Best Time To Tour Masai Mara National Reserve Wildebeest Migration, Kenya Cultural and Wildlife safaris
Things to tour in Masai (Maasai) Mara National Reserve: The Great Masai ( Maasai) Mara National Reserve is Filled with panoramic landscapes, world-class wildlife encounters, and unique Masai tribe local tour experiences, the Maasai Mara in Kenya is a must-tour destination. Prepare for the adventure of a lifetime. The Masai Mara National Reserve and conservancies are brimming with life and offer safari travelers a wide variety of activities to choose from.
The Masai Mara National Reserve features a stunning kaleidoscope of wild and rugged landscapes, warm and welcoming of the Masai people, and an exciting array of creatures – big and small. World famous for hosting the epic Masai Mara National Reserve Great Migration, the Masai Mara welcomes 1,5 million wildebeests onto its sprawling savannahs each July through October.
Whether you are in Masai Mara National Reserve to take to the skies for a high-flying hot-air balloon adventure at sunrise or hit the road for a 4x4 safari, you’re sure to leave Masai Mara National Reserve with unforgettable experiences and lifelong memories.
If Africa had a Big Five for safari parks, the Masai Mara National Reserve safari would easily make the final cut. It’s a classic Kenya(Africa) safari destination and one of the best places to see lions, leopards, and cheetahs, as well as being home to the iconic savannah country that long ago came to define the East African safari. It also has the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino), a good mix of public areas and private conservancies, and extraordinarily rich accommodation offerings.
About Masai Mara National Reserve
Maasai Mara, also sometimes spelled Masai Mara and locally known simply as The Mara, is a large national game reserve in Narok, Kenya, contiguous with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. It is named in honor of the Maasai people, the ancestral inhabitants of the area, who migrated to the area from the Nile Basin.
Their description of the area when looked at from afar: "Mara" means "spotted" in the local Maasai language, due to the many short bushy trees which dot the landscape. Maasai Mara is one of the wildlife conservation and wilderness areas in Africa, with its populations of lion, leopard, cheetah, and African bush elephant. It also hosts the Great Migration, which secured it as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, and as one of the Ten Wonders of the World.
The Greater Mara ecosystem encompasses areas known as the Maasai Mara National Reserve, the Mara Triangle, and several Maasai Conservancies, including Koiyaki, Lemek, Ol Chorro Oirowua, Mara North, Olkinyei, Siana, Maji Moto, Naikara, Ol Derkesi, Kerinkani, Oloirien, and Kimintet.
History of the Masai Mara National Reserve
The Masai Mara National Reserve has only been a wildlife sanctuary for approximately 50 years. Masai Mara National Reserve was originally established in 1961 and at the time it consisted of only 520 square kilometers (which included the Mara Triangle). Later the amount of land covered in the sanctuary expanded and in 1974 the area received National Reserve status.
A portion of the land was returned to local communities and currently, the Masai Mara National Reserve ecosystem consists of 1,510 square kilometers. The Maasai people have always relied on their land to feed their cattle and to provide for their families. Thanks to the establishment of the reserve as a protected area for the conservation of wildlife and wilderness and the areas designated as conservancies, the Maasai can sustain their way of living and improve their quality of life.
Masai Mara National Reserve conservancies:
The Greater Masai Mara National Reserve area is made up of the Masai Mara National Reserve, an unfenced reserve where animals are free to roam, but it also consists of several conservancies. Maasai families privately own these pieces of land. Safari lodges lease the land from the Maasai, which gives these Maasai families the chance to invest in their communities by funding education or development initiatives.
From time to time you will see Maasai farmers and their grazing cattle at the conservancies. The introduction of these conservancies has been a win-win situation for the environment and the Maasai. Land that was once overgrazed by cattle is now being re-wilded and the Maasai can invest in their communities through their earnings from the conservancies.
The Great Migration in Masai Mara National Reserve
Every year from July through October, the Masai Mara becomes the backdrop of one of the most spectacular wildlife shows on earth - the Masai Mara National Reserve Great Migration. The sight of so many animals dotting the plains is almost inconceivable. The rolling savannah’s sunburnt grasses become home to more than 1.5 million zebra, wildebeest, and antelopes trekking from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara in search of greener pastures and water.
The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving some 1,300,000 blue wildebeest, 500,000 Thomson's gazelles, 97,000 topi, 18,000 common elands, and 200,000 Grant's zebras.
The Great Migration is unique to the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. There is nothing else quite like it. There are no guarantees, but if you would like to witness this breathtaking spectacle at the Masai Mara keep the following in mind:
Mid-July: the herds enter the Masai Mara and embark on their fateful Mara River crossing. Crocodiles and hippos living on the banks of the Mara River are only two of the dangers the wildebeest and zebra encounter upon crossing the river. September – October: this is the time of year in which you will see a mind-blowing number of wildebeest enjoying the feasts of their labor on the endless plains of the Masai Mara.
African Big Cats in the Masai Mara National Reserve :
During migration season African big cats come to life. The endless stream of migrating prey offers the big cats a seemingly endless buffet of meal options. Lions, leopards, and cheetahs grow stronger during this time of year and can have healthy little ones with plenty of food to grow.
There are quite a few lion pride in the Masai Mara that have lived in the area for decades. Females are permanent members of the pride, however, the male lions tend to get chased out of the group by other male lions. At night you may even hear a deep roaring of male lions warning other males to stay away from their territory. For the best chance of seeing a lion on the prowl in search of prey, head out on an early morning or late afternoon safari and you may see one of the females in action.
Masai Mara National Reserve landscape:
The Masai Mara was named in honor of the Maasai people, the ancestral inhabitants of the area. The word 'Mara' means 'spotted' in the Maasai (Maa) language. Upon visiting the Masai Mara, it won’t be hard to understand how this area got its name. The short bushy trees that dot the landscape do give it a kind of 'spotted' look.
The Greater Masai Mara ecosystem is massive. It amounts to almost 1510 square kilometers. The Serengeti in the south and to the north, east, and west lie Maasai ranches that border the area. Although the riverbanks of the area’s three rivers (The Sand, Talek River, and Mara River) are lined with shrubs and trees, most of the reserve is made up of open grassland spotted by an occasional flat-topped acacia tree. There are two distinct rainy seasons April – May (the long rains) and November – December (the short rains).
Wildlife In Masai Mara National Reserve
Animals in Masai Mara National Reserve
Blue wildebeest, topi, plains zebra, and Thomson's gazelle migrate into and occupy the Mara reserve, from the Serengeti plains to the south and Loita Plains in the pastoral ranches to the northeast, from July to October or later. Herds of all three species are also resident in the reserve.
All members of the "Big Five" – lion, African leopard, African bush elephant, African buffalo, and black and white rhinos – are found here all year round.
The Maasai Mara is the only protected area in Kenya with an indigenous black rhino population, unaffected by translocations, and due to its size, can support one of the largest populations in Africa.
Hippopotamuses and Nile crocodiles are found in large groups in the Mara and Talek rivers. The plains between the Mara River and the Esoit Siria Escarpment are probably the best area for game viewing, in particular regarding lions and cheetahs.
Spotted hyenas are another abundant carnivore, and will often compete with lions for food. Leopards are found anywhere in the reserve where there are trees for them to escape to. East African cheetahs are also found in high numbers on the open savanna, hunting gazelles and wildebeest. African wild dogs are quite rare here due to the widespread transmission of diseases like canine distemper and the heavy competition they face with lions, which can often decimate their populations.
Smaller carnivores that don't directly compete with the latter include African wolves, black-backed jackals, African striped weasels, caracals, servals, honey badgers, aardwolves, African wildcats, side-striped jackals, bat-eared foxes, striped polecats, African civets, genets, several mongoose species, and African clawless otters.
Wildebeest are the dominant inhabitants of the Maasai Mara, and their numbers are estimated in the millions. Around July of each year, these animals migrate north from the Serengeti plains in search of fresh pasture and return to the south around October.
The plains are also home to the distinctive Masai giraffe. The large roan antelope and the nocturnal bat-eared fox, rarely present elsewhere in Kenya, can be seen within the reserve borders.
Birds in Masai Mara National Reserve
More than 470 species of birds have been identified in the park, many of which are migrants, with almost 60 species being raptors. Birds that call this area home for at least part of the year include vultures, marabou storks, secretary birds, hornbills, crowned cranes, ostriches, long-crested eagles, African pygmy-falcons and the lilac-breasted roller, which is the national bird of Kenya among others.
Tourist activities in the Maasai Mara:
Photography in Masai Mara National Reserve
The Masai Mara is a photographer's paradise. This region is known for pristine riverine forests, dramatic towering escarpments, stunning sprawling savannahs, and of course... all the creatures, big and small, that roam the land.
Add a visit to a Maasai village to your stay for a cultural immersion and gain some insight into the day-to-day life of your hosts. For an extra special birds-eye view of the African plains, take to the skies during a hot-air balloon safari. When it comes to crafting the safari of your dreams, the sky is the limit.
Game drives in Masai Mara National Reserve
A veritable wildlife haven blessed with a year-round, rather mind-boggling concentration of animals, the Mara certainly doesn’t disappoint. Embark on twice-daily interpretive game drives with expert rangers who will uncover the wonders of the Mara.
Nature Walks in Masai Mara National Reserve
Reconnect with your spirit of adventure and follow in the footsteps of ancient explorers and local herdsmen on a once-in-a-lifetime guided walking safari. Heighten your senses without the hum of the safari vehicle … listen to the crickets, breathe the fresh air, view the limitless horizon, and appreciate the African soil on the soles of your shoes.
Hot air balloon experience in Masai Mara National Reserve
Awake before dawn and embark on a life-changing hot air balloon safari high above the mighty Mara plains. Soar peacefully and enjoy the magnificent bird’s eye view of all the animals below (and the Great Migration if you’re lucky). This extraordinary experience concludes with an unforgettable, hearty champagne breakfast in the middle of the Mara.
Visit and Mingle with the Maasai Community:
No journey to the Masai Mara would be complete without an authentic cultural experience that gets you up close and personal with the fascinating Maasai people. They will invite you into their humble mud and stick manyattas (homesteads) and reveal their pastoral world and ancient, time-honored traditions.
Horseback safari in Masai Mara National Reserve
Like the explorers of old, this is a truly unique way to experience the Mara. Once again without the hum of the safari vehicle, it is an invigorating way to explore the vast landscape. Imagine galloping past dazzles of zebra, journeys of giraffes, and, if the time is right, the mighty herds of the Great Migration.
Witness the thundering hooves of the great migration in Masai Mara National Reserve :
Undoubtedly one of the most dramatic spectacles of the natural world, the Great wildebeest migration is the annual trek of two million herbivores across the Serengeti/Mara ecosystem. Although the enormous herds of grunting gnus can be seen year-round, the world-famous, nail-biting Mara River crossings (July to October) are an absolute must for every wildlife enthusiast’s bucket list.
Access to Masai Mara National Reserve
Most Masai Mara adventures start with a flight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi. After that, it is entirely up to you whether for an adventurous road trip and ready to deal with a few bumpy roads along the way, Or you prefer a quick and easy air transfer to the airstrip closest to the safari lodge where you will be staying at.
Best Time to Visit the Masai Mara National Reserve
The Mara can be visited all year around though the best time to visit is between June and October, during the driest months. These are the best months for wildlife viewing because vegetation is thinner and animals gather around rivers and waterholes.
During the rainy months (March, April, November, and December) some of the roads can be difficult to navigate. The wildebeest migration, and the river crossings in particular, are difficult to time, but your best chance to witness this spectacle is in September and October.
Where to Stay in the Masai Mara National Reserve
Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp in Masai Mara National Reserve
Located in the Mara Triangle, Kenyan hospitality meets Maasai-inspired luxury on the lush green banks of the Saparingo River & Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp lies on the edge of the Oloololo escarpment, where the riverine forest meets the sweeping plains of the Masai Mara.
Cottars 1920s Safari Camp in Masai Mara National Reserve
Located on Olderkesi, this Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp offers guests vintage luxury at its very best. Cream-colored tents decorated in 1920s epic safari style, professional Maasai safari guides, and above all a sense of elegance and class - this classic Kenyan safari camp has it all.
Elewana Sand River Camp in Masai Mara National Reserve
Located in the Musiara Sector, this Lodge is ideally situated in one of the most remote parts of Masai Mara National Reserve, Sand River Camp pays homage to romantic 1920s safaris. Its design reminds guests of the many African adventure-themed Hollywood movies created in that period.
Book and Arrange with Ultimate Wild Safaris for the Maasai Mara Safari Tour in Kenya.
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