Maasai Mara National Park – Kenya

Masai Mara National Reserve is located in the open grasslands of the Great Rift Valley. It is among the top must-visit tourist destinations in Kenya for many reasons, varying from the diverse and rich Wildlife, vast landscapes, ease of accessibility, posh lodging facilities to picturesque surrounding sceneries. Its ever praised wildlife is mostly concentrated on the western escarpment.

With no doubt, Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of the main motives for most of the tailor-made Safaris to Kenya in the Eastern part of Africa.

Travelers refer to it as the turning point for Wildlife viewing and most famed with its annual great Wildebeest’s migration.

On this migration, you see over 1.5 million animals arriving in July from Serengeti National park and depart in November.

The reserve is home to 95 species of mammals, 400 bird species, reptiles, and amphibians. No other Park in Africa you can see the greatest concentration of Wildlife like it is in Kenya’s Maasai Mara.

Maasai Mara sits at an altitude approximated to 5300 feet and experiences two rainy seasons. High rates of rainfall drops are recorded from December to January and April to May. Then low rainfall rates are experienced from June to November. Maximum temperatures rise up to 30°C and minimum raise up to 20°C.

Common Wildlife in the Park

Maasai Mara is known as one of the finest wildlife destinations in the World, that’s why it is hard to miss while on an ultimate African Wildlife Safari.

On your Safari to Maasai Mara, you have a chance of seeing the Big 5, cheetah, serval, hyena, bat-eared foxes, black-backed and side-striped jackals, hippo, crocodile, baboons, warthog, topi, eland, Thompson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, impala, waterbuck, oribi, reed-buck, and zebra.

Getting to Masai National Reserve

Maasai Mara National Reserve is hidden about 241 km southeast of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. Visitors can reach this reserve by air and road.

By road, you can use a bus, taxi, or private means of transport from Nairobi to Maasai Mara and it takes about five hours to arrive at this Wildlife packed locality in Kenya. For tourists, it’s advised you to arrange all the transportation with a local tour operator.

Travelers are encouraged to use 4x4 safari cars that can navigate through the muddy routes to the reserve.

For visitors who opt for flights, there are several scheduled flights arranged from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Wilson Airport in Nairobi to Keekorok, Olkiombo, and Musiara airstrip.

Best time to visit

Maasai Mara is feasible for visit all year round but there are those exceptional periods liked by most travelers, especially that time when the annual migration occurs.

If you are after Wildebeest migration, time your safari in the peak season, from July to October. Early November and February as well offer breathtaking views of Wildlife and the Wilderness.

Activities

Maasai Mara National Reserve boasts a wide range of captivating pursuits that can leave you just hoping for more. Whether you are after adventure, culture or Wildlife viewing, Maasai Mara National Reserve has you covered for your Safari in Kenya.

Activities to be part include game viewing, camping, and visit the Maasai cultural villages, hot air ballooning, bush dinner, lunch and breakfast, sunset/rise viewing, and night game drives.

Accommodation

The reserve is packed with plenty of comfortable lodging facilities reserved for tourists to stay at affordable prices. Services are just perfect to ensure a complacent stay.

These lodges include; Mara Serena (150 beds that have luxury bedding and cozy pillows) and Little Governors’ Camp (36 beds luxury bedding and cozy pillows) are the only two lodges in the Triangle.

Others are Olonana, Mara Siria, Kichwa Tembo, Mpata Club, and Kilima Camp situated on the periphery but use the Triangle.