Honestly, before I visited Masai Mara, I never gave much thought to what an wildlife Safari would be like. I never wondered about wildlife. I didn’t watch much of National Geographic while growing up. But then, I got a chance to witness an African Safari in all its glory and I can’t be more thankful.
Masai Mara is a land that makes you feel so small and humble. It was here that I truly understood the meaning of travel and how it changes you. Here are 7 life lessons that I learned in Masai Mara:
1. Never stop requesting for the window seat. Because the world outside is just too interesting to not watch… and you never know when a group of giraffes may be looking at you right outside the window.
2. Don’t try to blend in. I have always wondered about the black and white stripes of the zebras and how it doesn’t help them in hiding from a predators at all. But they are zebras and they are meant to stand out, for better or for worse. So are we all.
3. Always wear sunscreen. You remember what Baz Luhrmann said about wearing sunscreen right? Click here if you need to be reminded. And sunscreen reminds you, if you are prepared, you can face anything. Even the sun.
4. Be nice to people. Don’t be too quick to pounce on those who are inconsiderate and disturb your afternoon siesta.. even if they irritate the hell out of you.
5. Keep walking. There may be many distractions along the way. Stay focused and continue on your journey.
6. Don’t be an ostrich. Ostrich legs are powerful enough to kill a predator or a human. But instead of using them as a weapon most often, when in danger, the ostrich will either hide itself by lying flat against the ground, or run away. It’s good to get out of the way of trouble… but one must fight back sometimes.
7. The grass may look greener on the other side. But the great migration isn’t for the weakhearted. It is a rough world and only the fittest survive.
(Seen in the picture below is the Mara River, which is said to be the home to one of the greatest spectacles on earth – ‘The Great Migration’. You can read more about the phenomenon here)
Bharti believes that every suitcase tells a story and she likes sharing these stories on her blog ‘Suitcaseofstories.wordpress.com‘. In addition to writing about travel, she also likes taking street photographs with her phone camera.