Safari Chronicles: Day 9 -Autumunal Equinox
Today was a magnificent day from the time the sun rose until it set!!! We arose in the cool morning air and the sound of lions roaring in the distance to do an early morning game drive and after watching a spectacular sunrise on the Mara plains we drove through the long grass which has been shortened by the annual migration this year that seemed to have been dramatically curtailed with the migration heading back into the Serengeti after only being in the Mara for two months….HUGE fires are on the horizon as the old grass is burned off in anticipation of rain and new growth…praying that they keep it under control…In the distance a few hippos were making their way laboriously grazing all the while to the river having spent the night out grazing
As we drove along the Olare Orok River we eventually came upon a pride of lions with an older magnificent male strode along on the other side of the river He had a magnificent mane and a few battle scars …we went to visit the ladies of the pride eventually who found their heads to heavy to keep upright and so they soon flopped down in the grass and went to sleep. On and on we drove until we happened upon a mother cheetah and her 3 cubs relaxing onto of a termite castle…soon they got up and came striding accross the plains apparently in search of shade and perhaps a vantage point to secure dinner while hiding the cubs?? What an amazing morning we had and after lunch and a little R&R we headed out onto the plains and this time very fortunate while sheltering under some trees lo and behold a Leopardess!!!! We were reaaaally excited especially as no one else was there Elephants and the morning pride that had moved to the banks of the River
The sun finally set on what had been truly a magical day.
