12/26

I spent the 24, 25, and most of the 26 in the Masai Mara. Specifically, I was in one of the national parks for a 3-day safari!

The drive from Nairobi took approximately 5 hours in one direction. I arrived at my accommodations late on the 24th (a tent). After dropping my belongings, I went on my first game drive. The vehicle was a revamped matatu: the roof opened up allowing passengers to stand and observe the animals.

I saw many wild beasts on within the first few hours alone. The most exhilarating included a cheetah, a leopard, giraffes, lions elephants, vultures (feasting on their find), water buffalo, and even a snake (that I later learned is very poisonous to humans. Nigerians often kill the type we encountered on sight)--all from a few meters away!

As someone who has not been camping, it was particularly tough to adjust to the tents. A bit of discomfort is expected, however, on a budget safari. The unique thing about our campsite is that the Masai people are in the area. They guarded it at night and could be seen everywhere. I was excited to interact with them, but my enthusiasm was quickly disbanded with my first encounter.

I was lost within the campsite and asked one of the men to take me to my tent. He asked me for my age, which seemed initially irrelevant, and I was impressed by his wonderful English. After I disclosed some personal information to a stranger I'd just met, he explained that he went and killed a lion within the mara at the age of fifteen--as a rite of passage into manhood. Impressed, I asked him about the history of his ceremony and the hierarchy within Masai society. My enthusiasm dwindled when he pulled out a sharp tooth-like figure on a cheap plastic chain and put it around my neck. He informed me that this was the tooth of a lion that he had killed--the very first one that marked his entrance into manhood. I observed the specimen. It was clearly not a lion's tooth. It was far too polished, clean, and artificial to have ever belonged on an animal. Playing along, I said it was my honor to accept his gift. At this point, he became bewildered and said that he would sell it to me for 10,000 shillings (100 dollars is 8,000 shillings). By this time we had arrived at my tent, so I thanked him for showing me the way and requested that he not put a price on his childhood memories.

I did not see him again for the duration I was at the camp. Overall, the safari was a wonderful experience in seeing animals in their true habitat. My tourguide was wonderful, and though the matatu transportation was a bit bumpy, I had a great time!