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Day 9 started earlier than usual, with an 8:00 a.m. departure that had everyone a little more tired than usual. Instead of our usual transportation, we were greeted by our drivers (Linus and Jacob) in two green land rover style vehicles, which immediately made the morning feel more adventurous. The cars felt less like a bus, what we have usually been taking, and more like something straight out of Disneyland, and by something we mean the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of The Forbidden Eye attraction. (Don’t look into the eyes of the idol.) Between the open feel and the bumpy roads, it really did feel like we were about to head off on some kind of expedition.
Our first stop of the day was at a small coffee shop and convenience store. It was a simple stop but much needed. Especially for those of us who rely on caffeine in the mornings. People grabbed coffee, samosas and various baked goods. All of which came with good reviews.
After breakfast, we stopped at the top of the Great Rift Valley, and the view was absolutely unreal. The valley is 9600 kilometers, which is about 5965 miles! Standing there and looking over the valley made it hard to believe this was a casual stop on our itinerary. We took time to walk around, take photos and walk through the shops nearby. From this viewpoint we were also able to see Mount Longonot, a dormant volcano that added to the beautiful scenery. Pictures just don't do it justice! It was nice to just stand there and take it in!
As we continued driving, we passed one of the smallest and oldest churches in East Central Africa, a historically significant structure that once served as an occupation site for Italians during the war. Seeing the church offered a glimpse into the region’s layered past and the lasting marks left by colonial history.
Along the road, we also passed Maasai people, easily recognizable by their traditional plaid clothing. It was striking to observe everyday life unfolding alongside the land with fields used for farming, herds of cattle grazing, and, just minutes later, zebras roaming freely nearby. The scenery gradually shifted as we moved closer to Maasai Mara. Along the way, we were able to spot wildlife such as zebras, baboons, and meerkats, which made the drive increasingly exciting. Once we officially entered Maasai Mara, the roads became noticeably rougher.
Not long after entering, we encountered a large herd of giraffes and stopped briefly to take photos, amazed by how close we were able to get to such incredible animals in their natural habitat.
After our “African massage” was over (what our drivers called the ride due to the extreme bumpiness of the roads) we finally arrived at Zebra Valley Camp, where we will be staying for the next two nights. We were immediately greeted by the kindest staff members with a free smoothie and cold towel. Our accommodations felt like winning the lottery. Each of us got a wonderful staff member that escorted us to our rooms and gave us a tour around.
Once we settled into our rooms we made our way to dinner where there was a variety of foods and desserts to choose from. Some of the options included tomato soup, salads, rice, chicken, watermelon, pineapple, orange mousse, and strawberry shortcake. Several tried passion fruit for the first time. We were full and happy!
After dinner, a couple of us decided to sit around the resort’s firepit. A lovely staff member named Wilson accompanied us by the fire to make sure everything was good. Ny’ree and Izzy took the opportunity to engage in conversation with Wilson about his culture as he is one of the Maasai people. He started by telling them that initially the Maasai were hunters, but they now lean into pastoral life. He also shared customs of the Maasai, including a fun game that’s played with the purpose of competition. The game involves two people. One person has to hold a piece of charcoal in their hand, place their two hands together and then hold both fists out for the opposite person to guess which hand the charcoal is in. If the person is able to guess the correct hand five times in a row, then they are the winner. If at any point they guess the wrong hand, the count starts over. So of course, Ny’ree and Izzy tried the game but were unsuccessful.
Wilson also informed us of jumping contests in Maasai culture. The point of a jumping contest is to demonstrate who has the best ability, strength, and agility to jump the highest, sometimes for impressing the ladies. Angel, Ny’ree, and Melanie decided to compete in a jumping contest with the token of Sylvia becoming the winner’s “wife” and Izzy the judge of the contest. It was a tough call between Ny’ree and Angel, but ultimately Angel won over Sylvia with her extremely impressive jumping abilities. After we all shared a few more laughs, reminiscing around the fire, we finally decided to call it a night as we will be up early in the morning to start our safari on the Maasai Mara!
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