Maasai Mara National Reserve

Maasai Mara National Reserve is in the southwest of Kenya. The Maasai Mara is not a National Park, but rather a National Reserve belonging to the Maasai people and administered by the local county councils. It is one of the best known and most popular reserves in Africa.

Understand
The Maasai Mara National Reserve (also Masai Mara) is visited by thousands of tourists each year, who come here to watch the many different wildlife and birdlife species in the reserve. The reserve is especially famous for the high amount of predators, such as lions, cheetahs, and leopards, and the 1½ million wildebeest which migrate through the Mara and cross the crocodile infested Mara river.

It is notable that Masai Mara is one of the few wildlife reserves in Africa where it is possible to see not only the "Big Five" but also the "Big Nine" Animals within a day's game drive. The "Big Nine" are the lion (Panthera leo), the African elephant (Loxodonta africana), the leopard (Panthera pardus), the African (Cape) buffalo (Syncerus caffer), the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum), the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), the zebra (Equus quagga) and the hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius).

The best kept secret of the Mara is the Mara Triangle, the north western part of the Maasai Mara which is managed by the Mara Conservancy on behalf of Trans-Mara County Council - the rest of the reserve falls under Narok County Council. Although one third of the Mara, the Mara Triangle has only two properties within its boundaries (compared to the numerous camps and lodges on the Narok side) and has well maintained, all weather gravel roads. There are several camps that lie outside the reserve but close to Oloololo Gate of the Mara Triangle, which means in turn that guests staying at these camps will normally be brought into the Mara Triangle area for their game drives. The conservancy rangers patrol regularly which means that there is almost no poaching and therefore excellent game viewing. There is also strict control over vehicle numbers around animal sightings which means a better, more authentic, experience when out on a game drive.

Though the Mara has good numbers of wildlife all year around, it is more lively during the annual Great wildebeest migration when it is estimated that close to a million plus animals migrate into the reserve from Serengeti National park in the south. The migration does not start exactly at the same time each year. It typically starts off some time between July to early August and begins to tail off by mid September when most of the splinter groups within the large wildebeest herds will have crossed over into Masai Mara. Although animals can be seen at any time of the year in May/June it's difficult due to the rainy season with muddy paths.

It is advisable to avoid booking Safaris that have too many destinations or parks to visit within single itinerary. This is often the case with the one-week safaris offered by the major international tour operators. With too many parks and too little time, one has little time left to fully explore the location or really observe the amazing wildlife in each of the parks and reserves as much time is lost traveling from one place to the next.

Check “hot offers” particularly intensely because their program might be completely firm and the accommodations often outside the parks. A good location of the lodge is very important in the Mara. They often use mini buses instead of Jeeps packed with 6 persons, which is the maximum number of seats in a mini bus. You can imagine how packed you are if everyone has a small bag plus photo equipment.

History
Arrowheads and pottery discarded by Neolithic man 2,000 years ago have been found in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Since the 17th century the Masai people have occupied the area - of course together with the wildlife, who are the true landlords here. The Maasai Mara National Reserve as it appears today was established in 1961, and covers 1,510 km² (583 sq miles).

Landscape
The Maasai Mara is characterized by four different kinds of topography: sandy soil and small bushes to the east, the Siria Escarpment forming a spectacular plateau as the western boundary of the reserve, lush grasslands and woodlands around the Mara River and open plains with scattered bushes making up the largest part of the reserve. The landscape is very varied and has a romantic feeling to it, as can be witnessed in the film Out of Africa, which was filmed here in 1985.

Flora and fauna
When visiting the Maasai Mara you are likely to see the famous Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Especially lions are common here, and have grown relatively accustomed to their two-legged visitors, which makes them easier to spot. The Mara Plains are teeming with wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, impala and Thomson's gazelle. Also cheetahs, hyenas and jackals are seen regularly in the reserve. In the Mara River large amounts of hippos and crocodiles are enjoying their lives - the crocodiles are especially happy in July and November when thousands of wildebeest migrate across the river causing a sumptuous feast for the hungry crocodiles.

Birdlife in Maasai Mara are abundant and diverse. Species such as eagles, ostriches, storks and vultures are among the more than 50 different birds of prey.

Climate
Maasai Mara is 1,500-2,200 m (4,900-7,100 ft) above sea level, which makes the climate slightly damper and milder than in other similar regions. Highest temperatures in daytime is 30°C/85°F (warmest in December and January, coldest in June and July), at night the temperature rarely drops below 15°C/60°F.

The rainy season is April-May and November. In these periods some parts of the Mara will get very muddy and practically inaccessible. The dry season occurs from July to October. This is the best time to visit the Maasai Mara as a lot of herbivores indulge in the plants grown long and lush after the rains - and, in these months you will stay clear of heavy showers.

By air
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is accessible by regularly scheduled flight from Nairobi Wilson Airport year-round. Flights can often run from Samburu, Lewa Downs, Nanyuki or Mombasa if sufficient demand. If you have a small group, a charter is also an option. The aircraft will land on one of the small Mara airstrips, and from here you need to transfer by car to your particular lodge. Many lodges and camps offer pickups. The flight from Nairobi takes around half an hour, but may land at several Mara strips. Frequency for all airlines depends on the season. Some flights only operate subject to minimum passenger numbers.
 * is a reliable state airline
 * Safarilink (in combination with Coastal aviation) also offers connecting flights from Tanzania via the land crossing at Migori/Tarime.

By road
If you go by car from Nairobi the drive will take you five hours during the dry season, and up to seven hours in the rainy season. By car you can enter the game reserve through these gates:, , , , and Sand River.

The roads in the reserve can become flooded or turned into mud puddles in the rainy seasons in April, May and November.

A lot of travel agencies organise safari trips to Maasai Mara. You can book a package tour, which allows you to put all transportation to and in the park in their hands.

Fees and permits

 * Entry fee is US$80 per person per night.
 * You can book your tour of the National Reserve with a reliable tour operator that will usually bundle the park fee, the accommodation, and the safari car and driver fees to make sure that you can enjoy your adventure and not have to worry about the details.

Get around
Moving around in Maasai Mara National Reserve must only take place by car - preferably by 4-wheel safari vehicles. Because of the wild animals it is absolutely forbidden to move about on foot outside the camp sites and lodges.

See
The main attraction of this game reserve is, not surprisingly, game viewing. Go on morning, afternoon and night drives over several days in order to see as many as possible of the resident animals, such as lion, leopard, elephant, zebra, giraffe, Thomson's gazelle, hyena, rhino, hippo and the thousands of migrating wildebeest that makes this park so famous.

Many camp sites and lodges offer game drives with experienced drivers and skilled, well-informed guides. These are well worth your money, as they will provide you with priceless knowledge and help you spot animals you wouldn't see on your own. And please catch as many sunuppers and -downers as you can.

Maasai Mara's most famous sight is the Great Migration, a great animal migration event that takes place in July and August every year.

There is a Maasai village near Oloolaimutiek gate of this game park. It is a good experience and will help you to deepen your understanding of the Maasai's culture and simple way of life.

Buy
You can buy strings of beads or beads already made up into necklaces and other pieces of jewellery at the gate and outside the entry to the park.

If you want to support local communities do not buy trinkets from the camps and lodges and instead buy them from a local village - 'manyatta'.

Lodging



 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.
 * Mara Siria Tented Camp & Cottages, info@mara-siria-camp.com. Authentic and eco-friendly camp in "out-of-Africa"-Style on top of the Siria Escarpment with amazing views of the Mara River and the Mara plains.

Camping
In the Mara Triangle part of the Maasai Mara there are both public and private campsites available to use. For full details of payment amounts and availability of campsites go to the Mara Triangle website.

Go next
If you're heading next for Lake Naivasha or Nakuru you can get off in Mai Mahiu at the junction of the Old Naivasha Road, so you can skip the Nairobi traffic jams. From there frequent matatus head north.


 * Tsavo West National Park
 * Tsavo East National Park
 * Nairobi
 * Mombasa