MON., OCT. 16, 2017, DAY #7 OF SAFARI - NAIVASHA SOPA LODGE TO MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE, MARA INTREPIDS CAMP - We departed early (about 7 a.m.) on this morning and after 2+ hours of driving on dirt roads, we arrived on a paved highway (note below).  We continued our 4-5 hour journey to the Masai Mara National Reserve.  Here, Amos stopped momentarily & I snapped this picture en route through the window of the van.  Much too soon we left the paved highway for other dirt, very rough roads.  

We arrived at the Mara Intrepids Camp about 1 p.m., in time for lunch.  Mara Intrepids Camp is located in the Maasai Mara National Reserve.  Mara Intrepids Camp enjoys one of the most spectacular locations in the world's best-known wilderness Maasai Mara National Reserve.  It sits above a sweeping bend in the Talek River at the confluence of the Maasai Mara's four game-viewing areas.  Mara Intrepids camp is a short drive from the Mara River, where more than a million wildebeest and zebra make their perilous migration crossing every July and August.

The camp has 30 luxury tents which are spread across a large riverside site to ensure guests the privacy and peace.  Each tent is furnished in the classic style of the grand African safaris, with large four-poster beds and handsome reproduction furniture offset by modern en-suite bathrooms with hot showers, flush toilets, and all modern amenities.  (I'm so sorry that I failed to take pictures of the camp.)  With the same owners at the first camp we stayed in (Samburu Intrepids Camp), the rooms of this camp were almost identical to those of the Samburu.  However, the layout of the cabins--all with river views was very special and it was only after I started reviewing the over 2,000 pictures I had taken that I realized I had failed to get any of this camp.

Our first game drive in the Maasai Mara area began in the early evening.  Below are the animals that we located & watched.

warthogs

oryx

zebras

And, the very first time I've shown & recorded seeing of the wildebeest

Then, the word went out on the CB radio that lions had been spotted.  And, we raced to the location.  This was a group of 4 lionesses taking an afternoon nap.  Some were sound asleep and others in various states of awake because as the area where they were lying became sunny they would awaken and move to shade.

Pretty sleepy

All back asleep.  We're leaving!

we circled the area and returned finding this rather young male lion

 below is what is left of the kill

 one asleep

 two asleep

 four asleep!  This time we departed for sure.

Not very far away is the vulture waiting for his part of the kill; once the lions depart

one giraffe

two giraffes

  three giraffes

these are banded mongoose 

 cape buffalo

and,  a beautiful African sunset

With sunset came time to start for the camp before darkness arrived.  We returned to Mara Intrepids Camp which was very similar to the first camp, Samburu Intrepids Camp.  After dinner, it was decided that we would depart tomorrow on our morning game drive at 6:15 a.m.