trunks. They must practice coordinating its movement to source food, eat and drink. These valuable skills are learned from interaction with their environment and through social learning.

We watched as a baby elephant mimicked the behaviour of its mother and peers, learning the essential skills required to survive life in a transitory herd. The baby practiced crushing acacia thorn bushes with its feet to soften the plant before using its trunk to pluck the foliage and feast on this most minimal ration. The baby stole our hearts – occasionally he’d fall over his trunk or lose control of it completely, but he never stopped practising until the herd had moved on and he’d run as fast as he could to gain ground and practice crushing acacia thorns once more.

This post is the 4th in the series “Memories of the Maasai Mara” and is an extract from the Taraji Blue book “Memories of the Maasai Mara” …

Privileged to spend eight nights in the Maasai Mara in October 2009, we relished the opportunity to revisit our land of dreams.

Ever since our first visit to Kenya in 2005 we’d fallen in love with the continent and had longed to return. For four years we’d played our Africa CDs daily and viewed our photos longingly, anticipating the day we would return. Back in 2009 we had our chance…

Each morning we bounded out of our beds and into the wilderness, eager and hopeful of what the day would bring. We owe much of our success to the fantastic guides and staff of the Kicheche Bush Camp, Mara Safari Club and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, who we cannot praise enough and to whom we long to return.

It is through our experiences and time in Kenya that we tell, and re-live, our memories of this amazing continent, and above all, of the Maasai Mara.

Privileged to spend eight nights in the Maasai Mara in October 2009, we relished the opportunity to revisit our land of dreams.

Ever since our first visit to Kenya in 2005 we’d fallen in love with the continent and had longed to return. For four years we’d played our Africa CDs daily and viewed our photos longingly, anticipating the day we would return. Back in 2009 we had our chance…

Each morning we bounded out of our beds and into the wilderness, eager and hopeful of what the day would bring. We owe much of our success to the fantastic guides and staff of the Kicheche Bush Camp, Mara Safari Club and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, who we cannot praise enough and to whom we long to return.

It is through our experiences and time in Kenya that we tell, and re-live, our memories of this amazing continent, and above all, of the Maasai Mara.

Here’s my first recollection….

Driving towards a cheetah hunt our safari vehicle stopped in its tracks. Lying camouflaged in the grass was a newborn fawn. Still wet from the birth and estimated at a mere 30 minutes old, the baby had been temporarily abandoned by its mother who, exhausted from the birth, had left the child to graze on the open plains. Instinct kicked in – the fawn kept its head low and was deadly still. Somewhat defensively, vehicles began to park between the cheetahs and fawn, hoping to delay what looked like the inevitable. Ironically it was the grazing mother who was chased by the predators whilst the fawn lay undetected. When the time came to drive away from the fawn, exposing it to the predators once more, we could not look back, we could only hope that the baby would gain the strength required to move to safety.