Kicheche - Day 2 PM

A delicious lunch again on the lawn, being watched by a small family of Bush Babies from the tree above.

I was sitting next to the Manager who happened to mention he might need to leave the table early to welcome some new guests, Americans.  So I asked if it was Kemp and Esther (we'd met them at Lewa House and knew they were due to arrive), and yes it was them, although he had Richard as the name (Kemp introduced himself as Kemp so that's what we called him).  Apparently it's his birthday today and a small celebratory Masai dance has been arranged - although I totally put my foot in it by recounting the tale of cringe-worthy local dances we've endured worldwide, especially Laos!

Back out this afternoon and the scenery really is quite beautiful.

I am totally fascinated by Secretary Birds as they do not stop still for one minute - they stomp around looking for small mammals to eat and move at a rapid pace.  Charles says this is because they need to eat a lot (can't help feeling if they slowed down a bit they wouldn't need so much).

A superb Waterbuck m.

Some starlings were making a racket and Charles said it was because there was a puff adder in the bush.  We couldn't see it, so he bravely got out and poked around with a stick.

Puff Adder

A hyena's view

Eland, the largest antelope.

 

But still very skittish.

This is the beautiful Leopard Fig.  I'd read about her before we came to the Mara and hoped we might see her.  I know the quality of this photo is atrocious but it's the only one I have of her.

Unfortunately it was quite late in the afternoon and although she made all the right precursors to moving (yawning, stretching, cleaning) she didn't move from her safe spot up the tree (in the distance she could see some lions hunting and Charles said that would have put her off coming down; being a loner she's no match for a pride of lions).

So we left her to it and found the cheetahs again, not much going on so I played around with some ICM to try something a bit different (Intentional Camera Movement) - not sure it does much for me.

Or if accidentally overexposed - never mind, turn it B&W and call it Fine Art!

We went back to Fig for our sundowner and although she hadn't moved at all, Ian still wasn't allowed to get out and check the tyres (have a wee)!

Back at camp we were walking along to dinner with our Askari and we asked him what time the moon would be up (Red-Blue Moon tonight) five minutes he said and he was right.

Kemp's birthday dance wasn't too bad, at least it was consenting adults dancing and not poor press-ganged children.