Divya Rao: Kenya Fellow, USC

So far this journey has been incredible and incredibly different than my time in Ghana with Blue Kitabu. Our trip started off with a two-day retreat at Camp Oldarpoi next to the Maasai Mara to safari and take in the vastness that is the reserve. This was probably the first time that I’ve been completely stunned into silence—the magnificence of the never-ending savannah blending into the horizon with hundreds of animals dotting the sun-touched plains is truly unforgettable. The sounds on the safari only made the experience more intense—fast Maa and Swahili buzzing through a radio next to the rumble of our safari bus, and the rustling of tall dry grasses in the wind while wildebeest and zebra scatter in front of us. It’s honestly no surprise that the best sightings of the trip were completely unexpected—a female cheetah nursing her baby, a male lion dozing in the midday heat, groups of elephants traveling with their young, giraffes frolicking in the morning, the wildebeest migration, and hippos relaxing in the few pools of water remaining in the Mara.

On our last day at Camp Oldarpoi (and Mayra’s birthday!) we got to go on a walking safari up the mountain behind the camp and then go to the Maasai village that the camp supports. We were escorted by three incredibly patient Maasai warriors, who let us try our hand at both archery and throwing various weapons without fear of us destroying everything (a very real possibility).  At the village we were greeted by the traditional dances of the men and women. Also, we were able to visit a boma—the traditional home of a Maasai, which was surprisingly small, cramped, and dark. We also got to watch how the Maasai traditionally make fire—by rubbing a slender stick into a flat piece of polished wood to make small embers, which added to kindling make fire.

After being surrounded by nature and watching these endangered animals simply living, my desire to pursue my research project on elephant poaching has most definitely been confirmed regardless of the many obstacles in my way. I’ve already had the opportunity to interview the founder of Camp Oldarpoi, and our amazing guide, Nelson, who’s given me really interesting information about the situation regarding elephant poaching in the Maasai Mara. I’m looking forward to the leads that I have in Narok and new opportunities to learn about poaching in Ilkerin!