Located in south-west Kenya, about 300 km from Nairobi, the Masai Mara National Reserve is recognized as one of the greatest games reserves in Africa.
The 320 sq km game reserve, which comprises a stunning expanse of grassland, is home to a wide range of animal species, including the big cats; lion, cheetah and leopard, elephant, buffalo, hippo, zebra, crocodile, wildebeest, African hunting dog and many others.
The Masai Mara National Reserve is nourished by the Mara River, a tributary of the Talek River. The park’s western border has the highest concentration of wildlife. This area is not easily traversable as the swampy ground becomes impassable during and after heavy rains. As such, most visitors arriving from Nairobi opt for the eastern edge of the Masai Mara.
The highlight of the Masai Mara safari is without doubt the Great Wildebeest Migration – the dramatic annual event that sees more than 1.5 million wildebeest moving from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania in search of greener pasture.
During the migration, the animals pour across the border into the Masai Mara, making a dramatic entrance in a surging column of life that stretches from horizon to horizon.
At the Mara River they assemble on the banks before plunging forward through the violent waters, creating a frenzy as they fight against fast currents and giant crocodiles. Within no time, the banks of the river become awash with carcasses of the unlucky animals – estimated at about 250,000.
After crossing the Mara River, the lucky animals finally get to the plains of the Masai Mara between August and September, where they stay until October when they return to the Serengeti with the promise of rain and lush grass.
Masai Mara weather is favourable for safari throughout the year. This means you can go on a Masai Mara safari at any time of the year, although most people like to time their visit with the Great Wildebeest Migration.The migration is not so predictable, but if you time your safari from mid-August to early November, your chances of witnessing the spectacular event are good.
Masai Mara National Reserve is accessible by both road and air. It takes 5-6 hrs to reach the park by road and 45 minutes by air. There are scheduled flights from Wilson Airport and Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi. Many tourists opt to fly into the Masai Mara as the poor state of roads can be quite challenging.
Masai Mara has many accommodation options catering for all budgets, tastes and interests. These range from basic camp sites to luxury Masai Mara lodges, high-end tented camps, small private camps for your exclusive use and much more.
Some of the most popular lodges here include Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Keekorok Lodge, Mara River Camp, Kichwa Tembo Camp, Mara Safari Club, Mpata Safari Club, Governors Camp and Sarova Mara among others.
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