[ast.ggn]

Wonderful travelogue and excellent pictures. Masai mara is on my bucket list for quite some time now. Hopefully some day soon!!!

[itwasntme]

Amazing! Thank you for sharing.

Approximate costs incurred (category-wise) would be very helpful for readers' bucket lists :-). Also any personal tips and tricks that you may have picked up!

[midazolam]

Lovely travelogue and pictures, thanks for sharing!
Africa is indeed very beautiful. Two years ago me and my wife did a trip to Botswana. We visited Chobe National park, Moremi Game reserve, Okavango Delta, Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Victoria Falls apart from other local attractions. The sheer size and grandiosity of these places is mesmerising. Africa truly is a land of natural beauty, it was the best trip we had. If someone loves wildlife and natural beauty Africa should be on their list.

While returning we also visited South Africa and drove from Jo'burg to Kruger National Park. Its a 5 hour drive and is as beautiful and exciting as the park itself. This should definitely on everyone's to do list.

[prajakt_23]

Wow! Excellent wildlife photography!
Not sure if I missed it, but didn't find camera gear, lenses which you have used on this trip. Any details which you would like share?

[Sounak04]

Wow!!
Your images are really awesome. I have to say Africa is one of the best places on earth if one is really into nature and wildlife.
My brother and sister-in-law stays in Gaberone, Botswana. I have visited them twice till date and both the times we went for the African Safari. There is a group called Wilderness Safari and they organised these safaris. I have to say the experience was surreal. Just being among those animals and the nature gives you a sense of enjoyment. You feel so relaxed.
Hope Africa stays the same as it is now and does not loose its natural charm.

[VijayAnand1]

Beautifully complied and nicely stacked. Surreal, and lovely photography. The lighting on some photos is absolutely brilliant.

Cheers!
VJ

[drive.click]

Originally Posted by Amrik Singh

Only Two words in appreciation of the terrific Travelogue and Photos

Just Beautiful

Rekindled my memory back by a Quarter Century - 1994 to be precise.

Thank You Amrik Singh.

Originally Posted by R2D2

Those are some awesome very sharp photos. Thanks for sharing!!

Thanks R2D2

Originally Posted by Miyata

Gorgeous. Fantastic. It's on my bucket list. Hopefully one day. A colleague of mine (from an earlier job) was from Kenya. Even 5-yrs after not being a colleague anymore I remain in touch with him and keep badgering him to share photos and videos whenever he is home in Kenya!

You must visit him then Miyata :-) . In my limited interaction I found Kenyan people very warm and welcoming.

Originally Posted by mpp19

I can only say that it's amazing. I am sure you enjoyed every bit of the time spent there. It's in my bucket list though and a safari visit in one of the African Countries is a must. During my Gir Safari Ride, I witnessed two lions having a feast from their hunt and I cannot describe in words, the supreme power the lions displayed.

Thanks mpp19

Originally Posted by libranof1987

Lovely travelogue and pictures - thanks for sharing! This is like a nice crash course of a NatGeo episode. We have in mind to plan a trip to Africa for a while now; waiting for my daughter to get a little older so she can understand/enjoy it.

Can you share the travel operator you went through and other logistical aspects (+ average per person trip cost) so our homework gets a little easier.

Thanks libranof1987. I will message you the details of tour operator.

Originally Posted by 1.2TSI7DSG

Beautiful pics.

Africa is on my bucket list of travels. Hoping I can do a trip soon!

Thanks 1.2TSI7DSG

Originally Posted by ChiragM

Wow. Excellent photos drive.click. Stunning.

This seems way too close for comfort.

Thanks ChiragM. There is a trench in between by design, so one is safe.

Originally Posted by Sheel

Wildlife out in the open and that too in Africa is mega, pictures are amazingly shot as well. Personally, loved the hunt sequence.

Thanks for sharing .

Thanks Sheel

Originally Posted by itwasntme

Amazing! Thank you for sharing.

Approximate costs incurred (category-wise) would be very helpful for readers' bucket lists :-). Also any personal tips and tricks that you may have picked up!

Thanks itwasntme. I will share the details of costs (just need to recollect a bit since this was done last year).

Tips-

• Choose a comfortable safari vehicle

• If possible see if you can make it to Ol Pajeta Conservancy, it proved to be an amazing experience

• In Mara park, choose the resort carefully, if possible which is in the middle of wild. That is great experience.

• While choosing the tour operator be vary careful and do independent research as well.

Originally Posted by midazolam

Lovely travelogue and pictures, thanks for sharing!
Africa is indeed very beautiful. Two years ago me and my wife did a trip to Botswana. We visited Chobe National park, Moremi Game reserve, Okavango Delta, Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Victoria Falls apart from other local attractions. The sheer size and grandiosity of these places is mesmerising. Africa truly is a land of natural beauty, it was the best trip we had. If someone loves wildlife and natural beauty Africa should be on their list.

While returning we also visited South Africa and drove from Jo'burg to Kruger National Park. Its a 5 hour drive and is as beautiful and exciting as the park itself. This should definitely on everyone's to do list.

Thanks midazolam. I have heard about this drive from Jo'burg to Kruger National Park- one of my friend had stayed in Jo'burg for few years, it is wonderful.

Originally Posted by prajakt_23

Wow! Excellent wildlife photography!
Not sure if I missed it, but didn't find camera gear, lenses which you have used on this trip. Any details which you would like share?

Thanks prajakt_23. I used two camera and two leses

• Nikon D5100 + Tamron 150-600mm G2

• Nikon D3100 + Tamron 17-50mm f2.8

Originally Posted by Sounak04

Wow!!
Your images are really awesome. I have to say Africa is one of the best places on earth if one is really into nature and wildlife.
My brother and sister-in-law stays in Gaberone, Botswana. I have visited them twice till date and both the times we went for the African Safari. There is a group called Wilderness Safari and they organised these safaris. I have to say the experience was surreal. Just being among those animals and the nature gives you a sense of enjoyment. You feel so relaxed.
Hope Africa stays the same as it is now and does not loose its natural charm.

Thanks Sounak04. I wish the same. Current situation in Botswana is not good though in past 2-3 months a lot of elephants have died suspiciously. Lets hope for the best though

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

Beautifully complied and nicely stacked. Surreal, and lovely photography. The lighting on some photos is absolutely brilliant.

Cheers!
VJ

Thanks you VijayAnand1.

[naveenroy]

Great pics! I loved that pic of the female Ostrich. Great captures.

[Avenger_123]

Awesome snaps, we were planning the trip this year, but Corona spoiled it.
Beautiful snaps, if you don't mind can you share the gear used for the pics.

[Slick]

Great travelogue , enjoyed all the amazing pictures and what luck to see two animals hunt, the lions and the hyena.

Looks like a great trip.

I was in Nairobi for some work last year, and visited the Giraffe center and Sheldrick Elephant orphanage. I couldn't make time for Masai Mara due to work, though all colleagues recommended the trip. May be next time.

I got to touch and feed the Giraffes and touch baby Elephants, being a wild life fan, it made me very happy.

If someone has a spare day in Nairobi, they can for sure also visit these places.

Thanks again for the travelogue.

- Slick

[Zen Av8r]

Thank you Drive.Click for a wonderful travelogue. Very nice pictures. I relived my short trip to Masai Mara in 2011. Now thinking to make the trip again with the family. Could you share the planning details and contacts as some other members have already asked. It would be a great help for those looking to visit the Masai in the future.

[Sidban85]

Awesome picks. We did a Kenya trip in August 2018. Amboeseli was teeming with elephants, Masaimara with wildebeests. We missed seeing any leopard, but saw other big game.
Repeating what you said: having the right vehicle is very very important. We had a Toyota Hilux van that didn't have 4×4 and so, missed able to cross a rivulet which had a leopard on the other side. We had to go around a longer way, by when, it was gone.
Amboeseli can also give you a glimpse of Mt Kilimanjaro if one is lucky.

[lamborghini]

Fantastic travelogue!

We did something very similar with my in-laws in 2018 as well; except we went to Lake Nakuru instead of Lake Naivasha.

Like you, we chose to go the travel agent route as it was easier to organize a vehicle, passes, etc. We were fortunate to have a great agent, and a brilliant driver/guide. The vehicle was a nearly new (3,000kms on the odo!) Toyota LC like you see here.

In Masai, we stayed at the Sarovar property which is inside the gates and definitely highly recommended. One of the days they even packed picnic brunch boxes so we could have a bite at one of the various spots where it is allowed.
Thereafter we visited Lake Nakuru which to be honest was not as great when you experience Masai Mara & Ol Pejenta Conservancy. Again, we stayed at the Sarovar property at Lake Nakuru.
Sarovar properties seemed to be popular with the Indian tourists, and most of the meals were primarily Indian food.

Ol Pejenta was absolutely fabulous! we stayed at Sweetwater property - I personally found the food to be significantly better here as compared to the standard fare at every Sarova property, and being so close to the animals was just amazing.
We went to the chimpanzee park & rhino park as well.

Attaching a pics from our trip - taken from a mobile phone so no where close to as fabulous as yours: The Masai Mara sunset : A picture every visitor will definitely recognize.

That being said, there were many points where the Animal Lover in me was a little concerned - such as the night safari where there seem to be no rules, especially coming from India where the Tiger Safaris are strictly regulated for the well being of their environment (specified timings, limited numbers, no mobiles, etc.).

Only regret for some of us were the unavailability of the Hot Air Balloon owing to the weather. Apparently a must-do!

[drive.click]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

Great pics! I loved that pic of the female Ostrich. Great captures.

Thanks Naveen!

Originally Posted by Avenger_123

Awesome snaps, we were planning the trip this year, but Corona spoiled it.
Beautiful snaps, if you don't mind can you share the gear used for the pics.

Thanks Avenger_123. Yes I used D3100 with Tamron 17-50 f2.8 lens mostly for landscapes. D5100 + Tamron 150-600 mm lens for almost all wildlife captures. (Only at places where lion was very closed I used the other lens for wildlife)

Originally Posted by Slick

Great travelogue ,..

I got to touch and feed the Giraffes and touch baby Elephants, being a wild life fan, it made me very happy.

If someone has a spare day in Nairobi, they can for sure also visit these places.

Thanks again for the travelogue.

- Slick

Thanks Slick! We somehow didn't had enough time to cover the Giraffe center, we thought of doing it while coming from Mara but not enough time was left.

Originally Posted by Zen Av8r

Thank you Drive.Click for a wonderful travelogue. Very nice pictures. I relived my short trip to Masai Mara in 2011. Now thinking to make the trip again with the family. Could you share the planning details and contacts as some other members have already asked. It would be a great help for those looking to visit the Masai in the future.

Thanks Av8r. I have given my tour plan at the beginning. I had planned the tour with Go Wild tour operator from Pune. Apart from the resort problem in Mara rest was organized well.

Originally Posted by Sidban85

Awesome picks. We did a Kenya trip in August 2018. Amboeseli was teeming with elephants, Masaimara with wildebeests. We missed seeing any leopard, but saw other big game.
Repeating what you said: having the right vehicle is very very important. We had a Toyota Hilux van that didn't have 4×4 and so, missed able to cross a rivulet which had a leopard on the other side. We had to go around a longer way, by when, it was gone.
Amboeseli can also give you a glimpse of Mt Kilimanjaro if one is lucky.

Leopards are difficult to sight and I am still hoping see my first one. I agree for the vehicle, we could reach some places to explore because of the 4x4 capability.

[quote=lamborghini;4840208]Fantastic travelogue!

We did something very similar with my in-laws in 2018 as well; except we went to Lake Nakuru instead of Lake Naivasha.

/QUOTE]

Thanks Lamborghini.

lovely picture of the Mara Sunset!

At Ol Pajeta we also stayed at Sweetwaters, its a great property. I agree with you, the Indian wildlife is much better managed and have a high discipline. Even if it makes sightings difficult as compared to Africa its better. In fact sighting in Africa are as such easier as its more of grass land as compared dense Indian Jungles. May be I just love India but I have liked Indian jungles more, its thick vegetation.

[lamborghini]

Originally Posted by drive.click

I agree with you, the Indian wildlife is much better managed and have a high discipline. Even if it makes sightings difficult as compared to Africa its better. In fact sighting in Africa are as such easier as its more of grass land as compared dense Indian Jungles. May be I just love India but I have liked Indian jungles more, its thick vegetation.

I agree - Africa is a completely different experience with the immense number of species & ease of sighting as compared to India.
But in India, part of the fun is going for a hunt to find the Tigers for example - such as tracking the warning calls, looking out for fresh tracks or markings, etc.

Hope to be able to go on one after this pandemic.