The African lion is fabled as the King of the African Jungle. On a recent vacation to the Maasai Mara game reserve in Kenya, I was awed at the sheer respect that the African lion commands. It was one of the most rewarding trips in all my wildlife safari vacations.

It was the morning a day after our arrival at Olarro Camp located in the Maasai Mara, one of the best animal safari destinations in Africa. We departed camp at around 6.00am in the morning for our much awaited morning game drive. Our Maasai guide, Sammy, and the camp manager Sean packed us in their open Land rover truck and off we went on a popular game track. We were pleasantly surprised at Sammys spotting prowess that, less than a kilometer from camp, had already spotted a lone male cheetah. Probably on its early morning hunting stakeout, the cheetah wasnt very amused at our unwelcome intrusion and trudged along grudgingly.

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Tags: lion, leopard, elephant, camping, holiday, safaris, travel, animals, south african, safari

Imagine the rolling hills shimmering before you in the glow of dawn, the special golden light at sunset, the incomparable wildlife right next to you, the baobabs withering in the blistering sun, the camp out in the bush - at these moments you are in contact with the very essence of your primeval being!

I have been on safari in Africa many times. It is definitely a favorite destination. This particular trip was the highlight of all my African excursions - a 4X4 12 day camping safari that started in Windhoek, the beautiful capital of Namibia, through some of the roughest terrain on the planet through like the Okavango Delta in Botswana and up to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

Known to the local African tribesman as “Mosi-oa-Tunya” - the smoke that thunders - Vic falls are truly a spectacular site. Read the rest »

Tags: wild life, safaris, africa, kruger park, south african, safari, vacation, big five, lodges, travel