This was the day we decided to go to the reserve which meant a long ride across roads like this to see a broad range of animals typically in larger groups than we had seen in our more local game drives. We were treated to remarkable views of cheetahs on our of our local roads. The cheetah are very good at hiding in the grass, so it takes some studying to be able to identify all 4 cheetahs that we saw (2 females and 2 babies)

Driving on, we saw this zebra close up and then the rest of the pack as we drove past a Masai village and came to the much needed Gents room in the reserve bathroom building (which was far from having flush toilets and then studied our car and ourselves

with another look at the facilities as we saw a topi in the distance as the bargaining with the local Masai continued so that the kids decided to take these pictures of me even as Moses gave me these candies and we drove on past this giraffe skull to see lots of closer views of zebras alone and in groups (sometimes with topi, sometimes with Thompson gazelles)

and then some wildebeest joined the group as we got involved with the warthogs

and gazelles and this resting topi before passing the gazelles and going back to the warthogs

and topi

and then back to zebra impala in large groups zebra rubbing heads gazelle until we saw giraffes in the distance and closed in for good views finally making a movie of zebras walking and then taking numerous stills

before coming to the water buffalo

and a first view of the lions getting ready to hunt. They had left the cubs under this tree (fairly well hidden)

while they went looking for dinner amid many vehicles such as this one that came to watch but still the lionesses felt it was time for a kill so as they started out to look

as other vehicles assembled and we watched the lions take to the field while this bird watched and many zebras (and other possible lunches) assembled on the hill close by. Apparently the wind was blowing the right way for the lions so that the zebras could not detect their presence

and the bustard watched as the zebra seemed oblivious to the danger that might lie ahead even as the bustard flew off

and we watched zebra and buffalo

knowing that if the lions were successful, some of them would be dinner but the herd seemed large enough as we drove on behind the other Ol Seki vehicle and stopped for a giraffe break as the giraffe ate leaves and after seeing this vulture in the tree we went to visit the hippos

as Suzanne watched the tables being set for lunch though the hippos seemed oblivious even when this butterfly came to visit and the kids and Suzanne were blase about their safari experience (at least for that moment).

We drove back past the vulture nesting in this tree and then caught sight of this elephant who came closer and we watched elephants roam

in their habitat until they began to come much closer so that the pictures got better

until I tried to get pictures of trunks in motion and then we went back to picking a single elephant and focusing

then pausing for a group view (mother and daughter)

before going mostly back to focused pictures

before the elephant came closer and closer to the point where Jane got concerned that it was too close and pulled back on the camera.

Next it was the hardebeest that we saw

and then a hidden warthog

before we left the park and ran into these 2 Masai who were trying to earn their feathers. As we continued back from the reserve, we ran into giraffe

gazelle

and wildebeest

before coming to a cattle crossing

after which my hat blew off causing me to take this self portrait to see how Ben's hat fit even as I bade farewell to my safari hat with too much dust to reclaim.

Close to home, we ran into the cheetah again as we had in the morning. This time we got closer so that the animals are easier to spot in our pictures

and then reoriented to take pictures of our local vultures as Suzanne focused in and saw this as those in the back seat watched.

Back at the camp, the napkins were artistically arranged inspiring me to make this face out of my last dinner at Ol Seki.