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Masai Mara National Reserve

At a glance

Altitude: 1,500-2,170 meters above sea level.

Area: 1, 672 sq km. 

Location: Rift Valley Province, Narok and Transmara Districts.

Distance from Nairobi: 270 km.

Gazetted: the Mara Triangle, a 520 sq km area between the Siria Escarpment, the Tanzania border and the Mara River was declared a National Game Reserve in 1948 and brought under the control of Narok County Council in 1961. It attained its present size in 1995. 

Climate: the Reserve receives the highest rainfall (average 1000 mm pa) in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Rain falls throughout the year but peaks in December, January and April. 

Vegetation: comprises open rolling grassland, riverine forest, acacia woodland, swamps, non-deciduous thickets, and Acacia, Croton and Tarchonanthus scrub.

Wildlife: the Mara ecosystem hosts over 95 species of mammals. 

Birds: more than 550 recorded species (5 globally threatened).

Roads: main roads and major tracks are usually navigable with 2WD during the dry seasons, but 4WD is recommended during the rainy seasons.  

Overview

World renowned for the breathtaking spectacle of ‘the greatest wildlife show on earth’, the awe inspiring annual migration of the wildebeest, the Mara is Kenya’s most visited protected area. Technically an extension of Tanzania’s renowned Serengeti National Park, the Mara constitutes only 4% of the entire Serengeti ecosystem but its rolling grasslands, meandering rivers and towering escarpments offer one of the world’s most rewarding and evocative wildlife arenas.

About the reserve

The Mara is divided into four topographical units: the Ngama Hills to the east of Keekorok and the Sekanani Gate; the Siria Escarpment, which forms the western boundary; the Mara Triangle, which lies between the Mara River and the Siria Escarpment; and the Central Plains, which lie between the Mara River and the Ngama Hills. The permanent Mara and Talek Rivers and their tributaries flow through the Reserve. 

The gazetted name of the National Reserve is the Masai Mara, but it is also referred to as the Maasai Mara. Both spellings are correct but Maasai is more correctly used when referring to the Maasai people.  In the Maa language, the common tongue of the il-Maasai clans, the word Mara means ‘spotted’ and is thought to refer to the patchy mosaic of bushes and trees that define the Mara plains. 

Wildlife

Offering an abundance of herbivores, the Mara makes the ideal hunting ground for Kenya’s famous ‘big cats’ and hosts her largest population of lions. It also offers the best chance of spotting a leopard in the wild. Other predators include cheetah and spotted hyena. Historically teaming with wildlife, the Mara is famous for the large herds of elephant and buffalo that meander its plains; also for the fat pods of hippo that wallow in its mud-brown rivers. Other stars include the distinctive Masai giraffe, plum-coloured topi, Coke’s hartebeest, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle, zebra, impala, Kirk’s dik-dik, bushbuck, waterbuck and red duiker. The Reserve also boasts plentiful Nile crocodile, monitor lizard, baboon, vervet, blue and red-tailed monkeys, nocturnal bush babies, and tree hyrax. 

Wildlife highlights: elephant, buffalo, hippo, Masai giraffe, topi, Coke’s hartebeest, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle, zebra, impala, Kirk’s dik-dik, bushbuck, waterbuck and red duiker. baboon, vervet, blue and red-tailed monkey, nocturnal bush baby, and tree hyrax. Birds: 550 recorded species. 

The annual migration of the wildebeest

Between the end of July and November, over one and a half million wildebeest accompanied by half again as many zebras and gazelles, migrate from the short-grass plains of the Serengeti to fresh pasture in the grasslands of the Mara; thus creating one of nature’s grandest spectacles. Moving in groups of up to 20,000 at a time they thunder across the plateau hesitating only briefly to cross the Mara River, where many fall prey to the waiting crocodiles. Towards the end of October they begin crossing back into Tanzania. The actual timing of the migration, however, is dictated by the weather and does not always run to schedule. 

One of Kenya’s most important bird areas

Boasting over 550 resident and migratory species, the Mara shelters an incredible array of both regionally and globally threatened birds. Easily spotted on the plains are the common ostrich, secretary bird, ground hornbill and bustard (Kori, black-bellied and white-bellied). Also plentiful are crowned plover, red-necked spur fowl and helmeted guinea fowl, while along the rivers African fish eagle, Egyptian geese, yellow-billed stork, sacred ibis and blacksmith plover abound. The Reserve also boasts 53 species of raptors, to include augur buzzard, black-shouldered kite, bateleur eagle and 6 species of vulture. The Reserve is the only place in Kenya where you can see the rare Schalow’s turaco. 

What to do

The Mara offers a broad range of pursuits to include cultural sites and villages, day and night game drives and daytime guided walks (just outside the Reserve), and spectacular early morning hot-air balloon flights. 

 

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Amboseli / Naivasha / Masai Mara
LAS 502
6days/5nights
Kenya
Amboseli / Nakuru / Masai Mara
LAS 503
6days/5nights
Kenya
Best of Kenya Safari
LBA0118
7days/6nights
Kenya
Big Game Walk
0002
8days/9nights
Kenya
Essential Kenya Safari
LBA0117
7days/6nights
Kenya
Mara/Nakuru/Amboseli/Ngorongoro/Serengeti/Manyara
LAS 1002
11days/10nights
Tanzania
Kenya
Nakuru / Masai Mara
LAS 302
4days/3nights
Kenya
Three Days Masai Mara
LAS 202
3days/2nights
Kenya
Tree Hotel / Nakuru / Masai Mara
Las 402
5days/4nights
Kenya
Tree Hotel/NKR/Mara/NAIV/Tsavo/AMB/NGORO/SERE/MANY
LAS 1401
15days/14nights
Kenya
Tanzania
Two Nights Masai Mara by Air
LAS 205
3days/2nights
Kenya
Two nights Samburu by Air
LAS 207
3days/2nights
Kenya
Two nights Serian, Maasai Mara by Air
LAS 206
3days/2nights
Kenya
Ultimate Kenya
LBA0116
6days/5nights
Kenya

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