The Cube

We left the Mara campsite early morning after breakfast and reached the accommodation we booked in Lake Bogoria around 1+ pm. There are very few accommodations available at Lake Bogoria, so naturally we stayed in Lake Bogoria Spa Resort. 

Our booking includes breakfast and we had lunch (food and a pot of Kenyan tea totalled to Ksh 2000)  at their restaurant. We find food portion in Kenya huge. We didn't finish the food we ordered for lunch and took away the leftovers for dinner. They were tasty though. 

Lake Bogoria is in a geothermally active part of the Kenya Rift Valley, and is famous for geysers and hot springs. Lake Bogoria is also a location to spot pink flamingos. The initial plan was to visit in the evening before the reserve is close for the day. Luck wasn't on our side because maybe quarter way to the lake, it started to rain with no sign of stopping so we turned back and return the next day. By goodwill, the staff at the national reserve did not insist that we that we pay when we returned early next morning. The entrance ticket was USD 50 per person. 

Most of the website I found mentioned that Lake Bogoria opens at 8 am, however, on speaking to the very helpful staff at the hotel, we were told us that we can enter the national reserve earlier. If I remember correctly, we asked to enter at around 6 am. The hotel staff then called the Lake Bogoria office to inform them so we would not have any issues when we returned the next day. 

Unfortunately our flamingos chasing wasn't very successful. There were no lake full with flamingos. In fact, we didn't even get to where the hot springs area. Reason being the driver was worried that his 4WD would have trouble coming back up a road that he felt was too steep even though there were signboards indicating that there were accommodations in the same direction. He also told us it wasn't a good season to see flamingos and we will not see any, contrary to what the hotel staff told us. 

The only reason we saw some flamingos were because we insisted that he drove us as near to the lake as possible, even if we cannot get to the usual lookout. In fact, the reasons the flamingos took flight because the driver got off the 4WD a little too loudly and startled them. 

 

After that, we went back to the hotel for breakfast. We asked for the breakfast to be packed as we initially thought we would takeaway and eat on the way. We ended up eating in the hotel but having it packed turned out to be a good idea because we couldn't finish. 

We landed in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport early in the morning. After stopping by the airport office to sort out my luggage that was left behind in Changi Airport due to the flight delay, we were picked up by a driver organised through the Maasai Mara campsite accommodation we booked. I gave the accommodation's phone number for the delayed luggage report and by the time we reached the campsite, the airline/airport staff had already orgnised for my luggage to be sent to Keekorok Airstrip to be collected the next day. 

We found our accommodation from Booking.com and stayed in Talek. The campsite we booked, Olkinyei Mara Tented Camp was just outside Maasai Mara's Talek Gate. Our booking was full board and we booked airport pick-up and game drives with them. 

We are not big fans of organised tour groups though there are places where it is a necessary. We read stories around self-driving around Kenya and may have scared ourselves a little so our plan was to engage a driver to get around. We took a chance and asked for them to organise a driver for us too. Luck wasn't on our side this side as the driver/guide was very poor even though all other services we had were excellent. Just to be clear - this poor driver/guide is not our guide in Maasai Mara. The guide assigned for our game drives in the Mara was excellent. 

We were unsure if we would be too tired for an afternoon game drive on the day we arrived. By the time we had lunch and decided that we wanted to go for a half day game drive, it was passed 2 pm and the campsite recommended if we wanted to visit a Maasai village instead as one needs to leave the national reserve by 6 pm. So we visited a Maasai village on the day we arrived and 2 full days of game drives during our stay in Maasai Mara. 

Dinners and lunch on arrival day was at the campsite, all other meals were picnic meals at the national park. Dinners were 3 course meals and there were no repeats of food served on the days we were there. They were delicious so we finished everything even though we were stuffed.

We were driven to a Maasai village and were greeted by one of the villagers who acted as the guide around the village. We were told that they are members of one family, some are step siblings but still one family. It started with a dance, followed by a 'jumping competition' among the men, and then showed us how to make fire. After the demonstrations, we were shown the inside of one of the mud houses which had 2 bedrooms and a kitchen. The visit ended with selling of souvenirs/trinkets by the villagers which we didn't end up getting anything.

The national park opens at 6 am, so that was the time we started our game drive. One can also take hot air balloon but we didn't. 

We are happy with just seeing the animals in the foreground of these balloons at ground level. 

We visited in early September but the stars didn't align and we missed the Great Wildebeest Migration. That said, Maasai Mara was still the highlight of the trip. Safari against the vast scenic expanse of rolling African savannah plains hit differently. 

Across the 2 days, we saw 4 of the Big 5 in Maasai Mara - short of the rhinos which we later spotted at the Lake Nakuru National Park. 

We caught the lion had his meal with jackals and vultures hovering around waiting for any leftovers. 

 A lioness walked passed our jeep to quench thirst after feed. 

A lion looking towards our direction and roared. Our guide said he was calling for his family. We left as the lion seemed to be angry at the end. Not sure if our guide was pulling our legs but we did see a pride of lions after. 

'Safari is like fishing', said our guide. 

We waited for a leopardess and her 2 cubs to wake up, saw the cubs trying to follow their mother to another location. The smaller cub had difficulty trying to climb up a small slope and tried different ways to follow the mother's footsteps. We were all rooting for this little cub. 

Later we found the leopardess at another location, it was thought that she might start hunting but she ended up sleeping, without the 2 cubs. 

Elephants in pretend fighting. 

The African Buffalo that interestingly isn't part of the big 5 ugly animals. We were close to this buffalo when we asked to get off the jeep to mark our territories. We were told by our guide that it wasn't safe as this one was too near.

At a nearby river were these hippopotamuses semi-hiding in the water. We didn't know at that time that these were as good as we can see them till the river cruise in Zambia. 

Looking at 5 cute cheetahs lazing in shade with a restless one that ended up rounding the jeeps around. 

We didn't see the Great Migration but we saw many wildebeests, zebras and impalas. We saw a small queue started to form but the migration was not meant to be. Our guide also drove us to see zebras and wildebeests crossing a river as minor consolation.

We looked into Tanzania from the border.  

5 impalas jumped across a small stream, one after another as if giving us chance to take a good picture, but I still got a blur one. 

Caught a stationary 'Kenyan Express' aka Pumbaa aka warthog. They are fast!

One of the national birds in Kenya - the lilac-breasted roller. 

Our second day game drive ended as it started to rain closed to 5 pm. As the guide/driver drove us out of the Mara, a full rainbow was in sight. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Mara, it was magical and we talked about returning even before we left. The African safari is something to be experienced. 

This was my first trip to Africa and the main reason was safari, of course. We wanted to catch the Great Migration but spoiler alert - we missed it even though we were 'in season'. That was also the reason why we made our first stop Maasai Mara National Reserve and went clockwise from there. Most people planned their trip counter clockwise. I think the reason why most people left Maasai Mara the last because well, save the best for last. It was evident to us that the rest of the national parks paled compared to Maasai Mara. 

The trip was prior to Air Asia's new route from KL to Nairobi so the best flights (timing versus cost) for us involved 2 transits, in Singapore and Mumbai. I travelled with my sister this round and we met up in Changi Airport at our first transit despite my first flight was delayed for an hour resulting in me running across Changi Airport but made it on flight. After another transit in Mumbai, we landed in Nairobi with my luggage left in Changi due to the delay. 

We took a flight out of Kenya to Victoria Falls and spent a few days there on both side of the falls before our last leg in Cape Town before heading home. 

I travelled on Malaysian passport and a visa for Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. On the beginning of trip planning, Malaysian passport holders were also exempted from visa to travel to Kenya. That said, Kenya recently implemented ETA for all travellers with some exceptions which you can check the official website. ETA to Kenya needs to be applied prior to the travel. 

Kenya is considered endemic for yellow fever so you may be required to show proof of vaccination when entering non endemic yellow fever countries. We were asked to show our proof of vaccination on arrival in Australia. I took this vaccination prior to my trip to Peru in 2018. The other preventative medicine we took was the malaria tablets. 

After reading about self-driving in Kenya, we decided to err on the caution side and organised for a driver/guide. Unfortunately he was very bad so will not recommend. We were on our own in Lamu and the brief tme in Nairobi. We walked everywhere in Victoria Falls, even across the border to Zambia. We organised for a transport to and fro airport. Mode of transport in Cape Town was walking, uber rides and a last minute private tour because we were not organised enough. 

The one in March was fully self-funded and the one in June was partially funded because it was an extension from work trip. I did end up trying new food but mostly without photos because of friends who disapproved of my food photo taking habits. 

My trip in March coincided with Mardi Gras and accommodations were expensive. I booked them quite last minute and found an Airbnb listing in Burwood. 

Level 2/605-609 George St, Sydney NSW 2000

Number One Dixon Shopping Centre

Shop 21/1 Dixon St, Sydney NSW 2000

I had 2 Korean meals during my March trip. When we went to Seoulria, one of my friends is a vegetarian and another doesn't eat pork. So we opted out of Korean BBQ. I met up with a friend in Sydney for work secondment the next day and friend wanted Korean BBQ. So we went to Yang San Park. Food in both Korean restaurants were good. The staffs helped us cooked the food on grill in Yang San Park.

Shop 10/339 Sussex St Sydney

We went to the outlet in the CBD. There were 5 of us and we ordered our own main meals and got a box of crackers to share. I ordered nasi kapau ikan asin. The portion was huge and I was stuffed. It is not a place one can linger and chat though. 

Level 3, Market City, 9-13 Hay Street, Haymarket NSW 2000

Booking only for private room basis. Otherwise on walk-in basis. Friend and I went on a Saturday morning. It was busy but it is a big venue. We ordered more after this but didn't take more photos. I enjoyed this and looked forward for another round of dim sum here. 

They have a few outlets but the one I had was bought from the shop in Burwood by my colleague. I was introduced to this Lebanese knefe cheese bun. Taste wise, I do like it but I had so many other meals prior that I kept this for 3 days before I had a taste so the texture was a little soggy by then. 

I tired to heat them up in the microwave available in the hotel room but I dare not leave them too long because there was a warning sign about heating bread. 

I visited a friend at his house and was treated to a very tasty South Indian food of pongal, masala dosa, 2 types of chutneys and vade. Dessert was pal payasam. Yumm. His wife even packed me some to bring back to Melbourne. 

I was introduced to this new precinct at Mascot and waned to check it out but it rained the whole of Saturday on my visit in June so I was pretty much indoors. Next time it is. 

Index page for a non trekking holiday in Nepal.

Day 1 - Patan

Day 2 - Panauti to Namo Buddha hike

Day 3 - Fly to Pokhara and overnight in Sarangkot

Day 4 - Sunrise in Sarangkot and overnight in Pokhara

Day 5 - A day in Bandipur

Day 6 - Bus ride back to Kathmandu

Day 7 - A full day in Kathmandu

Day 8 - A day in Bhaktapur

Day 9 - Transit in Chengdu