Masai Mara Game Reserve

The Masai Mara Game Reserve is situated at the base of the Great Rift Valley and borders the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. This shared boundary allows for the free movement of wildlife between the two parks. The annual wildebeest migration between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular events for any vacationer to witness.

Wildlife in the Masai Mara

The Masai Mara Reserve is home to an astonishing array of wildlife, offering nearly guaranteed sightings of the Big Five. Lions are abundant throughout the park, alongside leopards, elephants, cheetahs, zebras, hyenas, buffalos, warthogs, giraffes, impalas, baboons, topi, and wildebeests. The Mara River is also inhabited by hippos and crocodiles.

The best time to visit is from July to October when wildebeests and zebras are at their peak numbers, providing ample prey for predators like leopards, lions, and cheetahs. The optimal times for wildlife viewing are at dawn or dusk.

The annual wildebeest migration between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara is a premier tourist attraction in East Africa and is renowned worldwide. This natural spectacle involves over two million animals migrating in a roughly 1,800-mile clockwise cycle in search of grass and water. Witnessing the mass movement of wildebeests across the acacia-dotted plains will undoubtedly make your adventure unforgettable.

Visiting the Masai Mara

The long rainy season in Kenya lasts from March to the end of May, greatly benefiting the Mara Reserve by encouraging lush grass growth. By June, the plains are verdant, attracting wildebeests from the Serengeti, which by then, has little forage left.

Visitors can explore the park on guided safari walks or in open-roof vehicles, ensuring that drivers stick to designated tracks to protect the vital grasslands. For a unique perspective, game viewing from a hot air balloon is also available, although prior booking is necessary.

A visit to the Masai Mara is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, especially if you stay overnight in camps within the reserve. Many of these camps are mobile, moving with the animals to provide guests with the best viewing opportunities for photography. Evenings are often enlivened with traditional Maasai dances and songs during dinner.

 Getting There

The Mara Game Reserve is accessible by road from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. Visitors can hire cars or use the services of experienced tour and travel companies. A trip to the Masai Mara promises to be an extraordinary experience that will leave you with lasting memories.