Looking for a perfect destination in Kenya for a wildlife safaris, a travel to Masai Mara national reserve is the best way to go. Locally known as the Mara, the park is a largest national game reserve in Narok in the Republic of Kenya. Named in honor of the Maasai people the ancestral inhabitants of the area who occupied the area from the Nile basin, the reserve is contiguous with Serengeti national park of Tanzania. It stretches over an area of approximately 1,510 square kilometers and was originally established in 1961 as a wildlife sanctuary.
The name Mara was named to the reserve due its description when looked at far, the word Mara means spotted in the Maasai language and this is due to the many short bushy trees which dot the landscape. Maasai Mara national reserve is among the famous and most visited destinations in the world renowned for the large populations of important wildlife including lions, cheetahs, African leopard, African bush elephant and others. The national park is also known for hosting Great Migration which is among the Seven Natural of African and one of the ten wonders of the world.
Sitting on an area of approximately 1,510 square kilometers, Maasai Mara national park is the northernmost section of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem which covers 25,000 square kilometers in Tanzania and Kenya. The park is bounded by the Serengeti Park to the South, Oloololo escarpment to the west and Maasai pastoral ranches to the north, east and west. It is a home to different wildlife species including wildebeests, topi, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle and these migrate from the Serengeti plains. All members of the Big Five animals can be sighted at the national park all year around. Due to the illegal practices like poaches, the population of black rhinos has depleted. A number of aquatic animals like hippos and crocodiles can also be spotted in Mara and Talek rivers. View different games like lions and cheetah between in the plains between the Mara River and the Esoit Siria Escarpment.
Maasai Mara national park is the best destination for game viewing in Kenya hosting a large population of carnivores and lions are the most dominant. Other carnivores include; spotted hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, and African wild dog. Besides the bigger carnivores, the park also habitats small carnivores including African golden wolves, African stripped weasels, caracals, servals, African wildcats, African civets, genets, black-backed jackals, bat-eared foxes and zorilla. Besides the animals, the national park is also a birding paradise hosting more than 470 species of birds where a number of them are migrants. Among these include secretary birds, hornbills, ostriches, African pygmy falcons, lilac breasted roller, long crested eagles and others.
What to do while in the reserve
Maasai Mara national park gives a splendid experience through different safari activities contributing to the enjoyment of the trip. These activities can be done both inside and outside the national park and among these include;
Game drives
This is the main key activity in Maasai Mara national park and It involves driving through the driving trails of the park in search of different wildlife. The activity can be done for the whole day, afternoon, morning and at night while at Maasai Mara national park. Among the wildlife to spot during the experience include lions, elephants, leopards, warthogs, zebras, spotted hyenas, African wild dog, antelopes, impalas, genets, bat-eared foxes, African striped weasels and many others.
Nature walks
By the lead of an experienced park ranger, enjoy the guided nature walks through the walking trails of the national reserve. During the walks, view the beautiful vegetation cover of the park and spot various wildlife species. Games can be tracked as you are following their footsteps to the wilderness. Among the games to spot during the walk include zebras, warthogs, elephants, wildebeests, topis and many others.
Horseback riding
Explore Maasai Mara national park on the back of an animal as you encounter the bush. This unique experience provides a clear view of different wildlife in the park including zebras, warthogs, topis and others.
Cultural tours
Maasai Mara national park is encompassed by Masai local people. Visit these people and enjoy their traditional practices like dances, traditions and cultural wears and art crafts. Learn different cultural experiences from these locals like their ways of life including their political, economic and social aspects.
What to see while in Masai Mara national reserve
Wildlife species
With an area of about 1,510 square kilometers, Masai Mara national reserve is known for hosting varieties of wildlife species. Among the animals to sight in the reserve include lions, elephants, leopards, warthogs, zebras, spotted hyenas, African wild dog and many others. It is also known for hosting the Great migration which is known among the seven natural wonders of Africa and among the ten wonders of the world. This migration involves the movement of the largest population of the wildebeests, zebra and gazelles from Serengeti national park of Tanzania. Also, all members of the big five – lion, elephants, African leopard, African buffalo and black white rhinos are also found in the reserve all year around.
Bird species
Masai Mara national reserve is a home to more than 470 bird species including the migrants and the residential species. Among the birds here include; vultures, marabou stock, hornbills, secretary birds, crowned cranes, long crested eagles, African pygmy falcons, lilac breasted rollers and others.
