glass windows set about 300m above the Great Rift Valley – was sweeping, 180-degree views over the majestic Masai Mara. We couldn’t wait to get a closer look, so we pulled on our walking shoes and set off on foot to explore the
pristine wilderness.
Our first sighting was of a small herd of impala, which scattered as we approached. Senses on high alert, we followed our Maasai guide through the bush, stopping to identify the plentiful birdlife the escarpment is known for. Almost unconsciously, we clasped each other’s hands, thrilled at the amount of wildlife we saw.
One of Angama Mara’s many claims to fame is its romantic, Out of Africa setting. It was a short walk to the top of the hill the next day, where we enjoyed a lavish picnic exactly where Meryl Streep and Robert Redford posed for the movie poster. The views over the Masai Mara were spectacular, especially when we spotted a journey of giraffe beneath us! That afternoon we discovered the people of the Masai Mara, proud pastoralists who've lived in harmony with the environment for centuries. Later, they danced for us at on the very land that the lodge rents from them. It was spellbinding.
After a lazy morning the next day enjoying the comforts of butler service and our suspended suite, we set off for a game drive through the wide, open grasslands of the Masai Mara. We had our own open-top safari vehicle, with a dedicated guide and spotter, who knew exactly where to go for the best sightings. It wasn’t long before we were parked on a hill looking over a sea of migrating wildebeest, Thomson’s gazelle and zebra, feeling the earth shudder as they moved towards the river. We finally understood what it meant to feel their migration as much as you see or hear it.
After strong coffee early the next morning, before the break of dawn, we found ourselves dressing in giddy excitement. We couldn’t contain our enthusiasm as we got ready for our hot-air balloon ride, cracking jokes all the way to the launch site. The experience was everything we’d been promised. As we watched the plains turn black with thousands of migrating wildebeest, we relaxed into each other’s arms, thrilled to share this bucket-list moment. A three-course Champagne breakfast rounded off a truly special morning, with the rest of the day spent at our cliff-top lair.
For our final morning at Angama Mara we opted for a leisurely breakfast overlooking the waterhole. We were amazed at amount of birds we identified, although the magnificent lion that came to drink was an even more thrilling send-off for our journey back home.
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PHOTOGRAPHY: ANGAMA MARA, ELEWANA COLLECTION