Night on the Mara River – darkness wraps round, close as a Maasai’s blanket. It is cold, too, on the river’s bend. We press closer the campfire, our white faces soon roasting red. No one speaks. There’s too much to listen for. A hyena whoops across the water? It sounds close. It sounds unearthly, sending shock waves through vulnerable bones – mine, conjuring packs of predators, out there, circling our ring of light. And even as I think it the Maasai are on us. Six warriors, spears in hand and naked to the waist. Their leader tosses his ostrich-feather head-dress that looks like a lion’s mane. He is fearless. He is lion.
Then the singing starts, a nasal falsetto that resonates through time and space – the winds’ whine through Mara grasses. The Maasai girls trip lightly into the firelight, their wraps like flames – yellow, red; close-cropped heads hung with beads; chins jutting forward as the crescent necklets – tiny beads so patiently strung – rise and fall on skinny chests. The moran start to leap – higher, faster.
excerpt from Dances With Warriors © 2014 Tish Farrell
Continues HERE
What a fabulous experience.
Thank you, Suzanne. It was amazing.
Wow, so beautifully captured in your prose Tish x
Thank you, Selma.
Yes, what an amazing experience. Thank you so much for sharing it with us…Janet:)
You are most welcome, Janet. 🙂
good, that you have the gift of storytelling – so your experiences are never lost …
Now that’s the kind of scene I wish I could fall asleep to every day…
Yes, indeed. Blissful isn’t it.
and this scene will stay only a dream to me. Wonderfully captured, Tish 🙂
Thank you, Paula. It’s a good dream, isn’t it. Also seems like one to me!
Tish, your beautifully descriptive prose only enhances your beautiful photo. Or is that the other way ’round? Doesn’t matter. 🙂
janet
Glad you enjoyed both, Janet. Thank you.
This is stunning, Tish, both photo and prose. I visited some of the associated posts and your photos of the wildlife are extraordinary. It’s as if you were walking among them. And wasn’t that Maasai warrior magnificent?
You’ve such a wealth stored away in your archives. I really must find the time to take a stroll through them occasionally. I can think of no better way to spend a few hours. 🙂
It is a real pleasure to share my archive with such appreciative readers – travellers in every sense. Thank you, John.
What an amazing experience and extraordinary capture, Tish! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
You are most welcome, Amy 🙂
Thank you….
You are most welcome.
That photo is so alluring, Tish. I can feel it calling you back.
Yes, Jo. It does keep calling 🙂
The image and your words are captivating, Tish. Wonderful entry for the challenge.
Thank you for your v. kind words, Isadora.
You pulled it off, Tish, captured a beautiful yellow. =)
Thank you, Diana 🙂
What a beautiful scene you painted, Tish! I’ve seen it too, and this brought it back vividly!
Glad you liked it, Tiny.
Oh my Tish – beautiful in every way. You have made the most of a wonderful experience.
Thank you, Tina. I do so appreciate your kind comments.
I remember a time when I spent the night in Masai Mara. I slept inside the tent with a friend. After 10 pm, the switched off everything. It was really silent and I could hear everything, even the sound of animals from the far. I felt so peace that I couldn’t describe by words. It was incredible experence.
There is nothing quite like a night spent in the African bush, is there Nurul.
Most engaging, Tish! Full of the mystery of the night and charms of color.
Thank you, Jamie. Glad you liked it.
Tish your writing, within short paragraphs, transports me to this mysterious world. Beautifully worded and so eloquent.
That is a lovely compliment, Sue. It’s good to know when the words work 🙂
Love this, Tish. You wove us a time capsule. I’m not sure if you meant “closer to”
We press closer the campfire, our white faces soon roasting red.
(Feel free to delete this part of comment.)
Beautiful and evocative.
Diana
Thanks for your lovely comment, Diana, and also for your sharp eye. There probably should be a ‘to’ in there. I’m not sure now whether I meant there to be one or not. I think in English English, without is also acceptable. Anyway, you’ve got me thinking, which is always handy 🙂
happy birthday to you, Tish! I hope you were not disturbed on your birthday by any Halloween rites? Our door bell was ringing very often on October 31!
No, we had a trick and treat free evening. Just a picnic in our kitchen 🙂
Incredible pictures. Beautiful.
Thank you for dropping by my blog.
What a great experience that must have been Tish and what a view! Stunning capture! It made me feel as if I was there with you. 😀 ♥
That’s such a lovely comment, Sonel. Thank you 🙂
wonderful writing 🙂 enjoyed reading
Thank you so much for reading it 🙂
Great composition and colours.
That is a great compliment. Thank you.
Very well captured and fascinating, just perfect for letting the thoughts fly
and dreams to arrive in the space those thoughts left in the head… 🙂
– add very interesting words too, really enjoyed it… 🙂
Many thanks, Drake, for dreaming along.
Beautiful writing – and of course a beautiful images to go along with the text. There is something magical about Africa coming to light the way you tell it.
Otto, that is such a touching thing to say – metaphorically and physically – you have put your finger on why I write the things I do. Thank you.