Masai Mara National Reserve: Located in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya in South West, Masai Mara National Reserve is a vast scenic expanse of gently rolling African savannah plains measuring 1,510 square kilometers in area and bordering the scenic Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the South.
Masai Mara National Reserve is a unique wildlife conservation haven famous for its spectacular natural diversity of wildlife and is the premier Kenya Safari location in East Africa, offering visitors numerous reasons to visit this animal paradise. The endless plains of Masai Mara is home to large numbers of lions, cheetah, elephant, rhino, African buffalo, wildebeest, giraffes, zebras and many more animals thriving in its natural habitat, unconfined and free to roam the vast Kenyan wilderness stretching for miles on end.
It is no surprise that thousands of tourists from the world over travel here to experience a Masai Mara Safari Tour, more so as the reserve has been voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
The origin of the name of the reserve, the word “Masai” comes from the Maasai Tribe, nomadic inhabitants of the area and the word “Mara” is their word for “spotted”, referring to the ubiquitous flat topped acacia trees, shrubs and bushes that dot the landscape across most of the reserve .
Masai Mara now also comprises a number of conservancies and group ranches bordering the main reserve and is home to some of the most diverse species of African Wildlife and is also the site of the annual Wildebeest Migration, simply known as the “Great Migration”.
Masai Mara National Reserve is famous for this migration, during which large herds of a million plus wildebeest, zebra and other wild animals including the “Big Cats” migrate north into the Mara from Serengeti National Park. Typically this migration takes place between July to mid-September and involves the wildebeest making dangerous crossings through crocodile-infested rivers. The “Mara”, as Masai Mara is also known, is among the best wildlife reserve not just in Kenya but also in Africa.
Great migration & Wildlife
Masai Mara National Reserve is home to more than 95 animal species and over 400 species of birds. Between August and mid-October you can visit Masai Mara to see the Great Migration of wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, antelopes and impalas.
By the time they have most likely crossed over from the Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park on the other side of the border. This annual wildebeest’s migration involves over 2.5 million animals, they are crossing the dangerous Mara River in herds of thousands of animals in order to find fresh grass on the other side. Crocodiles are already waiting in the water, this is an exciting spectacle you shouldn’t miss.
Masai Mara – Mara Triangle region
Visitors on a Masai Mara Safari come to the Masai Mara Triangle because it is one of the best destinations in the world to spot wildlife. The Mara River runs through the Mara Triangle. It is the first area the Great Migration reaches once they come from Serengeti to the Masai Mara. You have an excellent chance to see lots of animals here, the famous Big Five – elephants, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo are habitants of the Masai Mara. And with a bit of luck you can see cheetahs, servals, hyenas, bat-eared foxes, and black-backed and side-striped jackals. The Mara Triangle is also home to hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, oribis, reed-bucks, zebras and many more animals.
Most Common Animals in Masai Mara: Big five – Elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo, Migration animals – Wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, antelope and impala, Cheetah, Serval, Hyena, Bat-eared foxes, Black-backed and side-striped jackals, Hippo, Crocodile, Baboons, Warthog, Topi, Eland, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, Impala, Water- and Reed buck and Oribi among others.
Things to Do in Masai Mara
There are several exciting Kenya Safari activities once can enjoy in Masai Mara, the most thrilling of these is the Hot Air Balloon Safari, done at the break of dawn and ending with a leisurely “Champagne Bush Breakfast”. This is a truly unique adventure activity and the Mara provides the perfect backdrop for the amazing balloon excursion. The flight lasts for about an hour as you glide gracefully over the African savannah watching the magnificent wildlife below.
The pilots are highly experienced and the activity boasts of an exceptional safety record.
Game Drives / Game Viewing
Game Drives are the most popular safari activity to do in Masai Mara offering you an opportunity to see the amazing wildlife in the reserve’s endless savannah plains. Including the Big Five, lion, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and rhinos. Other animals to lookout for include elands, giraffes, cheetahs, zebras among others.
Masai Village Visit – Meet the Maasai tribe
The Maasai People have been living in this area ever since they migrated here from the Nile Basin a long time ago. The word Mara means “Spotted” in Maa, the local language. It refers to the many short busy trees you see dotted over the savannah plains when your drive through the reserve.
To see how the Maasai tribe lives, you can visit one of their villages in the Masai Mara. Here you will be entertained by local dances and drama, interact with the elders and take part in livestock rearing.
How To Get There
Masai Mara is a 45-minutes flight away from Kenya’s Capital Nairobi. There are several airstrips which are serving the different areas of the Masai Mara. By road, it is a drive of approximately 4-5 hours from Nairobi City, the capital of Kenya.
Climate
From June to November and February and March which is a dry season, temperatures can be high during the day (30°C). In the dry season from November through May, with peak rainfall in December – January and April – May, temperatures often drop to 20°C. It normally doesn’t rain throughout the day as one sees sunny mornings with rain clouds building up towards the afternoons and evenings.
Best time to visit Masai Mara
The recommended time to visit Masai Mara is between August and mid-October, during the Great Migration. In this time of the year, you will have a chance to witness the great migration as it takes place and variety of wildlife as many animals congregate in large numbers at the remaining watering holes.