2 days Maasai Mara safari

Attractions in Maasai Mara national Reserve

Attractions in Maasai Mara national Reserve : This is the most famous park in the whole world because of its phenomenon natural, where the largest population of wildebeest migrate from Serengeti National park in the neighbouring country of Tanzania into Masai mara in Kenya. This is the major contributor of the wonderful Kenyan safari tour and the biggest Kenyan wildlife safari destinations receiving hundreds of thousands of both local and international tourist per year.

Masai mara national reserve is located in the south-western region of Kenya in the border  between Kenya and Tanzania is 253 kilometres  distance by road from Nairobi. Masai mara being in the Kenyan side while Serengeti National park in the Tanzania side. It is found in the county of Narok, it is 1510 kilometres square by size and the park is the biggest source of revenue for the said county. The park can be accessed also by air direct from Nairobi into the park.The masai mara national Game Reserve was established in 1961. The wildebeest migration is the most popular phenomenon that it was once classified among the seven wonders of the Natural world. The park is also home to the famous Big five animals found in the numbers here at the park such as Lions, Rhinoceros, Elephants, Leopards and Buffaloes. Other animals in the park include Cheetah,  Hyena,  Warthogs, Impalas, Wildebeest, Zebras ,Giraffes, antelopes, Ostriches among other animals. The vast scenic savannah landscape which stretches into Serengeti in Tanzania offers the most rewarding first class safari tour ,you can find anywhere else in the world. The Greater Mara ecosystem consist of areas known as the Maasai Mara National Reserve, the Mara Triangle, and several Maasai Conservancies, which include: Koiyaki, Lemek, Ol Chorro Oirowua, Mara North, Olkinyei, Siana, Maji Moto, Naikara, Ol Derkesi, Kerinkani, Oloirien, and Kimintet.

Mara Triangle

It is found in the South western part of the Masai mara national Reserve. It has an area of 510 kilometres square ,managed by Non profit organisation The Mara conservancy on behalf of Trans mara county Council. The Mara Triangle is divided by the famous Mara river with Masai Mara National Reserve. It is one of the prime viewing locations in the Masai mara national reserve because of its wildlife richness.  Some of the wildlife to be spotted in the Triangle are: The Big five Lion , leopard,  Elephants,  Rhinoceros and Buffaloes. Others are cheetahs, Hyenas, Jackals, Wildebeest, Zebras, Giraffes, Waterbuck and many other wildlife species.

The Mara Triangle is one of the famous locations, where the herds of the Great migration enter and exit the Masai mara national reserve into Serengeti National park in Tanzania. The Mara river crossing is one of the spectacular sights and has been featured by several wildlife Documentaries such as Big cat Diary and Wild Africa. The Mara Triangle host two permanent lodges ;The Mara Serena and Little Governors. There are other camps on the park’s boundaries, which offer game drives inside the park: Angama Mara, Bateleur Camp,  Kichwa Tembo,  Kilima Camp, Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge, Mara Siria, and Mpata Safari Club.

You can also take your own camping gear and stay at one of either private or Public campsite in the park. There are also other seasonal campsite set up  each year to coincide with the arrival of the Great migration of Wildebeest.

The Mara Triangle can be also accessed by plane with several airstrip offering daily flights and connecting Masai mara with other National parks and Tourist attractions in Kenya such as the Kenya coastal towns Mombasa, Diani and Malindi. The airstrip found in Mara Triangle are Angama Mara Airfield, Kichwa Tembo, Mara North, Musiara and Serena airstrips offering the first class Kenya Wildlife safari experience.

Mara North conservancy

This is a beautiful private wildernesses of about 28,377 hectares which forms part of the Masai mara ecosystem found in the North West part of the Masai mara National Reserve. This Non profit entity was established in January 2009.

The Conservancy was formed as a partnership between 12 Tourism Partner Members. They include 6 camps ,3 lodges 3 riding  outfits and over 1000 Masaai land owners. Their aim is to offer world class conservancy with long term commitment to Environment, Wildlife and local community.

The Conservancy is headed by a Board of Directors elected by Tourism Partners and Landowners with equal representation. The Conservancy fee collected is used to support the Masaai Landowners  monthly lease payment. The Mara North conservancy is the largest community and private owned  Conservancy in the World .

Olare Orok conservancy

Olare Orok conservancy is located in the Northern Area of Masai mara national reserve.  It was established in May 2006 ,where 277 Masaai Landowners  set aside 35,000 acres of their land to set up the conservancy. The Conservancy has some of the scenic features such as Olare orok river , Ntiakitiak River  and Ntiakitiak  gorge which measures about 12 kilometres in length. The  conservancy has some of the best accommodation facilities in the Masai mara ecosystem which include :Mara Plains Camp, Mara Expedition Camp, Mahali Mzuri, Kicheche Bush Camp, Porini Lion Camp, Olare Mara Kempinski.

Naboisho conservancy

The Conservancy known for its breathing beauty and spectacular views, is a private conservancy of Masaai Landowners who’ve  come together giving it the name “Naboisho” which is a masaai word meaning coming together. It is 50,000 acres in size. The conservancy adjacent to Masai Mara National Reserve offers additional land that adds up to form the Mara Conservancy. The conservancy has the highest population of lions than anywhere else in the world. There are over 70 identified Lions which use Naboisho as their home territory. There are also other wildlife which male the conservancy a rewarding wildlife destination in your Maasai mara safari. There nine Tented camps and lodges in the conservancy.

 Ol kinyei conservancy

It is an 18,000 acre Kenyan wildlife Conservancy is home to two small safari camps ,The Porini safari camp and porini Cheetah’s camp. It host also two mobile camps the Game watchers Adventure Camps  and the Porini Bush Camp. Apart from the two eco Camps, no other tourist vehicle is allowed in the conservancy, Attractions in Maasai Mara national Reserve

Ol choro Oirowua

This conservancy covers 15,765 acres and is a partnership of 170 landowners and 4 tourist camps. The conservancy logistics and land are managed by Seiya Limited under the guardianship of Fairmont Kenya.

The revenue collected by the Conservancy is used to enhance the lives of the indigenous Maasai people, wildlife protection ,security effort, Maintaining the roads and other operational aspects of the conservancy. The Conservancy has managed to build Enkerende School that was established using funding from the conservancy to fill the breach the gap of school shortage in the area.

Lamek conservancy

This is the smallest conservancy in the Mara conservancy covering 19, 000 acres. The park offers classic wildlife viewing experience because of its grassland savannah with some few trees along the Mara river.

The conservancy host two accommodations facilities that are the  Mara River lodge and the Enkerende Tented Camp offering Budget accommodations services, Attractions in Maasai Mara national Reserve

The park is highly visited during the Great migration because of its strategic position for proper viewing.

Wildbeests migration

Wildebeest are members of the Antelopes family. They can grow to 2.4 Metres in length and can weigh up to 270 kilograms. They commonly inhabit the plains of Serengeti National park in Tanzania. They graze in the grassy savannah and the open woodlands of the plains stretching across the border into Masai mara national reserve Kenya.

The Wildebeest migration of over 1.5 Wildebeest, hundreds of zebras ,Elands, Grand and Thomson Gazelles migrate from southern Serengeti North into Masai Mara ecosystem is referred to as the Greatest Migration,which occurs every year. Their instinct guide them to follow the light rains in pursuit of greener pasture. This journey involves moving into the path of dangerous predators and Crocodiles especially when crossing Mara and Talek rivers .

Attractions in Maasai Mara national Reserve
wildebeest migration

Many tourists who visit masai mara want to know what time of the year is the migration. The migration is best seen from mid July, August ,September to October. The event takes place over several weeks continuous. They migrate in a clockwise direction, which covers a total of 800 km to 1000km.The climax of this migration is usually the crossing the crocodiles infested mara river, Attractions in Maasai Mara national Reserve

 Mara River

This popular river in the world lies across the Great migration path in the Masai mara National Reserve. The river begins in Narok County Kenya and stretches across the border to Mara region in Tanzania.

The river source is in Mau Escarpment of Narok county Kenya and it is 395 kilometres in length draining its water into Lake Victoria. The river basin covers a surface area of 13,504 kilometres square with 65% of it found in Kenya and the remaining 35% is in Tanzania .

The best time to visit masai mara

The park is best suitable to visit during the dry months for a exclusive wildlife viewing experience. It is also the time when animals gather around water area offering a rewarding wildlife experience because all the animals assemble for the greener pastures around the river and other water points in the reserve. For a rewarding wildebeest migration, the reserve is best to visit during the months of July to October, this is the period is when there is full flow of wildebeest. Other predators also like the lion, cheetah ,leopard and Hyenas hide themselves in bushes and the grasslands around the mara river to select their target prey.

Activities to do at Masai Mara National Reserve

Game Drives

This the most popular activity of the park ,performed by most of the tourist who visit Masai Mara National Reserve. They  usually takes approximately 2 to 3 hours and are categorised into three ; The morning, Afternoon and Night game drives. The morning game drives takes place usually early in the morning starting at around 6:30 in the morning with afternoon starting at 3 pm and the Night game drives starts at 7:30 pm. Most tourist visiting Masai Mara prefer to use 4×4 open roof safari vans for perfect game viewing from the vans roof tops. Some of the animals to be spotted in Masai Mara are; The Big five animals Lions, Rhinos ,Elephants, Leopards and Buffaloes  others are Cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, Warthogs, Impalas, Jackals, Grand Gazelles, among others.

Bird watching

This park is also one of the best birding safari destination in Kenya. The park has more than 500 species of birds in its surroundings. During this bird watching safari some of the birds to be spotted are Ostriches, guinea fowls, Duck,  geese hornbills, Egrets, pelicans, spoonbills among many others

Hot air ballooning

This is the ultimate safari tour anyone can wish for especially doing it at Masai Mara. There is no comparison of this exhilarating experience of floating effortlessly above abundant wildlife below at Masai Mara. This Hot air balloon safari tour is best done in the early mornings and late afternoons to coincide with sunrise and wonderful sunset usually referred to as sundowners to add up the wide vision of wild experiences. This activity starts early in the morning and takes approximately 2 hours but it depends on the weather condition of the day. This is best suitable for couples on a honeymoon safari or just a ordinary family safari tour ,it offers the best aerial view of the park from the great landscapes, riverine forests ,grassland savannah, rivers to the towering escarpments, Attractions in Maasai Mara national Reserve

Hot air balloon safari offers a perfect opportunity to follow and hunt with the big cats and has the opportunity to fly the balloon low for best photo shots

The hot air balloon after approximately 850 flight hours, Balloons are retired and a new one is purchased to guarantee the safety of those on board. What makes it one of the most expensive safari tours is the cost of its fuel and the crew who operate it.The crew consists of 6 crew members and a licensed pilot. There also additional of almost 10 people behind the scenes who keep the Balloon on float. In addition to these each hot air balloon requires a recovery vehicle, transfer vehicle and a back up operation.

The Masaai Culture

The Masaai culture is one of the most unique culture found anywhere in the world. They are known for their colourful dresses, distinctive culture, and high jumping dances .

The Maasai are known for their nomadic way of life herding cattle and goats. Their lifestyle primary depend on the cattle which make up their main source of food. The Maasai believe that all the cattle in the world were once owned by their ancestors and that all the other cattle not on their possession were stolen from them .

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