Porini Lion and Mara Camps Revisited. A welcome return.

[wilddog]

@madaboutcheetahThanmadaboutcheetahThank you. i sm quite pleased with a few of these images, particularly the. ones with them playing. 

re location..your question assumes I know where I am, but sadly my knowledge of the terrain is limited. 

 

@loafer247thank you  so much for reminding me of the name. I did have it all noted down on a scrap of paper, which I have mislaid in the rather lengthy interim.

 

 

and thank you both for reading along...

 

 

[wilddog]

A fine morning again with a bush breakfast as usual.

 

 

 

It was noticeable that there were no herds of zebra and wildebeest near Lion camp at this time, compared to the large numbers at Mara Camp. I can only assume that the large numbers at Mara camp were those from the Loita Hills.

 

The lions had been enjoying the fruits of their labour as the zebra was well consumed, but one of the youngsters was still making the most of what was left.

 

 

 

 

 

We found the cheetah mum, Kisaru, resting, but fully alert, while her cubs played around.

 

One of them had great fun chasing a Crowned Crane that was looking for food nearby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About 9.30 am we came across a safari vehicle that had got stuck in the mud, so we went over to help. We got out of our vehicle to allow the guides to attempt a tow. Despite huge efforts on the part of Bill and the other guides, this proved to be a very tricky task. It was only when a land rover arrived that the feat was finally accomplish. What impressed me was how every one that could, came to help the stricken vehicle. A great job all round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 31, 2022 by wilddog

[Kitsafari]

you're making me miss Mara a lot. 

[wilddog]

The afternoon followed much the same pattern with the lions, as we head out, doing what lions do best.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The highlight for me today was visiting the hyena den. We timed it just right as the adults were resting when we arrived but the time passed the pups appeared. Three of them gradually emerged with their mothers  close in close attendance.

 

Cuteness over load.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 3, 2022 by wilddog

[TonyQ]

I think baby hyenas are very cute, and the adults are very interesting.

Lovely photos 

[wilddog]

Thanks @TonyQ This was my first time with baby hyenas. Is it cubs BTW?

I have always liked hyenas.

[wilddog]

My last full day was mainly filled with getting to see Fig, the well known leopard mother who has been a star attraction at Lion camp and environs for many years. She was certainly a stunning cat and gave us some fantastic photography opportunities as she relaxed in the tree.

 

Warning, there may be rather a lot of leopard shots to follow

 

Her tree was not far from the lions and every now and again she looked up to check on them. Over time she got more concerned and finally they emerged and sauntered over to the bae of her tree gazing up at her and milling about around the vehicles at the sighting.One lioness who brushed past our vehicle and into and out of the bush got a thorn branch stuck in her mouth which it took a while to dislodge.

The pictures  are in chronological order.

 

Finally we had to leave her to her fate as it was getting dark.

 

By the next morning she had left the tree, safely I understand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 4, 2022 by wilddog

[wilddog]

 

The following morning before leaving camp I finally got to see the two males of the lion pride, Olerai and Olekiti, out in the open. Stunning boys

 

After that it was time to head for the airstrip homeward bound.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The above to male lions are those that 3 or4 days later caught and killed the pregnant Fig. Nature is tough.

 

I have to say that I  loved my return visit to the Porini camps. Great guides excellent accommodation, and food with fantastic wildlife.

 

This was an out of season trip and therefore not to expensive but it delivered in spades and I will be back fro my 3rd trip there, probably in a couple of years

 

Edited September 4, 2022 by wilddog

[Kitsafari]

thanks for sharing your photos and information. I've been to OMC twice but was never lucky enough to see Fig. and now I never will.

 

Hyena babies are always adorable!

[shazdwn]

Thanks for you report, I am headed to these two camps in January and can't wait

[TonyQ]

Excellent report, and a good leopard and lion farewell for you

[Kitsafari]

12 hours ago, shazdwn said:

Thanks for you report, I am headed to these two camps in January and can't wait

 

Hi Sharon - when are you at Porini Lion camp in January? 

Edited September 5, 2022 by Kitsafari

[shazdwn]

6 hours ago, Kitsafari said:

 

Hi Sharon - when are you at Porini Lion camp in January? 

We will be there 12 &13 Jan. Are you going too? 

[AfricIan]

Many thanks for a great "memory stirrer", I can't believe it's been almost 12 years since we "did" Amboseli & Lion camps - high time we arranged a return 

[Kitsafari]

On 9/6/2022 at 5:45 AM, shazdwn said:

We will be there 12 &13 Jan. Are you going too? 

 

we are transferring to serian on the 11th so will miss you just by one day!

[shazdwn]

On 9/9/2022 at 12:11 AM, Kitsafari said:

 

we are transferring to serian on the 11th so will miss you just by one day!

Damn 

[ElenaH]

On 3/24/2022 at 1:12 PM, wilddog said:

My bag WAS weighed and it came through as 14kg, so all was well

Hw heavy he bag can be?

Just read your TR, @wilddog and I wonder how many interesting sightings you had! Just amazig! Nice shots!

I'e been to Africa 16 times but never in Kenya. I am thinking about it... what time of the year you've been there? Month?

The luggage requirements are also important for me... 

[shazdwn]

On 11/24/2022 at 5:59 PM, ElenaH said:

Hw heavy he bag can be?

We are flying Safarilink to Porini Mara in January and the luggage allowance is 15kg total (including hand luggage). My camera gear will take up pretty much all of that so I purchased a freight seat  which provides an extra 75 kg allowance. 
 

https://www.flysafarilink.com/about-us/baggageallowance

Edited December 1, 2022 by shazdwn

[Atravelynn]

50 minutes ago, shazdwn said:

We are flying Safarilink to Porini Mara in January and the luggage allowance is 15kg total (including hand luggage). My camera gear will take up pretty much all of that so I purchased a freight seat  which provides an extra 75 kg allowance. 
 

https://www.flysafarilink.com/about-us/baggageallowance

Thanks for the info.  up to 10 more kgs for $50 is reasonable.  The 15kg can be tight if you have photo gear and binos.

[ElenaH]

22 hours ago, shazdwn said:

We are flying Safarilink to Porini Mara in January and the luggage allowance is 15kg total (including hand luggage). My camera gear will take up pretty much all of that so I purchased a freight seat  which provides an extra 75 kg allowance. 

that is interesting. Thank you very much for info!

[NorthernStar]

Thank you @wilddog, your trip report was fabulous. We - my two youngest and my sister are hopefully heading to the same camps in October and we were wondering if we had made the right choice but your trip reports has confirmed our choice! 

[wilddog]

1 hour ago, NorthernStar said:

Thank you @wilddog, your trip report was fabulous. We - my two youngest and my sister are hopefully heading to the same camps in October and we were wondering if we had made the right choice but your trip reports has confirmed our choice! 

@NorthernStarFantastic news. I am suRe you will love it. And I look forward to hearing all about it sometime after you get back.