The Big Five and Other Wilds

As if daily animal life in and around our Mara tent camp wasn't enough, we ended our time in Kenya by going on safari. This was another "pinchable" moment that truly felt unreal, and often we were able to get so close to the animals that it was hard to remember that they are truly wild. We just happened to be in the Maasai Mara during the Great Migration, a terrific time to try to catch sight of the Big Five as nearly two million wildebeest (and their natural hunters) move through the Mara, and we were lucky enough to catch all five, if even for a quick glance.  

One of things we learned on safari is that because of changing economic and health conditions in the Mara, which are leading to more permanent settlements and population growth, many of the natural routes and paths for these wild animals are being cut off.  The Maasai and other regional tribes were previously nomadic, but as they began to settle and farm the land, the protective fences surrounding their land have caused shifts in migration patterns. Clearly, it is important for the people to consider and understand how agriculture and farming can affect the natural ecosystem so that these beautiful creatures may continue on their annual journeys in this African circle of life.