Photos: ABBI KANTHASAMY
The buzz of the small propeller plane was a prelude to adventure as we skirted the skies of Nairobi, Kenya, descending toward the Masai Mara National Reserve. The airstrip – a mere scratch on the face of the wild – often doubles as a lazy lounge for the resident lions, turning every landing into a game of aerial chicken.
Today, they lounged with regal indifference, requiring us to buzz the runway to clear our own landing path. This first brush with the Mara wildness set our hearts racing, adrenaline already pumping through our veins.
Touching down on the rugged, dirt airstrip, the raw energy of the Mara enveloped us. This was the grand theatre of the natural world, where the annual Great Migration – nature’s oldest pilgrimage – was in thunderous flow. Millions of wildebeests, accompanied by zebras and gazelles, painted moving tapestries across the landscape, their hooves drumming a rhythm of ancient cycles and survival sagas.
Our days began at the crack of dawn, with the savanna bathed in the golden hues of the African sun. Armed with our cameras, each day was a new chapter in a thrilling hunt for moments. We weren’t just observers; we were part of the canvas, blending into the tall grass and acacia shadows.
The Mara delivered scenes straight out of an epic tale. In a spectacle of raw survival, a pride of lions coordinated an ambush on a herd of unsuspecting buffaloes. The air was thick with dust and tension, each roar and stampede resonating like a drumbeat on the savanna. As brutal as it was breathtaking, the encounter laid bare the ruthless grace of these majestic predators.
But it wasn’t all blood and chase. A family of elephants, gentle giants of the grasslands, moved with a ponderous grace that belied their immense power. Their tender interactions, trunks entwined, offered a poignant counterpoint to the fierce predator-prey dynamics playing out elsewhere.
Leopards provided a masterclass in stealth. One afternoon, a lone leopard draped over the limb of an acacia tree, eyes half-closed, yet every muscle at the ready. In a flash, it descended upon an unwary warthog, a reminder that in the Mara, even the trees hold secrets and sudden death.
But the drama wasn’t confined to predator-prey ballets. At the river, the air was thick with tension. Here, the wildebeests faced one of their greatest trials – crossing waters teeming with lurking crocodiles. The crossings were chaotic, a battle of nerves and nature, as each animal fought against the currents and crocodilian jaws to reach the opposite bank. The ground shook, the water churned, and survival was measured in heartbeats and hoofbeats.
In the middle of this wild arena, we took a detour into the heart of Maasai culture, visiting a local village. It was a vivid contrast to the savanna’s wild tumult. Here, life moved with a different rhythm, deep and resonant. The Maasai, with their rich traditions and deep ties to the land, welcomed us with open hearts. We were treated to the sight of the adumu – the warriors’ iconic jumping dance. Their bodies seemed to defy gravity, each leap a story of strength and community spirit, told against the backdrop of the vast African sky.
You can also witness the annual Great Migration at the park.
Nights at the camp were an affair of firelight and starlight, the day’s adventures retold as Maasai elders shared tales that wove through generations. Each story was a thread in the fabric of the Mara, stitched with the laughter of children and the wisdom of the elders, under the watchful gaze of the cosmos.
As our journey wound to a close, the narrative of the Mara stayed with us, etched deep in memory and film. We were leaving, but the pulse of the Mara – its relentless dance of life and death, its ancient rhythms, its wild heart – would continue, unabated and majestic.
The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.
Abbi Kanthasamy blends his expertise as an entrepreneur with his passion for photography and travel. For more of his work, visit www.abbiphotography.com.
Travel notes
How to get there: From Nov 15, AirAsia X flies direct 4x weekly to Nairobi from Kuala Lumpur.
Where to stay: You can find lots of accommodation options within the Masai Mara National Reserve, or further out in the Greater Mara Conservancies.
Park tickets: Entry fees to the park have increased since July 2024. Non-residents now have to pay US$200 (RM862) per day for adults, and US$50 (RM215) for children aged nine to 17. Children younger than nine can enter for free. Visitors staying outside of the park will need to pay for a daily entry ticket, and it is only valid from 6am to 6pm.
