Masai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara National Reserve also known as Maasai Mara is the most popular reserve in Africa and a famous wildlife destination in Kenya known for its huge numbers of wildlife including the Big 5 and the Great Migration.
Masai Mara National Reserve is a vast scenic expanse of endless and gently rolling African savannah plains located in South West region of Kenya stretching to the border of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to the south, the reserve covers an area of 1,510 square kilometers.
The name Masai Mara is derived from the local Masai people who were the residents of the area before it was established as a protected area, the Masai people migrated from the Nile Basin and settled in Masai region. They described the area as Mara which is the native translation for spotted when they looked at it from a distance, today the Maasai people live in communities in northern, central and Southern Kenya mostly around national park as well as Northern Tanzania.
Masai Mara National Reserve voted as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World is a premier Kenya Safari Destination renowned for its spectacular natural diversity of wildlife including large prides of predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs and the Great Wildebeest Migration which is the largest migration of wildlife ever witnessed on planet with over 2 million wildebeests across the Mara – Serengeti eco system on their annual journey.
History of Masai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara National Reserve as a protected area was first established as a wildlife refuge in 1961 covering an area of 520 square kilometers, later the area of the reserve was increased to 1,821 square kilometers which laid foundation for a game reserve.
By the time of its establishment, the reserve was situated in the Narok County Council. In 1974 a portion of the reserve of 159 square kilometers and another 162 square kilometers was given back to the neighboring communities. By 1984, the reserve remained with only 1,510 square kilometers making the present day Masai Mara National Reserve.
Masai Mara National Reserve is part of the Greater Mara – Eco System together with the Mara Triangle and several conservancies that include Koiyaki, Mara North, Lemek, Olkinyei, Ol Chorro Oirowua, Ol Derkesi, Siana, Maji Moto, Kerinkani, Oloirien, Kimintet and Naikara.
Attractions in Masai Mara National Reserve.
Wildlife
Masai Mara National Reserve boasts a wide range of wildlife with over 95 mammal species including an abundance of herbivores and predators, animals found in Masai Mara National Reserve include Masai giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, gazelles, lions, leopards, roan antelopes, elands, gazelles, Nile crocodiles, black rhinos, Kirk’s dik-dik, tree hyrax, baboons, monitor lizards among others.
Birdlife
Masai Mara National Reserve is a birder’s haven boasting over 470 bird species, the reserve is ranked among the best birding destinations in Kenya and one of the Important Birding Areas. Masai Mara National Reserve is home to over 53 birds of prey and 12 species of Cisticola, birds found in the reserve include Abdim’s Stork, African finfoot, African wood owl, Ayres’s hawk eagle, Cinnamon-breasted bunting, Denham’s bustard, Giant kingfisher, Grey-crested helmet-shrike, Grey penduline tit, Hildebrandt’s starling, Jackson’s widowbird, Lazy cisticola, Ostrich, Purple grenadier, Red-throated tit, Ross’s turaco, Rosy-throated longclaw, Rufous-bellied heron, Rufous-throated wryneck, Saddle-billed stork, Schalow’s turaco, Secretary bird, Silverbird, Southern ground hornbill, Swahili sparrow, Tabora cisticola, Temminck’s courser, Trilling cisticola, Usambiro barbet, White-bellied go-away bird, Woolly-necked stork, Yellow-mantled widowbird, Yellow-throated sandgrouse among others
The Great Migration
The annual wildebeest migration also known as The Great Migration is the most spectacular wildlife occurrence regarded as the largest migration of land, over 2 million wildebeests together with thousands of zebras and gazelles among other angulates migration from Serengeti National Park to the plains of Masai Mara National Reserve between the end of July and the end of November in search for water and pastures.
The herds enter Maasai Mara National Reserve by crossing Mara River referred to as Mara River Crossing which is the deadliest event of the migration as many wildebeests face off with the fierce Nile crocodiles and some of them are washed away by the high – speed running water, only the strong ones survive and enter into Masai Mara.
The migration is dictated by rain and thunderstorms and there is do set dates to which it happens.
Safari Activities to Do in Masai Mara National Reserve
Game Drives
The remarkable game viewing safari is the major safari activity in Masai Mara National Reserve, this activity offers visitors a chance to explore the endless plains of the reserve and spot various wildlife hosted in the reserve from your comfort of a safari vehicle with a pop-up roof.
Game drives in Masai Mara National Reserve are offered as morning game drives starting at 06:30 am, afternoon game drives starting at around 2:30 to 3:00 pm and night game drives starting in the dark hours of 06:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Morning game drives and night game drives are the best session to spot predators and nocturnal animals such as lions, leopards, hyenas among others. As you drive through the endless plains of the reserve on several trails, animals to lookout for include elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, wildebeests, elands, zebras, gazelles, African wild dogs among others.
Witness The Great Wildebeest Migration
Witnessing the Great Migration with the most spectacular wildlife experience and a bucket list activity to most travelers visiting Kenya and Africa for a safari, every year between the end of July and end of November. Over 2 million wildebeests together with thousands of Thomson gazelles and zebras migrate from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to Masai Mara National Reserve with river crossing at Mara River.
Hot air balloon Safaris
Hot air balloon safari is a thrilling wildlife safari experience offering visitors to explore the reserve from a different perspective, as you fly above the endless plains of Masai Mara national reserve. Visitors are rewarded with aerial views of the plains and animals such as lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, gazelles among others. For honeymooners and photographers, this is the most perfect experience to have in Masai Mara National Reserve.
Birding
Masai Mara National Reserve is a great Kenya birding destination offering some of the best birding experiences in the world, the reserve is home to over 500 bird species including more than 50 raptors, migratory and resident species.
Some of the birds to lookout for in Masai Mara National Reserve include Madagascar Pond-Heron, Pallid Harrier, Jackson’s Widowbird, Red-throated Tit, Grey-crested Helmet-shrike, Corncrake, Lesser Kestrel, Caspian Plover, White Stork, restricted-range Jackson’s widowbird, Grey-crested Helmet-shrike among others.
Maasai Cultural Encounter
The Masai people are one of fascinating local tribes to visit while on a safari Kenya partly because they are one of the few local tribes in Africa with culture and traditions that have not been affected by technology and modernity, the Masai people used to live in areas around protected areas such as Masai Mara national reserve. Currently the live in areas along the borders of the reserve and they still practice their nomadic way of life, culture and traditions.
On your visit to the Masai Village, you will get a deeper insight about the Masai people, their culture and traditions. You will learn about their lifestyle, take part livestock rearing, be entertained by local dances and drama among others.
When to visit Masai Mara National Reserve for a safari
Masai Mara National Reserve is an all year – round destination, however the best time to visit the reserve for a Kenya safari experience is during the dry months of late June and October. In the dry season, it is easy to spot wildlife as the vegetation cover is thin and animals congregate around the remaining watering holes in large numbers.
To witness the Great Migration most especially the spectacular Mara River Crossing, the perfect time is in late July – October.
How To Get To Masai Mara National Reserve
Road and air transport are the best way to get to Masai Mara National Reserve.
By road – the reserve lies about 270 kilometers northwest of Nairobi the capital of Kenya and it is a drive of approximately 5 hours through Narok town where you will have a stopover at the Rift Valley View Point to enjoy spectacular views of the rift valley.
The reserve can also be accessed from other Kenya Wildlife destinations like Lake Nakuru National Park.
By air – there domestic and chartered flights from Wilson Airport located South of Nairobi to several airstrips serving the reserve such as Keekorok Airstrip, Serena Airstrip, Musiara Airstrip, Kichwa Tembo Airstrip, Siana Conservancy Airstrip, Ol Kiombo Airstrip and Ngerende Airstrip.
There are many accommodation options in Masai Mara National Reserve in form of tented camps and safari lodges, these accommodations are categorized as budget, midrange and luxury.
- Saruni Mara camp
- Naibor Camp
- Ol Seki Hemingways Mara
- Angama Mara
- Mara Maisha Camp
- Mara Simba Lodge
- Talek Bush Camp
- Mara Serena Safari Lodge among others
