Today we transferred over to Porini Lion Camp's sister camp in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy (see map on Day Sixteen) - too far to walk, unfortunately. Along the way there wasn't too much game to see, apart from a male and female lion () that we, naturally, spent quite some time watching. Buffalo, topi and wildebeest, together with some elegant zebra () and Maasai cattle, added to the picture.

Along the way we passed by several villages, noting a school (), below, together with some sort of livestock compound (), below.

     

A further magnificent male lion () followed, and then a cheetah (), below, together with all of five cubs (), below.

     

Porini Mara Camp was very similar to Porini Lion Camp, except that it was rather more private, with its tents () spread out over a wider area. Its facilities were fairly basic, () and (), below, but I find these far more preferable - in a bush camp - to being supplied with elegant touches that just don't work. A pleasant outdoor dining area completed the picture ().

     

After lunch we tracked down the cheetah family once more, and spent about an hour watching the five cubs having a great time playing around the bushes and trees (), opposite, and (), (), below, watched over by their relaxed mother. On the way to sundowners, out in the bush, we also saw more lions.

     

At dinnertime a number of Maasai camp staff entertained us with a song and dance show, ending up with their ritual jumping performance. The other guests were rather wondering what all this was in aid of, but, although I knew quite well, I kept quiet, until the game was given away by the presentation to me of a birthday cake, which I then shared amongst the other guests. A brief night drive, terminated by a thunderstorm and torrential rain (luckily this never seemed to happen during the day), then yielded the rare sighting of a porcupine ().

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