The Masai Mara National Reserve In Kenya
World Famous Wildlife Reserve and East African Safari Destination
Aug 11, 2009
The Masai Mara is home to all the "Big Five" African game animals - lions, leopards, African elephants, buffaloes, and rhinoceros - as well as most other animals and bird species of the African plains, and draws to Kenya visitors from all round the world.
One of the most popular, accessible and well organised East African safari holiday destinations, it offers the opportunity for travellers to see and enjoy a host of different African animals and bird species in the magnificent natural habitat of the African grasslands.
The Masai Mara Wildlife Reserve
The Masai Mara reserve extends over more than 1500 square kilometres of grassland plains and rolling hills interspersed with Acacia woods, scrub and riverine forest. It lies west of Nairobi on Kenya's southern border, and its southern boundary runs alongside Tanzania's Serengeti reserve, forming a single huge eco-system across which animals can move in complete freedom.
These are the tribal lands of the Masai, or Maasai, people who still live in traditional thorn fenced, round hutted villages around the perimeter of the reserve, grazing their herds in the surrounding grasslands. The Masai also provide many of the guides and staff for the Reserve, and both Kenya and the local people benefit greatly from the tourist income the Reserve generates.
As well as the "Big Five", huge numbers of grazing animals - wildebeest, zebras, antelopes, giraffes, kudu, impala and a host of others drift across the plains, while crocodiles and hippopotamus wallow in the rivers and streams and bask on the banks.
The bird life is equally spectacular; eagles, hawks, vultures, Secretary Birds, ostriches, honbills and many smaller birds are all readily spotted.
At the height of the wildebeest migration from July to September the Masai Mara holds probably the greatest conentration of grazing animals in the world; the plain is black with wildebeest, plodding across the landscape like the marching columns of a huge army; every tree seems to shade a lion dozing beside its kill. The spectacle of terrified wildebeest running the gauntlet of the waiting crocodiles as they struggle across the Mara River, churning its waters to a maelstrom in their panic, must be one of the world's most unforgettable sights.
Organising a Safari Holiday
Almost all travel agents offer safari packages, including air travel, accommodation, and guides and vehicles within the Reserve. However, it is quite possible to put together your own individual package with local safari operators. Such a tailor- made safari package can be far more enjoyable and also less costly, but thorough research and a careful check on the operator's facilities, guide quality, record and references are advised.
Getting To The Masai Mara
It's possible to drive from Nairobi in a 4x4 vehicle, but this is an uncomfortable 4-5 hour drive and most visitors prefer to fly in to one of the grass airstrips in and around the Mara. Many package operators use charter flights, but there are also regular scheduled flights from Nairobi's Wilson Airfield and from Mombasa.
The flight itself is a wonderful experience as the 10-12 seater plane flies low over dun coloured grassland criss-crossed by red earth tracks, tiny puffs of white cloud occasionally floating below. It’s low enough to get a good view of the occasional groups of round grass huts set in a circular stockade of thorn, and even of the colourfully dressed women working in bright green fields of crops.
Accomodation In The Masai Mara
There are a number of safari lodges in the reserve, and others in the surrounding area, like Mara Porini which sits in its own private wildlife reserve. These are comfortable tented camps of varying degrees of sophistication. When booking , careful research is necessary not only into the accomodation and facilities, but also into the location and provision of guides. Different areas of the reserve offer sightings of different groups of animals, so you may wish to split your stay between two or more lodges. Also, some areas can attract quite heavy visitor traffic.
When to Go To The Masai Mara
The largest concentrations of game are to be seen between mid July and mid September during the wildebeest migration, although not all visitors will be lucky enough to catch the spectacle of the animals crossing the Mara River.
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