Safari Tours in Masai Mara

 

Maasai Mara National Reserve The Maasai Mara National Park is probably one of the most spectacular places on the earth and is the greatest wildlife sanctuary. It is seated on the floor of the Great Rift Valley and bounded by the escarpments to the west (Siria escarpment) and the east. It has earned adulation by being named one of the wonders of the modern world. The Maasai Mara is host to the phenomenal spectacle that is the wildebeest migration that happens annually during the July to October season. The Maasai Mara National Park is towards the south western boundary of Kenya and is an extension of the Serengeti on the Tanzanian side. The park is accessible both by road and by air. The eastern border is the most commonly used access point and is 224 km from Nairobi. Air transport is from the Wilson airport to the airstrips within the park.

 

The park is a vast plain of open grassland fed and drained by three rivers that support the ecosystem. The rivers are the Mara, Sand and Talek. The rainfall here is markedly varied in amounts and usually comes in two seasons as is the case with tropical climate. The plant cover is grassland with a few scattered clumps of shrubs and acacia trees mostly along the river basin, on the hill tops and slopes.

 

The Maasai Mara is the ultimate destination for many tourists due to the high density of wildlife which includes the wildebeest, Thomson's gazelles, topi, zebra and eland. These are the migrating herds that cross the Mara River each year creating the spectacle that attracts many visitors. Other big game include the lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, cheetah, hippos, antelopes, crocodiles, hyenas, foxes, jackals, impala, hartebeests, giraffes, and the small rodents. The bird species are also numerous with the big birds like the ostrich marabou storks, crowned cranes, eagles, African pygmy-falcons and vultures and about another 470 species of birds.

 

The other attraction is the Mara River crossing where all carnivores converge to find their kill and the target is always the tired and weak animals and the young ones born during the trek into the Maasai Mara. The crocodiles are also part of the spectacle lying in wait camouflaged in the water ready to snap their big mouths at the unfortunate wildebeest or those that drown

 

In terms of topography, the Mara triangle is the most prominent spot especially during the migration, the leafy vegetation and sandy soils of Ngama hills are home to the black rhino, the Esoit Siria escarpment rises to a plateau that gives a vantage viewpoint down the plains and lastly the Central plain itself is home to all other game and covers all the reserve land.

 

The experience of the Maasai Mara national reserve cannot be complete without any or a combination of these: a visit to the Maasai homestead also called a Manyatta and appreciate their culture and way of life that has been preserved for ages and is devoid of western influence, a hot air balloon ride early in the morning to catch the view of the plains and animals at the first and warm strokes of the morning sun and lastly experience the exclusive accommodation in one of the many lodges and campsites in the Maasai Mara. A few examples to choose from are Sarova Mara Game Camp, Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Mara Porini Camp, Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Mara Leisure Camp, Amansari Residence Resort, Enkutoto Ecotourism Village, Keekorok Lodge, Masai Mara Sopa Lodge and a variety of camping sites.