Public Health Nursing Adventure: Safari - Masai Mara is Wildlife Extraordinaire!

Day 41-Thursday, November 1-Ol Moran Tented Camp, Masai Mara National Reserve
How can I describe what an amazing experience we've had viewing wildlife in Masai Mara National Reserve over the last 2 days? I'm afraid I'll run out of superlatives. Maybe a short description, then I'll let the photos speak for themselves:

This grazing herd completely surrounded us at one point

Lion prints in mud was promise of what was to come!

Cub drinking after gorging itself-it's belly was so round!

King of beasts

Hippos resting on shore of Mara River-they travel 10-15 km at night to graze

Amazing lizard on rock near Mara River

Two cheetahs resting-must have fed earlier

Family group

Entrance to Masai Mara National Preserve

3 weeks after the major wildebeest migration-still saw 1,000s

Wildebeests-Thousands & thousands everywhere...and these are the stragglers from the major migration of millions of animals that occurred 3 weeks ago as they began their return journey to the Serengeti Plains in Tanzania immediately south of Masai Mara. They will return north in June.

Lions-Close-up views 2 major prides after they'd made kills; one was lazing around, obviously stuffed, while the 2nd was in the midst of tearing apart a wildebeest the lionesses had killed 1-2 hours previously. Neither seemed concerned in the slightest in our presence. We got fabulous photos & videos. You will be amazed! Viewed another group of 4 females in open grassland; however, they seemed interested in us (looking at us as possible prey?), making us think it had been a while since they'd eaten!

Elephants-many different herds: one large herd walked towards our open-topped vehicle as they grazed & seemed completely unconcerned; at one point we were completely surrounded by them; another smaller herd gathered in the shade of an acacia tree, rubbing against its bark with their skin; that group of females included a small calf & an adolescent in addition to moms & aunties.

Giraffes-so many different groups; so graceful as they walked by us, seemingly in slow motion.

BIG croc next to Mara River

Hippos & a huge crocodile-along the banks of the Mara River.

Cheetahs-observed a a female & her adolescent offspring, lazing in the sun, apparently stuffed after a kill, resting, unconcerned by our vehicle & our presence; but I noticed their rapid respiration rate (being the good nurse that I am) and counted them (~128 breaths/minute).
Servile cats-saw 2 of these elusive, solitary cats our guide says are rare to see; warthogs-frequently saw a mother followed by numerous piglets (?).

Zebras, Cape buffaloes, Thompson gazelles, impalas-too numerous to count or describe.

A zebra foal & his mother

Saw many solitary ostriches like this male

Masai Mara has got to be one of the most amazing places on earth to see wild animals on their own terms in their own habitat!

Cute safari couple at Mara River

"Do you want to visit Tanzania" our park ranger asked? "Yes" we replied, after learning it was only a short distance away.

Altho we did not see any leapords, we did see evidence of their kills hanging in trees to keep it safe from hyenas & jackals.

We toured a nearby Masai village. They entertained us with traditional dancing. Here, the higher a young man jumps, the less cows he needs to pay for a bride price!