My Big 5 + 1 of Masai Mara

In Africa, Big Five originally refers to 5 most difficult animals to hunt on foot. They are lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo.

Different people will have their own different "Big Five". I have my own interpretation of Big 5 too. They, to me are the interesting animals for their behavior shown or their activities.

Yes. Lion is my #1. Every time when the boss is feeding or eating. There will be some uninvited "friends" that will follow behind but keep a distance. When there are bits and pieces that left behind by the boss, they will pick it up. This jackal is following the lion every move but keep a distance and patiently wait for the free lunch.

#2 - The Leopard.

Just the stares from this animal is enough send chills down my spine. Beautiful yet illusive animals to observe.

#3 - Elephant

African elephant is bigger than the one I saw in Borneo, the Borneo Pygmy elephants. However, is this cute little baby elephant that won my heart. Don't you agree? This baby elephant is so curious about our presence and try to sniff us to see if we are friend or foe. Since we are at the headwind position, no luck for this baby elephant.

#4 - The Wildebeest

Wildebeest or should I say Wildebeests? Whether they are crossing the river or running away from predators. When the whole herd of wildebeest run together, is so magnificent!

#5 - The Zebra

In Masai Mara, you get to see Zebra crossing without Zebra Crossing!

#5 + 1 - last but not least, the Cheetah

Just like the slogan of one of the famous DC character - The Flash, "fastest man alive". For cheetah, they are the fastest animals alive! No where else that you get to see cheetah walk in this formation.

Really hope to go back again sometime during a different season. This basically sums up my trip to Masai Mara. See you again Masai Mara.

The Many Faces of the King

The lion has been depicted as "King of the jungle" and/or "King of beasts" and is one of the most widely recognised animal symbols. It appeared as a symbol for strength and thus became a popular symbol for royalty. They are depicted in sculptures, paintings, national flags, and in many films and literature. Even Singapore got it's name from Lion.

A male lion is seen crossing to another part of Masai Mara early in the morning.

I have never been so close to a lion before not to mention is "uncaged". Visit Masai Mara give me a lot of first, such as being so close to a lion just meters away in their natural habitat.

 At one point the lion is just less than a meter away right beside our vehicle.

Saw this lion late in the evening as the lion set his eye on the target and waiting for the night fall before making his move.

Another first time for me to hear the lion roar up-close. The roar can be heard throughout the night back in my tent as they are just nearby our tent! What an awesome experience.

 Another male lion with the beautiful sun-rise as background of the Masai Mara.

These lioness is roaming or inspecting their territory and will chase away intruder(competitor) if any. 

One of my favorite shot of the trip is this lion with it's prey in the morning. The condensation from the hot air breath out by lion give this image the dreamy feel without PS or filter.

 This is the typical lion with it's prey photo.

 When the fearsome predator in their sleep, they become cute kitty!

 This male lion with black mane is performing his duty to increase the populations.

Playing is actually part of the training to get them ready as the next king. These cubs will one day have their own pride ( living in groups of related individuals with their offspring).

Babies of Masai Mara

In the big Masai Mara plain, the young ones or babies are the cutest group. They are also the most vulnerable and are often targeted by the predators. 

Warthog may be easy to spot in Masai Mara, but not their babies. In a split of the second, this family of Warthog disappear in to the bush.

Even though this baby zebra feel secured surrounded by wildebeest, she is not too far from her parents.

The baby zebra is under close watch and well protected by both parents when they travel from one  place to another.

Baboon will carry their baby on their back when moving around looking for food.

A Giraffe with the young one.

Baby elephant right in the middle of the adults well protected.

Another baby elephant seen accompany by her parents.

Hippopotamus with baby out from the water.

Cheetah may be a fast and fierce predator, their baby is vulnerable and often targeted by other predator such as hyenas.

Lion may be called king of Masai Mara, their baby is easy target when their parents is not by their side.

Lioness with her cute baby.

Robber of Masai Mara

Different animals adopted to different approach to survive in the big Masai Mara plain. Most predator will hunt for food, some will scavenge and some simply just rob for food.

This cheetah is in attack position and all set to hunt for food to feed her cubs. The mother cheetah was too concentrate on the target prey and didn't realise the Spotted Hyena is watching her every moves.

 Once the cheetah go for the hunt, the hyena follow her foot steps.

 When the cheetah successfully hunt, a baby impala the hyena intercept and rob away her prey.

Since cheetah rely on speed for their hunt, they can't afford to get injured in the fight. So, the cheetah just let the hyena take her winning prize away.

 Poor cheetah cubs will have no dinner this evening and can only watch their dinner being taken away.

 Knowing the food is secured, the hyena start to feast on the robbed prize.

 In fact, in the next 2 days of my stay in Masai Mara, different hyena are using the same tactic.

This hyena didn't manage to secure the whole food and just got away with a limb...

Road to Masai Mara

While on our way to Masai Mara, we have a toilet break near Kiambu, saw something running around on the rock. The first thing that cross my mind is rabbit!

 On closer look, no doesn't look like a rabbit. Rabbit should have longer ears.

 When it climb down the rock, it looks like a guinea pig but so much bigger.

 My guide then tell me it is a Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis).

The rock hyrax , also called rock badger & rock rabbit. Although it may looks like rodent or rabbit, they are actually more closely related to elephant. Interesting! I'm not at Masai Mara yet and already met with one new animal that I g\have never seen before.

Birds of Masai Mara - Woods Scrub and Garden Part 2

This is the continuation from my earlier post on Birds of Masai Mara - Woods Scrub and Garden.

 A very beautiful African green pigeon doing some stretching which gave us the opportunity to get closer and have a decent shot.

 This is a rather common dove at Masai Mara, a Ring-necked dove.

 Another very striking colour bird, Holub's golden weaver.

 Compare to the rest, this bird is rather skittish. Took us a while to have a record shot - Yellow-spotted petronia.

 Rufous-naped lark is another skittish bird that just won't let you go near.

 Red-capped Lark took the vantage point on top of the rock.

 Black-lored babbler aka Sharpe's pied-babbler

Tawny-flanked prinia (Prinia subflava)

 What a beautiful bird - Purple grenadier

 Although the name Northern Anteater-chat. No luck of taking a photo of this bird feed on any ants.

Red-necked spurfowl aka Red-necked francolin out from the bush in the open.

Coqui francolin are more camera shy compare to Scaly francolin.