Mara Intrepids Camp

Getting there

Mara Intrepids, our fourth stop,  was also in the Maasai Mara National Reserve and close enough to Ashnil Mara (our previous camp) to be driven there.  This bonus ride gave us another peek at local life — the reality beyond our insulated and curated camp experience, an important reminder of where we were.  We passed very modest houses, children walking to school in their uniforms, and boys herding goats.

Our favorite camp

When we arrived  we were surprised to see a lawn — actual grass! — and someone mowing it.  We knew instantly that we had stepped up on the luxury scale.  The staff was the friendliest;  the tents were large and nicely appointed, the outdoor dining patio, bar, and lounge area were lovely; the menu was excellent with the fanciest desserts; and our safari drivers, Joab and Samson, were beyond endearing. This turned out to be our favorite camp.

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Back to Nairobi Tented Camp

Because of its proximity to the Jomo Kenyatta airport, we returned to the  Nairobi Tented Camp  before flying back to the States. It felt full circle, returning to our starting point. By now, after more than 20 game drives, we felt like “old hands” and the camp was familiar…yet,  this last day had a sad quality to it. Luckily, a few things happened to lift our spirits.

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Bringing Serenity to Your Mat

Did you know… that yoga is not just a physical exercise program that you might choose in place of other gym offerings like kick boxing, weight lifting, or Zumba?

Yoga Prayer FlagsIf you delve in the history and philosophy of yoga, you will find that it is much more than the body-centered approach (Hatha yoga and its spin-offs) that has become immensely popular in our society. Yoga can be traced back 5000 or more years with ancient texts such as the Rig Veda, Upanishads, Bhagavad-Gîtâ, and Patanjali’s Yoga-Sûtras.

Like the Bible and other sacred texts written so long ago and in a different language, our modern English interpretations vary.  I am most familiar with Patanjali’s definition of yoga as an eight-limbed path that can lead to enlightenment. It includes asana (the poses) as only one of the limbs.  It can get complicated.
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