20260815 Globus Kenya & Tanzania: The Safari Experience Day 11 of 19 - Maasai Mara to Amboseli

Globus Kenya & Tanzania: The Safari Experience - From the Maasai Mara to Amboseli - Elephants and Kilimanjaro

This morning was a little different. We were ready to go at 7:15, but without breakfast. 

This Maasai figure always greeted us at our hotel

A map of the entire Maasai Mara

We departed our hotel for the last time and made a stop just a short distance later.

Out on the Mara

Globus prepared a breakfast in the bush

Because we were in the open, armed guards stood ready in case hungry predators approached

A beautiful acacia tree enhanced the view

Mimosas

After breakfast, we boarded the Land Cruisers and headed for the airport - almost two hours away.

Topi

The animals bid us farewell as we departed Maasai Mara

We said farewell to our driver, Felix - a walking encyclopedia of all things animal

Our ride to Amboseli - a pair of Mombasa Air Safari Cessna 208B Grand Caravans

And away we go for the one-hour flight to Amboseli

Departing over Maasai Mara - there is a giraffe on the left

Some areas were extremely dry

Approaching Lake Amboseli - a dry, dead lake

We arrived at Amboseli National Park Airstrip

Dust Devils were firing up all over the place. I counted at least ten simultaneous ones

A huge Dust Devil

We loaded into a new Land Rover with our new driver, Jeff, and headed to the Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge.

Our building for the next two days - the room was basic and OK

Vervet monkeys roam the place, so you have to keep your doors shut 

Kenyan rock agama

We had lunch and settled in before departing on a 4:00 game drive.

White-browed Coucal

Amboseli is home to elephants - a lot of elephants

We spent a lot of time watching several large families

We counted over 100 elephants

By the time the day was over, we estimated that we saw more than 200 elephants

A nursing baby

An egret, hitching a ride

African Spoonbill

Capr Buffalo and Thompson's Gazelles

As evening approached, the elephants all started heading to the area where they sleep

It was a huge march with every family making their way to the night area

 Blacksmith Lapwing

 African sacred ibis

So many elephants

The clouds began to break up, and Mount Kilimanjaro decided to make an appearance

Is there anything more African than this?

OK, maybe this

The march continued

We thought it was dusty in Maasai Mara - it was nothing compared to Amboseli

Male White-bellied Bustard

And a female

Spotted Hyena

We arrived at a road crossing as a family of elephants made its way across.

The road to Kilimanjaro

We came across a bunch of vehicles looking at something. Unfortunately, the light was fading, and it was a long way away, so the photos are less than stellar, but here's what we saw.

A lioness, sitting majestically

Just having a look around

Wait — who is that who popped up?

There are even more cubs

Jumping on mom

Perhaps sharp nails?

Time to go for a ride

Stepping down

A big stretch with a little one looking on

Up on a log with a little one sneaking around on the right

And another little one

Mom went back, and the three little ones took a look around

With the Sun in its golden hour, Mt. Kilimanjaro was looking lovely

Just a little snow left on top

Back at the lodge, we looked out back before getting dinner.

A tree full of huge Marabou Storks

Two trees...

Three trees

We had dinner and got the briefing for tomorrow. We will depart at 6:30 (ugh) because it warms up here early. We will return by 8:30 for breakfast. Then, we depart at 10:00 to visit a Maasai village, returning around 11:00. We meet at 3:00 for a briefing about our Tanzania entry before a final Kenyan game drive at 4:00. Tomorrow will be another long and busy day.