MASAI MARA TRAVEL GUIDE
Maasai Mara Travel Guide : Maasai Mara national reserve is one of the most the famous Kenya wildlife safari destinations in the world and the most popular destination in Kenya known for hosting a huge population of wildlife and for the great wildebeest migration – an annual migration of over 12 million wildebeests, thousands of zebras and gazelles across the plains of Serengeti national park and Maasai Mara national reserve.
LOCATION AND SIZE OF MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
Maasai Mara national reserve is located in the South west of Kenya covering an area of 1,520 square kilometers, the reserve is situated contagious to Serengeti national park and is found in the Great Maasai Mara Ecosystem and it is the northernmost section of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem of 25,000 square kilometers straddling in Kenya and Tanzania.
Maasai Mara national reserve is bordered by Serengeti national park to the south, the siria/Oloololo escarpment to the west and Maasai pastoral ranches to the north, east and west. The reserve is situated in about 280 kilometers from Nairobi the capital of Kenya about 5-6 hours journey by road, driving to Maasai Mara national reserve offers a great vista of the stunning landscape transforming into the Maasai Manyattas and glorious views from the Rift Valley Escarpment,
HIGHLIGHTS OF MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
Maasai Mara national reserve shelters a variety of habitats in its compact boundaries, the greater area of the reserve comprises of sweeping landscapes and blanketed by the classic East Africa expanse of the central plains that is a vast grassland dotted with scrub, bushes and boulders. Maasai Mara national reserve is a home to a range of wildlife specialities you are likely to encounter in the plains of the reserve such as the big five – rhinos (black rhinos) found in the bush land of the Ngama Hills, African lions, leopards, Cape buffalo and African elephant among others. The abundance of wildlife in Maasai Mara national reserve is mostly found in the Mara Triangle the southwestern part of the reserve, this area is cut off from the rest of Maasai Mara national reserve by the Mara River. The Mara Triangle area is where thousands of the great migration enter and exit Maasai Mara national reserve from the Serengeti nal park in Tanzania. Some of the highlights in the reserve include
Big cats
Though Maasai Mara national reserve is famous for great wildebeest migration, the reserve is also known for the big cats made famous by the BBC’S Big Cat Diary filmed in the reserve together with Disney filmmakers on African Cats. Maasai Mara national reserve offers excellent big cat viewing opportunities, the reserve has three outstanding big cats that are lions, leopards and cheetahs.
The big cats in Maasai Mara national reserve are best spotted as they follow closely the migrating herds to feast on them, for wildlife and big cat photographers Maasai Mara national reserve offers perfect opportunity to take amazing pictures of the big cats in the endless plains of the park dominated by savannah grasslands.
Big Five
Maasai Mara national reserve is an animal paradise and a famous home for the Big Five a term used to refer to 5 Africa animals, these animals were considered the most difficult and dangerous animals to hunt on foot in Africa by the early big game hunters. The big 5 in Maasai Mara national reserve include lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos.
Black rhino
Black rhino is notoriously one of Africa’s most endangered species of wildlife found in Maasai Mara national reserve, black rhinos’ population in Maasai Mara is Kenya’s only indigenous population however the population is threatened by poaching. Black rhinos in Maasai Mara national reserve tend to be found in the Mara Triangle found in the Southwestern part of the reserve and the Ngama Hills to the South East of the reserve. These areas have denser vegetation cover that is why you have to be more kin during wildlife sightings but still the experience is magical.
Bush walks
Bush walks are an incredible activity and the highlight of Maasai Mara national reserve, this activity offers a guided walk through the varied terrain accompanied by a Maasai guide. On bush walks you will learn how to track game (wildlife) based on scat and spoor, discover various medicinal plants and get an up close encounter with wildlife on foot which is an exciting experience to do on an African safari thus the Maasai Mara Travel Guide.
Great Migration
The great migration is one of the world’s most incredible wildlife spectacular, one of its kind and its usually referred to as the World Cup of Wildlife, the great migration is an ever-moving circular migration of over million animals that is zebras, wildebeest, Thomson and grant’s gazelles between Serengeti national park of Tanzania and Maasai Mara national reserve which form the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.
The great migration is present in Maasai Mara national reserve is present from late June to October and the climax and most sought for event of the migration is the Mara river crossing, the crossing is a deadly episode as the migrating herds faceoff with the Nile crocodiles in the waters of Mara river and after crossing, the survived animals are stalked by big cats such as lions, leopards and cheetahs which is a perfect opportunity for spotting a predator action.
Mara Triangle
The Mara Triangle is an incredible area of Maasai Mara national reserve for wildlife sightings, the area is situated in the Southwestern part of the reserve comprising about a third of the whole national reserve and separated from the reserve Mara River. Mara Triangle is managed and protected by the Mara Conservancy – a collaboration between the Maasai local people and the conservationists.
Mara Triangle hosts a high concentration of game such as the big five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhino), cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, waterbucks among others. Mara Triangle is also where the herds during the great migration enter and exit Maasai Mara national reserve from Serengeti national park of Tanzania.
The collaboration of the conservationists with Maasai locals has reduced on the rate of poaching and offered employment to the locals living along the boundaries of the reserve thus Maasai Mara Travel Guide.
BEST TIME TO VISIT THE MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
Maasai Mara national reserve is a all year-round destination, however the best time Maasai Mara national reserve depends on the interest of the tourist. In the period of Late March – May, the reserve receives downpours in floods and a number of newly born babies are present in the reserve. This period is the not the best recommended time to visit the reserve for wildlife viewing, however it is perfect for bird watching and cheap deals on accommodation are available. In the November, the reserve receives its shorter rainy season, this period is filled with greener landscapes perfect for photographers and cheap deals on accommodation are available.
The best time to witness the migration is from July – October.
