Masai Mara National Reserve

The Masai Mara National Reserve, the most famous of Kenya’s Reserves, has been called “the most magnificent wildlife theatre in the world.” Masai Mara” is known as Africa’s Greatest Wildlife Reserve, situated in southwest Kenya. Famous for the abundance of lion, the Great Wildebeest Migration and the Masai people, well known for their distinctive custom and dress, it is without a doubt Africa’s most famous safari destination.

The Masai Mara National Reserve adjoins Tanzania’s Serengeti, and animals are free to roam between the two Countries. Like the Serengeti, the Masai Mara is a Region comprised mostly of acacia-studded grasslands interspersed by Woodland. The Mara and Talek Rivers are the lifeblood of the Park.

The Masai Mara is particularly famous for its annual Wildebeest Migration, often considered one of the natural wonders of the world, when almost 1 and a half million Wildebeests, Zebra and Gazelle Migrate Northwards around July of each year, in search of fresh pasture. Predators, including Lion and Cheetah, follow in hot pursuit. In October, the animals return. Whether you visit the Masai Mara in time to witness the Great Migration or not, you will most certainly see a massive variety of Wildlife, including the ‘big five’ and around 450 recorded bird species.

Being one of the best national parks in East Africa, Masai Mara is definitely one of the favorites for most visitors together with Amboseli National Park ,the sanctuary of Lake Nakuru National Park, Nairobi National Park to mention. For birds looking for a good site to host the best birding trip in Kenya, choosing Masai Mara blesses visitors with the sighting of about 500 species of birds including the ostrich, the world’s largest bird. More excitingly, the birding adventure inside the national reserve is one of its kind allowing the spotting of 47 birds of prey.

The things to do in Masai Mara National Reserve – Attractions & Activities

Wildebeest Migration

The great wildebeest migration in Masai Mara Reserve is the one of 8 wonders of the African continent that many travelers from all over the world are interested in seeing. This epic adventure ( the seasonal wildebeest movement) is the second the largest mammal migration after the ice age as it involves more than 1 million wildebeest and zebras trekking between the Masa Mara Reserve and the Great Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania. During this Kenya wildlife adventure, there iconic attractions like the Mara River crossing where the wildebeest have to cheat death before moving across the crocodile infested waters.

Big Five viewing

One of the famous Big Five destinations in East Africa is Kenya’s Masai Mara Wildlife Sanctaury. This place offers one of the most spectacular encounters with the Big Five animals like lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and the huge rhinos. The numbers of lions in this sanctuary competes with other destinations like Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park which have more than 600 lions. Masai Reserve is also a good choice for those looking for the best place to find elephants in Africa where the animals are frequently viewed during the game drives.

Birding trips

Africa’s prime wildlife destination is not only a great world for Big Five animals but also many birds have been recorded in this reserve. There are about 500 species of birds living inside the large wildlife home of Masai Mara Reserve. Not forgetting the endemic birds of Kenya, 47 species of birds of prey, migratory species from other parts of Africa and the world. Travelers have the once in the life time opportunity to find the ostrich and other birds of East Africa and Kenya.

Game drives

Inside the largest national reserve in Kenya, game drives are the most done adventures to find the animals of the African savannah as well as the Big Cats ( leopards, lions, cheetahs). The game drives allow easy viewing of the lush green world in the reserve. This experience enables travelers to view photogenic places like open savannahs, Acacia woodlands and many more.

The Best Time to visit

For those looking forward to indulging in the epic adventures inside Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve, the best time to visit the wildlife sanctuary is during the dry season in the months of June-September and December-February. Usually the dry season comes with easy mobility of on the tracks for 4×4 vehicles and distant animals can be spotted with ease in the short grasses.

Getting To Masai Mara National Reserve

While getting to the Masai Mara Wildlife Sanctaury, visitors can use both air and road transport. By air, travelers from the capital Nairobi can hire chartered flights from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and move to the airstrips around the reserve. For those using the road transport means, the journey commences from Nairobi heading towards Narok taking 2-3 hours. The road trip opens up the hidden beauty of the countryside in Kenya like the Rift Valley, lush green fields, open savanna fields among others