Located in the South west of Kenya, Maasai Mara Reserve is a wilderness made of preserved savanna that connects to the Serengeti in Northern Tanzania. The 1510 sq. km area has breathtaking vistas offering views of endless plains filled with wildlife. The excellent attractions in the park deliver to visitors all year round game watching, culture encounters with the Maasai people and the famous and one of Africa’s seven wonders-The Great Migration.
The reserves hosts 95 mammal species and a recorded number of 570 bird species. It is one of the greatest game viewing places in the world. With an abundancy of wildlife that is nowhere in Africa, a visitor to this park cannot miss on the Big 5.
Just 4-5 hours, that’s about 270km from Nairobi past Naroc town to Sekenani gate the road is straight and fine or through Lamek and Aitoyt town gets you to the reserve as you are welcomed by a number of baboons and other wildlife grazing. A flight to the reserve from Nairobi can take you about 40-45 minutes.
Most visitors to the reserve prefer visiting in July to November to experience the great migration. This is one of nature’s great spectacle that involves a dramatic movement of about 2 million animals mostly Wildebeests, gazelles and zebras that get in an annual cycle of migration from Serengeti in Tanzania to Maasai Mara in Kenya and later back.
During this period, these animals face tough and enormous teeth of the Mara River crocodiles while crossing.
This is one of the peaks and during the high seasons, a big number of visitors flock the park making if crowded so one needs to plan ahead of time. The reserve and neighboring conservancies offer accommodation and safaris that range from child friendly to romantic safaris.
Opting to stay at the neighboring private conservancies, you enjoy access to superb game watching and migration scenes, enjoy crowd free off road game drives, horseback safaris, night game drive and guided game walks.
Hot Air Balloon Safari.
The hot air balloons are one that you shouldn’t afford to miss. Despite a pre-dawn wake up, the activity will reward you with the best aerial views at sunrise. Fly over biggest herds of buffalos, wildebeests, moving elephants and other wildlife. It really is the best way to see the full splendor of the Mara area.
The touch down from space and you are welcomed by a champagne brunch- there is no perfect way to end a serene safari moment.
Maasai Cultural Experience.
Get introduced to the purest local culture and lifestyle by visiting the Maasai Villages in and around the park. The unspoiled villages of the people who still live in ethnic communities will welcome with warm smiles, dances and friendly community guides.
Have your spouse? Get involved in a magical traditional wedding experience or attend any traditional ceremony in the village. Enjoy farm works, shopping in the Maasai market and handicraft workshops.
Starting from 3 days in Maasai Mara or a combination of Mara with other parks like Amboseli, Lake Nakuru in Kenya or Ngorongoro and Serengeti national parks in Tanzania can give you an intimate safari and a huge wildlife experience.
