Wilderness >> Maasai Mara

The Maasai Mara is Kenya's finest wildlife sanctuary. The first sight of this park is breathtaking, natural wonder a place where Maasai warriors share the plains with hunting lions, a place of mighty herds and timeless cycles of life, death and regeneration. Traditionally, the Maasai rarely hunt and living alongside wildlife in harmony is an important part of their beliefs. Lions and Wildebeest play as important a role in their cultural beliefs as their own herds of cattle. This unique co-existence of man and wildlife makes this Maasai land one of the world's most unique wilderness regions. The wildlife is abundant and the gentle rolling grassland ensures that animals are never out of sight. Birds are plentiful with over 480 bird species recorded in the Reserve. Commonest species include: Secretary bird, Vultures, Eagles, Guinea fowls, Ground hornbills, Bustards, Somali ostrich, Herons, Ibis, ducks, geese, plovers, sand grouse, rollers, kingfishers and many others.

The Mara reserve, gazetted in 1961, it was done to protect animals in a deserted and wild country, in which wildlife was coming to an end due to massive killings committed by white hunters. The lands of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, widely considered being Africa's greatest wildlife reserve. The Mara has been called the Kingdom of Lions and these regal and powerful hunters dominate these grasslands. The Mara comprises 200 sq miles of open plains, woodlands and riverine forest. Contiguous with the plains of the Serengeti, the Mara is home to a breathtaking array of life. The vast grassland plains are scattered with herds of Zebra, Giraffe, Gazelle, and Topi. The Acacia forests abound with Birdlife and Monkeys. Elephants and Buffalo wallow in the wide Musiara Swamp. The Mara River, the reserve's backbone, traverses north to south heading for its westbound way unto Lake Victoria, through the Tanzanian park. The Mara and Talek rivers are brimming with Hippos and Crocodiles.

From July to October, is the best perid to visit Maasai Mara. The best thing the Mara has to offer is the wildebeest migration. The wildlife is far from being confined within the Reserve boundaries and an even larger area, generally referred to as the 'dispersal area' extends north and east of the game Reserve. Maasai live within the dispersal area with their stock but centuries of close association with the wildlife has resulted in an almost symbiotic relationship where wildlife and people live in peace with one another.


Between July and October, when the great wildebeests and zebras, migration is in the Mara the sensation is unparalleled. This sensational display starts during the month of July when the wildebeest start moving north from the Serengeti. There are estimated to be over 1.5 million animals (one million wildebeests and 200,000 zebras) that take part in this migration finding their way through the crocodile-crowded river. The wildebeests move north in search of the lush vegetation during the long rains. At the start of October, when the Maasai Mara National Reserve experiences short rains, the wildebeests return south to the Serengeti. On the return trip the numbers are significantly less but the birth of new calves during February of the following year make up the numbers, and prepare for another migration and thus the cycle continues.

The wildebeests crossing the Mara river is comical yet sad. The long rains flood the rivers, and yet the wildebeests senselessly force their way upstream, and this causes many deaths and injuries. But that is natures way of dealing with it all; the wildebeests fresh death bring lions, vultures, jackals and hyenas who complete the food chain part of the migration.

The climate is gentle, rarely too hot and well spread rainfall year round from November through June. The grassy landscape and the nutrient wealth for the great herds are maintained by the abundant rains, as a fusion of the two rain seasons. When it rains, it is almost always in the late afternoon or night and night storms are frequent. In the hills and plains, grasslands are scattered with acacia woods and bush. The riverbanks of the Mara and of the multiple tributary streams are bordered by dense riverine forests with a good chance to find some of the reserve's bird species.

Accommodations ranges from stone built lodges to luxury tented camps. Safari operators set up private tented camps for small groups seeking exclusive and traditional safaris out of the Reserve.

Wildlife moves freely in and out of the reserve, and through neighbouring Maasai lands. Outside the boundaries of the reserve there are many other small camps and lodges, some of which offer walking, horse riding and other safari options.

The Loita Hills and the Nguruman Escarpment, both considered sacred to the Maasai, offer high forest trekking opportunities for the adventurous traveller.....