When considering an African
Kenya Safari
, the only place to look is no further than Masai Mara reserve, one of the largest game parks and home to a great variety of game including lion, leopard, cheetah, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, buffalo, jackal, eland, gazelles, impala and elephant, to mention but a few! Hippopotamuses and crocodiles are plentiful in the rivers and the bird life is also abundant. No less than 53 different species of birds of prey alone have been recorded on
Kenya Masai Mara safari.
Masai Mara Wildlife Safari
From June through October, safaris in Masai Mara are wildlife spectacle like no other.
More than 2 million wildebeests and zebras among other animals cross the Mara River in what is called the annual Wildebeest Migration from the dry Serengeti plains to the lush fresh pastures south of the Mara Game reserve. The months of wildebeest migration may very year according to the climate and the dark rainy clouds that bring heavy rains around July and sometimes up to early November.
Masai Mara game
at this time of year will include prides of up to 40 lions, leopards, cheetahs, vultures and other predators that follow the grunting wildebeest herds, ambushing the hesitant and frail ones while they move to cross the have been seen trailing the river. Be sure to visit each of the different habitats that include spotted acacia woodlands, bushy savannah grasslands, termite mounds and rocky outcrops stretching an area of around 2,000sq km.
Masai Mara safari packages
often include
Masai Mara game drives
into the undulating grassland plains. Driving in the wilderness surrounded by beastly creatures, herds of predators, and several birds is an unimaginable experience.
Luxury Masai Mara safaris are part of the Masai Mara Balloon Safari that takes you to the wild setting early in the morning to catch a glimpse of the night predators and a true African sun rise as you glide silently over the vast plains. Celebrate the encounter with a sumptuous breakfast and champagne toast. The balloon safari in Mara triangle is part of the safari itinerary for a romantic honeymoon safari to Masai Mara. With amazing game viewing all through the year, you could combine your Masai Mara safari with Serengeti National Park Tanzania and other destinations and attractions on an East Africa safari.
Masai Mara Safari Lodges
Masai Mara game reserve
offers a number of
Masai Mara safari lodges and accommodation
, chalets and camps that have facilities fro overnight accommodation. There is everything from Luxury Mara safari lodges like Royal Mara Lodge, Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Mara Intrepids Club, standard and mid class options like Little governor’s camp, Siana Springs Lodge, Il Moran Camp and other budget Mara safari accommodation offered in Masai homestays, Rokero Cottages, Olonana and many other Mara safari camps.
You’ll find any of your desired Kenya Safari accommodations hidden within the forest or near the Mara river with spectacular views of the African sunset, valleys and also sights of visiting game like giraffes, elephants, hippos and different birds.
Kenya Masai Mara safari is the time to meet the incredible Masaai people that occupy the lands adjacent to Masai Mara reserve on what is popularly know as Masai Mara cultural safari. This is the traditional land of the Masai people, nomadic herders who choose a traditional lifestyle and who are permitted to graze their cattle in the area. These people are warm and friendly and will make you Kenya safari to Masai Mara be one memorable experience.
Maasai Mara Game reserve
Covering an area of more than 1,500 sq km, the Masai Mara National Reserve has become the best selling tourism spots in Kenya. The reserve is found in the Great Rift Valley in largely extensive grassland. Wildlife is often most gathered within the reserve’s western escarpment.
The swampy territory offers a lot more use of water and additionally less admission to vacationers. The eastern border is closest to Nairobi and hence much better to access by tourists. The Masai Mara is regarded as the jewel of Kenya’s wildlife view areas. The annual wildebeests migration alone involves about 1.5 million animals arriving during July and then departing around November.
No place around Africa is wildlife more rich and is particularly that is why a tourist barely misses to view the big five game; buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhino.Wildlife is composed of 95 types of mammals, amphibians and reptiles and also over 400 wild birds species have been noted. Other game includes hippopotami, cheetah, Grant’s gazelle, impala, topi, Coke’s hartebeest, giraffe, Roan antelope as well as the nocturnal bat-eared fox. Having said that, wildebeest are definitely the dominant inhabitants of the Masai Mara.
The Great Migration starts off in July each year and more than tens of thousands of wildebeest, herds of Thompson’s Gazelle, zebra along with other herbivores migrate from the Serengeti grassland plains in Tanzania to new vegetation within the north and returning to the south around October.
Major roads are all weather. Game sighting trucks and 4WD are recommended for the rainy season. The main road from Mai mahiu to Narok is actually being built. About three airstrips serve the Mara; Keekorok, Olkiombo, and Musiara all of them murramed.
Maasai Mara has a choice of overnight accommodation for all budgets, style and interests. You can find simple campgrounds for you to place a tent and sleep under canvas from the wild, well appointed safari lodges, comfort tented camps with large, entirely designed tents, smaller private camps plus much more.
Mara Triangle
The Mara is known as the greatest wildlife attractions globally. There is an exceptional opportunity of experiencing the Big Five.
Climatic conditions; Wet seasons from November and into May, with maximum down pours during December-January and later April-May. Drier season from June-November.Regularly sunny mornings with cloud changes in the afternoons. usually in the rains this gets into heavy thunderstorms especially in the afternoon and for the evening. Maximum temperatures approximately 30°C and thn min temperatures about 20°C.
It comes with an outstanding opportunity of watching the Big 5, cheetah, bat-eared foxes, black-backed and side-striped jackals, serval, hippo, Hyena, crocodile, warthogs, baboons, topi, Thompson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, the eland, impala, waterbuck, oribi, reed-buck and in addition the zebra. During the migration; July to November, huge herds of the wildebeest transfer.
The Mara Triangle is simply serviced by by a couple of all-weather airstrips; Mara Serena as well as Kichwa Tembo. The main highway connection into the Triangle is by Narok and even Sekenani Gate.
Lodging is abundant here. Mara Serena and also Little Governors’ Camp are definitely the only two lodges tucked within the Triangle. Kichwa Tembo, Mpata Club, Olonana, Mara Siria as well as Kilima Camp are located over the border and even utilize the Triangle.
The preferred time to tour the park is without a doubt during the peak months.Peak months are around July and October, during the migration. Early November and February can also provide excellent wild game watching.
Adventures comprise of Game viewing, camping outdoors, evening game drives, tour dates to Masai cultural villages, ballooning, bush dinner, lunch and breakfast.
The Mara Triangle and the game reserve are the most popular safari tour destinations in Africa and in the world. The Mara Triangle is located on the north western part of the Masai Mara Game reserve and is managed by the Mara conservancy. The Mara conservancy is non-profit company whose goals are to protect the triangle from poaching, human activity such as cattle grazing and tourist regulations
The Mara triangle is marked by a natural border of the Mara River separating it from the crowded Mara reserve. On the south western border is the Serengeti National Park of Tanzania and Ol Doinyo escarpment on the North West. The total area of the triangle is 510sq km which is just a third of the Masai Mara Game reserve.
Wildlife
The Mara is known for the annual wildebeest migration that sees animals from Serengeti cross to the Mara in June. Nevertheless, there are few animals that cross to the area of the triangle and these include cheetah, lion, wildebeest, side stripped jackal, bat eared fox, hippo, crocodiles, baboon, reedbuck, zebra, topi, gazelle, eland, impala, hyena, servals and the reedbuck among others.
The number of rhinos in the park has seen a drastic decline from 120 in 1971 to less than 10 residents for the Mara triangle. More than 450 birds are recorded in the park including the ostrich, fish eagles, vultures and many others.
Activities
Game viewing is good during the months of the annual migration in June to November while the best time to viist the triangle and the game reserve extends until. From November to February, there are fewer game sights and bird watching takes centre stage since the rainy season runs until the end of May.
The Mara triangle is good for game drives during the day and night. Night Game drives are regulated and these give sights of the nocturnal mammals/ predators while on the hunt
Getting there
The Mara triangle and the reserve have access to two airstrips at Mara Serena Lodge and at Kichwa Tembo which receive tourists on charter flights from Nairobi to Masai Mara. By road, Mara Triangle is reached through Sekenani gate and Narok.
Accommodation
There are plenty of Kenya Hotels and accommodation facilities in the Mara Triangle. Mara Serena Lodge is located within the triangle and offers first class luxury accommodation, canvas suites and running water. The other accommodation options are safari camps such as Little Governor Camp, Mara Siria, Mpata safari club, Kichwa Tembo camp, and Kilima camp among many others. Some of the options are run by the Masai communities and the rest by the conservancy project. All guests in the different facilities pay accommodation fees that include charges on conservation.
Prior booking for camping and safaris in the Mara triangle is very important. There are also private & public campsites in the triangle near the Oloololo gate and near the airstrip although camping tourists are encouraged to carry or hire camping gear and have private supplies for drinking water and food. There are strict rules and fines on camping and safaris in Mara Triangle!