Maasai Mara national reserve
Maasai Mara national reserve is located on the southern part of the Kenya Uganda, along the Great Rift Valley area, the reserve covers an area of 1,510km2 (580 sq. mi). Maasai Mara national reserve was established in 1961.The 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.
Attractions in Maasai Mara national reserve.
Mara North conservancy.
Mara North conservancy is a beautiful private wilderness area of more than 27,500 hectares (67,954 acres). It is a vital part of the Maasai Mara ecosystem as it forms the north-western zone, bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve in the south of Kenya.
Ol Kinyei conservancy.
Ol Kinyei conservancy is a popular ecosystem in Maasai Mara national reserve located around Serengeti and Maasai Mara ecosystem, it was established in 2005 in partnership between 172 Maasai landowners and Porini camps to set a part some land to be cattle free zones for the purpose of promoting wildlife conservation.
Musiara swamp.
Musiara swamp is a large marshy area near the early stages of the Mara river, in the northern end of the Maasai Mara national reserve, its prominent spot is for game watching location for a variety of wild animals such as the lioness on trees which is quite rewarding, herds of elephants, leopards, buffalos, hyenas, cheetahs, as well as bird sightings like ostriches
Eluai plains.
Eluai plain is one of the top attraction in Maasai Mara national reserve which is known as massive area for wilderness and scattered trees, the plain is so amazing as you can see for miles and have spectacular sights of good game animals like elephants, lions, cheetahs, zebras an many more.
Olypunyata swamp.
The olypunyata swamp is a place to visit and encounter something new in lifetime where you will experience large number of wild animals around swamp linking for water like the elephants, zebras, giraffes and a variety of aquatic bird species as you experience and observe the beautiful nature of the swamp.
Olarek Orok conservancy.
Olarek Orok conservancy is a great attraction when it comes to Maasai Mara national reserve because it has beautiful land scape and the area provides with fresh breathing air and also rewarding the sight viewing of the big 5 in the reserve like the elephants, buffalos, black and white rhinos, leopards, lions. During your visit to the conservancy you can as well observe the zebras, hippos, cheetahs, millions of wildebeest and many others.
Mara River.
Mara River is a thrilled place in Maasai Mara national reserve that gives the tourists a great opportunity to sight the most of the water animals like the hippos, crocodiles, water birds and many reserve’s features.
Maasai Triangle.
Maasai triangle is rewardable place to tour during your time in Maasai Mara national reserve, the triangle is well watered by the Mara river and it has a rewarding sightseeing of abundant vegetation, wildlife and rainfall and its ecology looks fantastic because of its beautiful natures that attract tourists, the triangle boosts over 95 mammal species, amphibians, reptiles, and over 500 bird species which can be observed by the guests.
Nashulai Maasai conservancy.
This is the conservancy which was created on the borders of the Reserve managed by the Maasai community, however it was created purposely for the nature and wildlife conservation only but due to not enough land for the community around, the local people also live within the area and share the area with both wildlife and livestock, and this made a mixed model conservancy of its own kind in Mara.
Activities to do in Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Game driving.
Game driving is the most common and liked activity that is done in Maasai Mara national reserve, the activity can be done in the 4×4 open roof safari van while the tourists are enjoying the close view of the animal species in the park. Game driving in the park is done in three ways that is the Morning game drive, Evening game drive and the Night game drive. Maasai Mara national reserve rewards the tourists with the more than a 1000’s of animals to see during their activity. During the July to October animals resemble at the reserve as they cross the Mara River from Serengeti for fresh pastures and water, this is the period they come for breeding for the grazers attracting more predator especially the big cats since the prey is available.
Maasai Mara National Reserve has a variety of the different animal species especially the big 5 like the lions, leopards, buffalos, elephants and rhinos, other animal species in the park includes the Hyenas, giraffes, gazelles, hippos, hartebeest, zebras, antelopes, crocodiles and many more.
Nature walks.
Nature walks are also done by the tourists during their safari in the reserve headed by the game ranger equipped with a gun using the trail that are less used by predators enjoying close view to the animal species like elephants, giraffes, antelopes, buffalos and many more. Nature walks are more enjoyable in the park in that you experience the Maasai Mara walking on the foot with the locals putting on the local sandals made out of the car tires thus sharing a lot of excitements as you explore the best reserve looking for the best wildlife ever, while also observing the different vegetation of the reserve.
Balloon safaris.
Balloon safaris is the lifetime experience one can never forget, its starting sound and shakes can scare and at most guests are advised to sit down cover their eyes as the balloon starts lifting the basket on air slowly with high heart bits as you internally feel the motions when its leaving the grounds as your body feels crazy yet you have no control over it. The activity starts in the morning and takes about 1 or 2 hours depending on the weather of the day, as the tourists enjoy the birds view of the undulating scenery of the great rift valley, observing closely cats especially if they are on a hunt we follow them as we join them too hunt.
Cultural Encounters.
The Maasai culture is one of the greatest one can feel in Africa with their own life styles, the pastoralists who rare more animals in mobile way have unique culture which cannot be seen anywhere in the world. These people have leaved near and around the reserve for more than one hundred years now with unchangeable traditions, norms and customs even if the guests from all corners of the modern world frequently move with them have stickled on their traditions.
Horseback safaris.
The reserve is among the few of the reserves and parks in Africa, where horse riding is done as one of the activity the tourists enjoy during their time in the reserve, the activity gives you the best explore of the best landscape passing through other animals with an animal no off truck only enjoying the fresh breeze of nature. During the migration the experience is beyond as you are escorted by the well trained game ranger one enjoys more as you go close and close to the animals even touching on their backs.
Seeing the Wildebeest migration.
Wildebeest migration is a great activity done in Maasai Mara national reserve, which annually event takes place between Serengeti of Tanzania and Maasai Mara national reserve of Kenya. Seeing the wildebeest migration are the most wonderful moments of excitements are always memorable if one witnesses rather than reading or looking at the documentaries, the activity starts from July to October and during that time millions of animals cross to Maasai Mara from Serengeti for breeding purposes and looking for green fresh pastures then after they migrate back hence the action is twice every year but within that range of July and October sometimes early November depending on the rains since they follow the rainy season patterns.
Best time to visit Maasai Mara national reserve.
The best time to visit the reserve is from late June to October, you catch wildebeest migration in full flow. Midsummer can get busy though, so come at the beginning or end of that period for full on wildebeest without crazy crowds.
Entrance fees of Maasai Mara National Reserve.
| Category | Non-Residents(USD) | East African Resident (KSH) |
| Adult | 80-120 | 1000-2000 |
| Child | 45-75 | 500-1500 |
Where to stay in Maasai Mara national reserve.
Maasai Mara national reserve has got a variety of accommodation for the tourists during their visit in the reserve, the accommodation facilities are ranged in Budget, Mid-range and the Luxury that includes the Neptune Mara Rianta luxury camp, Osero Sopia River camp, AA lodge Maasai Mara, Julia’s camp, Governors camp, Fig Tree Camp, Talek Bush Camp, Greenwood safari camp, Emboo River Camp and among many more.
How to get to Maasai Mara national reserve.
Maasai Mara national reserve can be accessed by road and air means of transport from the Nairobi city to the reserve.
By Air Transport.
Air transport here the use of the domestic flights like the Safarilink and AirKenya is the quickest means of transport to access Maasai Mara national reserve which takes between 45 and 60 minutes from Nairobi, to the different airstrips in Maasai Mara like the Keekorok, Serena, Musiara, Mara North, Ol Kiombo air strips.
By Road Transport.
Road transport is the mode of transport form Nairobi to Maasai Mara national reserve, the road is currently tarred all the way from Nairobi to Maasai Mara (Sekenani gate). The distance varies from 225km (140 miles) to 275 kms (170 miles) depending on which gate or entry point of Maasai Mara you want to access. The road is notoriously bad and the driving time is about five hours.
Maasai Mara is one of the most famous and important Kenya wildlife conservation and wilderness areas in Africa, world-renowned for its exceptional populations of lion, African leopard, cheetah and African bush elephant, it hosts the Great migration which secured it’s one of the seven natural wonders of Africa, and as one of the ten wonders of the world.
