Mashujaa Day @ Tsavo

Mashujaa Day which honors all who contributed towards the struggle for independence of Kenya was on the 20th of October. My colleague Abeetha, his wife and another friend decided to make a trip to Tsavo. As Sri Lankans we love holidays! Coming from a country which has one of highest holidays in the world, we never miss an opportunity to maximize a holiday. This time we spent two nights at Tsavo, so that we could explore more of the hidden beauty of Tsavo. I was a bit happy because God had started to listen to my prayers. There were little rain drops here and there. The skies were different.

It has rained a couple of days back but such light showers were mere a drop of water in the ocean. It has to rain hard. I mean really really hard! Anyway as we began our journey from the gate towards Ashnil Aruba lodge, we feel the difference in the air. There was a tinge of moisture and it was a great feeling.

This trip is very special trip to me because it was my first close encounter with a Cheetah! On the very first day during our evening game drive we encountered a female Cheetah taking a stroll by the side of a sub road. What a sighting it was! We followed the Cheetah for more than 45 minutes for the maximum possible distance until she decided it was time to go further inside the bush.

We were still recovering of our encounter that evening of the Cheetah. We very lucky because only very few people saw the Cheetah that day. Now it was time for the lions. We heard there was a pride near the VOI pipeline area thus that was our mission the next day.

Next day, early morning we went straight to the pipeline area and there was the pride of lions chilling out in the open plains. The lions took our entire morning game drive time. The day was looking good. After breakfast we chilled at the pool. We were only planning for lions but we were served Cheetah as well, what more could you ask? After lunch we headed towards the Galana river side. It was the one of the furthest points accessible for a game drive.

We saw a few hippo’s chilling in the river. We spent some time at Crocodile point and Laguna falls which has a very scenic view. As we headed back we decided to check if the lions were at the same place where we saw them in the morning.

We were not disappointed. Just a few meters away under a tree the same pride was chilling in the shade. Some of the lions were having a snooze. It was quite an eventful and exhausting day.

It was time for our last game drive on Sunday before we were to have breakfast and head back to Mombasa. This drive was the cherry on the cake. We went towards voi but there was no luck. We drove all over but no sightings of any cats or anything interesting. It was like Mother nature telling us I have shown you enough! But we decided to take one final detour to the Kanderi loop. We saw a heard of Buffalo heading towards the water hole in the open plains.

 The leader of the heard had the biggest set of horns I had ever seen. As we saw the heard heading towards the water hole, in a distance we suddenly noticed there was a pride of lions behind the water hole. Since the Buffalo has weak eyes they did not notice the lions. They were heading straight towards the lions!! A great scene was building up. Just about two hundred meters to the water hole was when the Buffalo noticed the lions. The lions too were caught unaware of the Buffalo. The Buffalo turned back and began to run for their life!! But it only one lioness who was interested giving charge. The other lions were too full to give chase. But the lioness was eager to give chase. She constantly turned back as if she was calling the pride to hunt. But the others were not bothered! She came very close to our vehicle and perhaps gave me the best possible pose ever!

What more could you ask?? A lioness giving us road instructions!! This was one of the best trips to Tsavo! Considering this was my 6th trip, Tsavo seems to reveal something new every time I make a visit. While Kenyans remembered the hero’s who helped in gaining independence, this day will remain in my mind as one of the best wildlife encounters in my life!