My second day of touring began with a good breakfast at my Sunbird Lodge accommodations on Lake Elementaita. I devoured a plate of roasted potatoes, toast, and a fresh fruit plate of papaya, watermelon, and pineapple. Their chef does a great job of preparing fresh veggies and fruits. The meals are quite tasty.

After a quick early meal, I had some time to take a walk on the lodge’s balcony, prior to checking out. I enjoyed watching the colorful local birds fly by and grab a bite to eat from the outdoor feeders.

Lake Elementaita provided such a beautiful and tranquil panorama in the early morning hours.

Our guide beckoned us to board the safari van for our journey to the Masai Mara Reserve. Every so often, we would encounter wildlife, such as monkeys crossing the main roads.

We arrived at our accommodations a few hours later. Mara Leisure Camp is a tented camp, located within the Masai Mara Reserve. My individual tent was quite lovely and stylish with Masai decor. The spacious tent included a large queen bed, a desk, a couple of cushioned chairs, and a large bathroom. The front screen windows of the tent could be rolled up for a nice view of the nearby trees and river. A mosquito net was provided for the bed.

A main lodge building at the tented camp, housed a wonderful restaurant where guests are served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I was really impressed with the quality and variety of their meal options. Buffet tables held multiple warmed trays filled with veggies, grains, pastas, and beans. Another table presented several types of fresh fruits and desserts. I found many vegan sides and entrees. My delicious lunch that day consisted of sliced tomatoes, mixed veggies of potatoes, carrots, peas, broccoli, veggie breaded croquettes, and steamed white rice. A side salad accompanied my mid-day meal. The chef and waitstaff are very helpful and knowledgeable about their vegan options. The manager brought the chef over to speak to me about ingredients and asked if I would like for him to prepare a vegan dessert for me.

My excitement was starting to build! Soon after lunch, our guide asked us to board the van again to embark on our first safari in the Masai Mara Reserve! I had been looking forward to this adventure for many years! Our safari vehicle had a pop out roof, so that we could stand and take photos of the wildlife from a nice vantage point. The vans had air conditioning, comfy seats, and storage space for our soft-sided safari bags. Masai Mara is a large savannah in southern Kenya, covering around 1,500 square kilometers. Large populations of zebra, giraffe, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and wildebeest roam about the vast area.

Upon entering the vast park, we encountered a group of gazelle grazing.

A couple of baby warthogs were strolling around with their mother.

Then we noticed a diverse group of animals in close proximity. Gazelle, warthogs, and others sharing their space and getting along peacefully. What a precious sight to behold!

To the right of our van, we spotted a tall giraffe roaming around the serene environs. He was so close to us!

A number of safari vans were in the same region of the park that afternoon. Vehicles and wildlife were in close proximity and no one bothered anyone. Everyone went about in peace.

My experience was just like what you read about or see on tv or in movies…the giraffe towering proudly near an African savannah tree or in groups grazing on the native grasses.

Much to our delight, we came across a lion taking a nap under a shaded tree. We could see her heart beating as she rested under tree on a hot sunny day.

We also got up close to some warthogs.

At times, we saw the wildlife standing solo.

I also enjoyed seeing unique trees that are native to the region.

At other times, groups of animals were grazing together.

Then it appeared before our eyes! A hyena! I had never seen one before! This beautiful creature was laying in the grass, with his head facing towards us.

As we kept driving throughout the park, we encountered more wildlife in close proximity with other species.

And there it was! Another mammal that I had never seen in person before! A solo cheetah sitting up in the savannah.

We noticed that quite a few safari vehicles had quietly gathered in this spot. The reason became obvious to us shortly thereafter. There was a sighting of not one, but four or five cheetahs!

I could not help but wonder…what emotions and thoughts were running through the minds of the tourists who were in those vans that were closest to the cheetahs?! The animals actually got quite close to the front, back, and sides of those vehicles. My safari van was slightly further back, yet still close enough to feel the excitement! We watched as the group of gorgeous cheetahs marched slowly into the distance.

My next thrilling moment of the afternoon was when we encountered a lion. Moments later, we noticed a second lion coming from behind the bush. Then another and another. I believe that we counted about ten lions in total.

Another lone hyena strolled down a dirt path in the park, heading toward our direction.

More giraffe headed our way, as well.

Evening mealtime brought many herds of animals into the open. Giraffes were at play, tugging at each others’ tails.

And there it was… The ultimate Kenyan landscape photo opp.. The acacia tree during sunset.

As we started making our way towards the park’s exit, we noticed many more herds of grazing wildlife.

I felt fortunate to end the safari drive gazing upon a breath-taking sunset, with two precious giraffes directly in the panoramic view.

When we arrived back at the camp, there was just enough time to freshen up in our tents and then head to the main lodge for dinner. We were famished after our busy day. Another fabulous meal was awaiting me. I opted for some pasta in tomato sauce, mixed veggies(carrots, broccoli), roasted potatoes, steamed white rice, veggie ratatouille, pumpkin soup, and some chapati bread. A cup of chamomile tea was the perfect soothing beverage to end the day.

For dessert, the chef offered to make a “surprise” vegan dessert for me. The pineapple pudding with tamarind sauce was scrumptious.

My first day in the Masai Mara was spectacular. I enjoyed the stunning landscapes, the precious wildlife, the wonderful accommodations, and the amazing meals. I looked forward to the following day’s adventure in a different section of the Mara, where we would encounter other wildlife and experience the thrill of a ride on a hot air balloon.