The thrill Continues on Day 3
After two incredibly successful days, we were excited for what Day 3 might bring. It was still dark when we left the resort at around 5:45 AM. Right from the start, we decided to dedicate the early morning hours to searching for predators. Soon, we reached a large tree where a half-eaten kill was hanging from a branch meaning there is definitely a leopard around and might come to the kill anytime. Like yesterday, few vehicles had already gathered, all waiting patiently for the leopard to return . After about half an hour of quiet anticipation, we heard Kane's Sneaky voice "Guys, be ready. Leopard is coming to the tree". The light was still low, and we could only make out her silhouette as she emerged from the shadows and walked toward the tree. We quickly setup the cameras and got ready to capture him while climbing the tree. Without wasting a second, she jumped onto the trunk and climbed straight to her favorite resting branch. Kane believed she might be Chilli, an active leopardess known in this area. She made herself comfortable there with all four legs and a tail hanging. We did not even realised when sunrise happened from the back, bathing her golden coat in beautiful morning light. She looked completely relaxed, at times yawning lazily while grooming herself. It was a perfect portrait of calm confidence.She was very relaxed over there just yawning and cleaning herself.
After sometime, she stood up and effortlessly moved to the higher branch where her half-eaten kill was placed and started feasting on it, holding the carcass firmly with her powerful paws. At one moment, the prey almost slipped from the branch, but with remarkable strength and balance, she quickly pulled it back. Even after an hour, she was not finished with her meal and it looked like she will rest on the tree for even longer. We were fully satisfied with this incredible encounter, and decided to move on. What an experience it was to start yet another exciting day.
 |
| Leopard on tree with kill - Iconic frame from Africa! |
As we were was still in beautiful golden hour we continued our search of predators and we just stumbled upon a group of 3 lionesses (not sure of the Pride), just relaxing behind the bush. Looked like they were resting to regain some energy after a long morning stroll. While we were busy taking some portrait shots, unknowingly a Topi came very close to them. As soon as he saw the lions behind the bush, he quickly turned around and ran away. Lions got disturbed with the sudden movement around, they just looked at the topi and ignored. We could then hear some alarm calls from the distance. This is the first time we heard alarm calls after encountering so many predators which was surprising. After some time when these lionesses looked in no mood to get up and move, we left them behind and continued our drive.
Now it was time to enjoy our breakfast in the wild - one of the highlights of African safari. While Kane was searching for some interesting breakfast spot, a big male olive baboon crossed in front of the vehicle and quickly went into the thickets. We waited there to see if rest of his group follows but looked like he was alone. He moved so quickly that we managed to get just a record shot. After a while we found a perfect breakfast spot under the lone acacia tree in the middle of a vast grassland. To make things more wild and realistic, Kane was wearing his traditional Masai attire. He beautifully arranged the breakfast on the bonnet the vehicle. Having such a delicious breakfast in the middle of the Savannah surrounded by endless wilderness, along with some fascinating stories of the wild from Kane was a truly unforgettable experience. He told us a lot of interesting things about Masai mara reserve, The Masai people and their traditions.
Just as we were finishing up, another surprise awaited just behind us. There was a beautiful full grown Masai giraffe fearlessly walking towards us. What a beautiful sight it was. Seeing this iconic animal of Africa on foot, so closely, was thrilling and surreal experience we could ever dream of. For a moment, as it walked straight down the road toward us, we got a little anxious, but Kane calmly reassured us that we were safe. The majestic giraffe then continued on its way, leaving us mesmerised by its elegance and beauty. After capturing some of these special memories, we continued our journey deeper into the wild with renewed energy.
 |
| Breakfast in the wild with Masai friends |
Now we were moving along the other boundary of the park which is closer to the Masai villages. The landscape here looked quite different - the grass was much shorter than in other parts of the park, giving us wide, uninterrupted views of the plains. Because of this shorter grass ideal for grazing, we could see large herds of herbivores scattered across the grassland.
There were impalas, Topis, Waterbucks, Gazelles, Zebras, and even a few Wild boars sharing the same feeding grounds. It felt like a classic Masai mara scene - the famous wildlife wildlife frame many of us had grown up watching on National Geographic. Although the great migration season was yet to begin, the massive herds of Wildebeests were missing here, we still managed to spot a couple of them nearby. It was very satisfying sighting for us because they are one of the iconic animals of this land.
We also spent some time near a large herd of Zebras grazing very close to the road, completely undisturbed by the safari vehicles passing by. They were scattered in small groups of two or three, calmly feeding across the open grasslands. This was our first close encounter with zebras in the wild, and we were truly fascinated. We had seen them before in zoos, but watching them roam freely across the vast plains, moving naturally in their own habitat, felt entirely different and almost magical. Their striking black-and-white patterns against the golden-green landscape created a picture-perfect scene we will never forget.
While we were passing through this area we also saw a few Maasai villagers who had brought their cattle to graze . Watching them move calmly among the wildlife was a fascinating sight. It was a beautiful example of coexistence between the Maasai people and the wild inhabitants of the Masai Mara.
 |
| Gems from Wild Africa ! |
As we drove further, we could clearly sense that Kane had a specific destination in mind. He was moving steadily in one direction, not even scanning for other animals along the way. It felt like he was focused on searching something special. Soon we arrived near a small pond surrounded by marsh and tall grass. Kane slowed down and quietly pointed toward a slight movement in the grass. Within moments, two stunning birds emerged out of the grass - and to our absolute delight, they were Grey crowned crane. Oh my god, we could hardly believe our eyes. This was the one bird we had been asking Kane about since the day we landed in Kenya and today he gifted us with the sighting of this couple together. What a special moment it was!
With their striking golden crown, vibrant plumage on wings , touches of red and white on the face, and those mesmerising blue eyes, they looked like the kings of Savannah - truly a masterpiece by nature. Kane carefully positioned the vehicle as close as possible without disturbing them, giving us the perfect opportunity to photograph the pair as they walked gracefully through the lush green marshland in perfect harmony. It was undoubtedly the most beautiful birds I had ever seen. With no other vehicles around, We could spent a long, peaceful time with these magical creatures - simply observing their behaviour and admiring their graceful presence. Although we got some stunning photos, we all knew that no camera could do a justice to their regal beauty.
Eventually, as more safari vehicles began to arrive, we decided to move on and give others a chance. With heavy hearts but minds filled with unforgettable memories, we slowly left the spot and continued our journey. Full credit for this incredible sighting goes to Mr. Kane. It was his sharp instincts, deep knowledge about the species, and years of experience navigating through these lands made it possible. We were truly grateful to him from the bottom of our hearts. This was definitely the most special highlight of this entire journey. Even after we had driven quite far, this pair of cranes was still on our minds. We couldn’t stop talking about their beauty.
 |
| Grey-crowned Crane - Nature's Masterpiece ! |
Suddenly, Kane stopped the vehicle, anticipating some movement at a far distance. He quickly looked through his binoculars and confirmed that a cheetah was moving across the grassland.
We rushed to the spot, where several vehicles had already gathered along the road. A female Cheetah calmly crossed the road making a way between the vehicles and headed into a vast stretch of grassland on the other side.
Unaware of the silent predator approaching, few herds of impalas and gazelles were grazing peacefully on the other side of this grassland. Looking at her movement, she definitely looked in hunting mood. Anticipating her next move, the vehicles repositioned themselves at a respectful distance on the other side of the plain and waited patiently. She was moving slowly and carefully, pausing occasionally to scan the surroundings - probably saving some energy for the final attack.
Soon the cheetah began approaching our direction, and we had to leave the hornbills and quickly reposition the vehicle for a clear view. She came remarkably close to our vehicle and luckily sat atop a small termite mount in front of us. From that distance, we could truly appreciate the royalty and grace of an animal. It was a perfect blend of cuteness and wilderness together.
She waited there for some more time observing the herd carefully, and then slowly started stalking them. The vehicles spread out even further, giving her open space. Now she was dangerously close to the herd and fortunately for her, 2 of the gazelles separated from herd were moving in her direction. Tension increased in the surroundings and all the cameras were set and everyone was on their toes.
As one of the gazzel moved little closer to her, she dropped low into the grass, took a stance, and within a moment sprinted towards him like a bullet. But the gazelle reacted on time quickly turned back and ran incredibly fast towards the herd. The chase game continued for few seconds but finally gazzel won the race for his life and disappeared into the tall grass at other end. Disappointed cheetah stood still, watching the herd scattered in panic. The opportunity was gone and now she has to patiently wait and work really hard for another. This was a prime example of how tough the Survival can be even for such a skilled and powerful predator.
 |
| Cheetah in the hunting mode |
This may be a tough day for her but for us it was a lifetime experience witnessing the world’s fastest land animal in full action. We were totally stunned by the drama unfolding in front of us and even forgot to check our camera to see if we got any shots or recordings. That was wilderness at its best and we couldn’t have asked for anything more for our morning drive on that day.
On our way back, the landscape was painted in countless shades of green, spread across the endless plains until the horizon. The recent rains had brought the savannah to life. The beautiful cloud formations in the blue skies making the scene more dramatic. There, we saw a small group of Southern Grounded Hornbills - another special birds from Africa feeding in the grass. When observed closely, they had a fascinating feeding style. They picked the insects from the grass with their long beak, toss it into the air, and catching them effortlessly before swallowing. That was quite interesting behaviour.
 |
| The Beautiful Masai plains ! |
When we returned to the resort and started getting ready for the evening drive, the weather drastically changed just like yesterday. Dark clouds quickly gathered followed by a few strong thunderstorms and heavy showers. By now, we had started getting used to the ever-changing weather of the Maasai Mara. So without worrying too much about it, we set out for our evening drive with the same excitement.
Soon we had our first sighting of the evening- It was a majestic male lion resting quietly beside a thick bush. We waited for sometime for the king to get up but he was unmoved. It was still drizzling, giving us a great opportunity to capture some dramatic headshots with glowing droplets on his mane and a quick video of head shake spraying the water all around. Although we were not that lucky, we still managed to get some good portraits of the king when he got up for a minute and wend deeper inside the bush.
Soon after we continued our drive, we spotted a pair of Common ostrich walking gracefully across the vibrant green plains. This iconic and mysterious bird of Africa had been there high our checklist and we were searching for him since the first day. Their tall silhouettes looked stunning, especially when they gently weave their feathers creating a classic African savannah frame. As we got closer, we were really amazed by the huge size of this bird and we just wondered how they can run so fast with such a gigantic structure.
 |
| The Common Ostrich |
While we were still busy photographing the ostrich, we suddenly noticed number of vehicles rushing in same direction. Looking at the urgency in their movement we could guess that something exciting was happening, so we quickly followed them. At the very next junction, we saw around 20–30 vehicles gathered in a tight circle, all of them were focused on something at the centre. Even after getting closer, it was difficult to see what was happening, but eventually we got a glimpse - a male Cheetah sitting beside a freshly killed baby gazelle. Immediately we realised, when we saw the vehicles moving quickly, the hunt must be ON and just before we reached at the spot, he might have grabbed the gazelle and now calmly relaxing before feasting on this hard earned reward. In the morning we saw the luck was on gazelle’s side but now it was the Cheetah who won the race of survival - Thats rule of nature. With so many vehicles around, it was nearly impossible to position the vehicle for a clear view, so Kane wisely decided to wait patiently for our turn. Seeing at the number of vehicles around I genuinely lost the hopes of getting a good position until the Cheetah finishes his meal. To our surprise, within next 10 mins few vehicles started moving away making place for the new ones and we managed to grab a perfect spot. When we looked closely, the carcass of a kill was already open from behind and the Cheetah was putting his head inside to pull out the fresh meat with his powerful jaws. It was a dream sight for any wildlife photographer - A Cheetah with blood on the face beside a half eaten kill. Being so close to him, we could hear the sound of the bones crushing while he was feeding. While he fully was focused on his kill, he was also cautiously moving around the kill to keep eye on any scavengers around who can steal his food. At that moment, We were witnessing the nature in its Rawest form. After spending some time there, we decided to move on and make a way for other vehicles still waiting for their chance.
 |
| Nature at the Rawest ! |
While heading back to the resort,, we saw a jackal moving along the road in-search of food. As we moved closer, he quickly jumped into the near by bushes and did not show up. Looked like he was one of those shy individuals rarely seen in Africa. It was yet another thrilling and dramatic evening in the Mara, where every drive seemed to unfold a new story of survival.
Last and the best day
It was another fresh morning in the Maasai Mara. The weather was clear and pleasant, and we had planned to visit a special part of the reserve later in the morning - the famous Mara River area. But before heading there, as always, we began the day in search of predators, this time exploring a completely new region of the park.
As the sun slowly rose over the horizon, we drove through a slightly rocky region and witnessed something truly unusual. Large herds of African elephant were scattered across the area, and quite surprisingly, many of them were still lying down sleeping on the ground. It was the first time I saw an elephant sleeping in the wild. Gradually, a few individuals began to wake up. Then they gently walked over to the other sleeping ones and softly tapped them with their trunks, almost as if they were waking up the siblings. Once one of them got up, they would have a short playfully interaction and move on to wake the rest of the herd.It was a real pleasure to witness such a heart warming gesture showing the strong bond and a social harmony in the herd.
After driving deeper into the plains, we came across the furious Rongai boys - a powerful group of five male lions from the the Rongai pride. We heard many stories about their fearless buffalo hunting. At first we spotted just three of them sitting together and calmly observing a large buffalo herd at a distance. After a while, they finished their morning routine and started walking toward the main road. Just then, the remaining two brothers appeared from the grass and joined the parade. All of them were full grown and massive in size. It was a Crazy experience Seeing five huge, dominant male lions walk straight toward you. With their royal walk, they seemed to claim the land with every step declaring that they were the undisputed rulers of these plains.
These boys continued their steady walk through the grass in the direction of Buffalo herd. They were taking small breaks in between but still focused on the herd movement which felt like they were analysing the herds behaviour and movement before planning for the hunt.
As the lions were moving quite slowly, We decided to spent some time closer to the buffalo herd to observe their behaviours. Despite their large numbers, they were disciplined and remained always together. They were very protective about the young ones and will always keep them in the centre surrounded by some strong adults. There were few massive bulls with curved horns and they looked really scary from closer distance. Kane told, even though theses buffalos look calm, they are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa and hence they are counted in the legendary Big Five. The herd was moving quickly across the plains and eventually crossed a small stream along the way. Watching a dozens of buffaloes crossing the water at the same time gave us a little glimpse of what the Great migration would look like.
When the lions came closer to the road again, we slowly moved our vehicle towards them.
This time they looked far more focused and alert. They were also walking unusually close to the vehicles. May be they were strategically trying to hide behind the vehicles and move closer to the buffaloes. At one point, one of the massive males walked so close to our vehicle that we could have almost taken a selfie with this big boy. Though it was an incredibly thrilling experience to observe him so closely, we got little nervous as well. After a point, when there were no vehicles around to hide, they changed the strategy and each of them went behind the different bushes in different directions keeping an eye on the buffaloes from all sides. Looking at their moves, we thought there would be another drama unfolding shortly and we would be witnessing the famous buffalo hunt.
 |
| Wild buffalos and The Rongai boys |
Unfortunately, after waiting there for quite some time, none of them seemed to move and all of them preferred to rest in the shadow for longer time. The herd had already gone too far now and lions were still sleeping so we decided to move further and have a breakfast at another interesting spot in the middle of Savannah. After the breakfast, we immediately moved towards the area near the Mara River. Since the river was quite far away, we drove quickly through the grasslands. On the way, we spotted another unique and fascinating bird of the Savannah - The Secretary Bird. This long-legged bird of prey seemed extremely busy searching for food in the tall grasses. Its elegant crest and distinctive, walk instantly caught our attention and made us fall in love with it.We spent a few minutes quietly observing and photographing this beautiful bird before moving ahead.
As we continued our drive, and gradually got closer to the river, we started seeing thicker vegetation around the banks of mara river which is considered as a life line of Masai mara national reserve. Although the water level was quite low during this time of the year, we could still spot a few Hippos and Nile Crocodile resting in the water. Kane then took us to one of the most iconic spots in the reserve - the famous river crossing point. This is where thousands of Wildebeest and other animals cross the river during the Great Migration. At this time, the place looked calm and completely deserted and there were hardly any animals around. But during the migration season, this same spot transforms into a paradise where the whole drama unfolds. Visiting the Mara River - especially this famous migration point was one of our targets before coming here. Now that we had finally experienced it, we all were relaxed and completely satisfied. With that feeling, we happily concluded our final morning drive.
 |
| The great Migration point at Mara River |
As we were left with our last safari in Mara, we thought we should make most of it and start the safari earlier than usual to spend most of the remaining time in the jungle. Kane also agreed and we started the drive at around 3 PM. Today fortunately the weather was clear than past few days and we could hope to see sunset and get some silhouettes. As compared to previous days, this evening was a little quieter in the beginning. We were roaming around for quite some time across the plains without any interesting sightings and it looked like Mara has planned a calm farewell for us today.
Just then, Kane got an urgent message on the walkie-talkie and we got to know that there was a massive male lion from the Kisinja pride aggressively chasing another younger male from same pride. We rushed to the spot assuming that all the action would be done by then. But to our surprise, we arrived at exactly the right moment when the dominant male was still furiously chasing the younger one. Growling loudly, both of them ran past our vehicle and clashed briefly on to each other at a short distance. Knowing the power of a dominant male, the younger one quickly surrendered without any fight and ran away. The Big boy stood his ground for some time making sure the younger one has left out his area. It was another terrifying and thrilling experience to witness such a strong dominance and territorial behaviour.
After this we decided to give it a last try and scan the area of elusive Black Rhinos one more time and see if we can close our Big Five checklist. We spent lot of time going very deeper into this area but unfortunately could not find any signs of Rhinos. Kane later told us that there are only 30 individual black Rhinos remained in the park and hence their sighting has became very rare. It was a big disappointment for missing out on the Big Fives the time.
As the sun slowly began to set toward the horizon, we tried to capture few silhouettes of the big male elephant walking across the plain. The sky wasn’t completely clear, and the sunset was not dramatic with beautiful orange hues we had hoped for Still, we made the most of the moment by clicking some good frames of the elephant against a white sky. As our safari was nearing its end, we were treated to one final, picture-perfect sighting. On top of a rocky outcrop, a majestic pair of lions probably from the same Kisinja pride. They were sitting on the top of small rocky hill calmly overlooking the vast plains around. Watching the king and queen of the savannah resting peacefully in their kingdom felt like nature’s own way of giving us a perfect closing moment to an unforgettable journey.
 |
| A Silhouette attempt |
Even though our final safari in Maasai Mara came to an end, we were still in awe of the incredible experiences from the past few days. From thrilling chases and intense hunts from apex predators to the rarest bird sightings and peaceful moments with gems of Africa, every sighting unfolded a new story from the wild. After such a once-in-a-lifetime experience, I can confidently say that the Mara is not just a destination — it is a true paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, and a journey that everyone should experience at least once in their life. These unforgettable encounters with Africa’s most iconic animals have left a deep and lasting impression on our hearts.
The next morning, after breakfast, we left the resort and began our return journey toward Nairobi. On the way, we made a brief stop at the gate to pick up some souvenirs from the local Maasai people - a small but meaningful way to carry the memories from this land back with us.
By evening, we finally reached Nairobi, marking the end of our incredible journey through the wild. We took a moment to sincerely thank Kane and his team for their support, expert guidance, and for taking such good care of us over the past few days. Their knowledge and passion had truly made this safari a once-in-a-lifetime experience. With hearts full of memories and cameras full of unforgettable moments, we then headed to the airport and boarded our flight back to Mumbai.
Even though our journey had come to an end, one thing was certain — the magic of the Mara doesn’t fade when you leave. It stays with you forever, quietly calling you back to the wild !
If you have missed, here is the link to part 1
Comments