Dead things and rain...oh and lions

This evening my car had a particularly interesting drive. It started out a little rough, with dreary weather, incoming rain, and a blockade of cows.

We drive past a Maasai town on our way into the park, They are pastoralists who herd cows..sometimes right in front of our car. 

At least we have a good view!

But later we had some good luck and came across two big male lions, one of which was  chowing down on a buffalo carcass right by the road. These two are part of a coalition of related male lions (including their late father, the infamous Notch) that are famous in the Mara for controlling a large territory and hunting large prey such as hippos.

The smell was less than amazing.

Later, we came back to the carcass and found a bunch of spotted hyenas and jackals running around trying to nab some of the carcass. The spotted hyenas kept their distance from the two large lions, but the little jackals were a little bolder and got pretty close to sneak a bite.

Spotted hyenas gathering

Jackal thinking about bothering a lion

Also, I was a terrible teacher and made the students run around in the pouring rain with me in order to put out bait for small mammal trapping.  Poor students.

Getting soaked for science!

We returned to the lodge to find the other students warm and cozy. Lazy butts.