Nights at Mara West are usually slightly chilly, with a clear bright and blue darkness. Stars highlight the skies, bringing out beauty of nights in the wild. The winds give a sense of tranquillity and being one with nature.
Big cat predators, like the lioness, are preparing themselves for their nightly hunts, the dangers of the night coming to life by the time the sun sets. Guests can hear the vibrating roars of the male lion, warning other males to stay out of their territory. The adult male roar can be heard for a distance of about eight kilometres.
Rarely does a night pass at Mara West without the resounding laughter of the spotted hyenas. From a distance guests can hear them more frequently than any another wild animal. Their clan numbers go up to over twenty members who congregate together to hunt and feed. While spotted hyenas are known to stay in the vicinity of human settlements, they usually run from humans, therefore guests have nothing to fear.
While guests are winding up for the night, herds of zebras graze around their chalets. Any sudden, loud movements cause them to stampede across the camp, making the night even more dramatic. A good number of Eland, Thompson Gazelle and Impala join the zebras in grazing during the course of the night. On one of the nights, while guests are done with their dinner, a Mara West resident hare hops across the camp leaving its strong and pungent scent along its path. Usually tourists at the camp cannot spot the hare, however its scent is undoubted.
By the time the sun sets, on occasion, herds of elephants are making their way from the Masai Mara Reserve, heading up towards camp. When it’s the darkest time of the night, one finally hears the elephant tramp across camp, as they move along to their destination. By that time the birds have started chirping, signalling the dawn of a new day.
