Maasai Mara national reserve is located in southwestern Kenya and is a famous safari destination in the country with diverse wildlife, stunning landscapes, and rich cultural heritage.
Visitors are guaranteed an unforgettable safari experience around Masai Mara national reserve. There are different conservancies which surround the reserve and they play a crucial role in wildlife conservation and community development.
These conservancies are privately owned and managed areas adjacent to the Masai Mara National Reserve and they include Mara North Conservancy, Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Naboisho Conservancy among others.
What to do and see in Maasai Mara national reserve
There are many activities to do at the reserve including wildlife viewing and game drives, hot air balloon safaris and cultural encounters.
Game drives in Maasai Mara national reserve
Game drives are a popular activity in the Masai Mara Reserve, allowing visitors to explore the vast wilderness and encounter wildlife up close.
Experienced guides lead these game drives in 4×4 safari vehicles, providing valuable insights about the animals and their habitats to the visitors exploring Masai Mara reserve.
The game drives in Masai Mara reserve usually take place early in the morning or late in the afternoon when animals are most active. This gives visitors the best chance to spot predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs among others on the hunt or witness dramatic wildlife interactions.
Hot Air Balloon Safaris
For a unique and breathtaking safari experience, hot air balloon safaris are available in the Masai Mara Reserve.
The hot air balloon safari involves floating above the savannah at sunrise and visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Masai Mara’s stunning landscapes and wildlife from a different perspective.
This serene and peaceful adventure starts as early as 05:00 am with a briefing and also offers an unparalleled opportunity to capture incredible photographs and create lasting memories during a hot air balloon safari.
Cultural Encounters
The Masai Mara Reserve is located within the Maasai land and provides visitors with an opportunity to learn about and engage with Maasai culture during cultural tours.
Many lodges and camps offer cultural visits to Maasai villages, where visitors can interact with the local community, learn about their traditions, and witness traditional dances and ceremonies.
This cultural immersion adds a unique dimension to the safari experience in Masai Mara reserve, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the region’s rich heritage.
Bird watching
The Masai Mara Reserve is a haven for bird enthusiasts, boasting over 450 species of birds. From large raptors like eagles and vultures to colorful bee-eaters and kingfishers, the reserve offers ample opportunities for bird watching.
The Mara River is particularly renowned for its birdlife, attracting numerous water birds such as herons, storks, and ibises.
Guided bird watching safaris can be arranged for those interested in exploring the avian diversity of the reserve.
Nature walks
Some lodges and camps in the Masai Mara Reserve offer guided nature walks, allowing visitors to explore the smaller details of the ecosystem on foot.
Accompanied by experienced guides, these nature walks provide an opportunity to learn about the flora and fauna of the reserve up close. Visitors can observe tracks, identify plants and trees, and gain a deeper appreciation for the intricate balance of nature in this unique ecosystem.
Wildlife species in Masai Mara reserve such as giraffes, zebras, antelopes among others can also be observed while on foot during the guided nature walks.
Attractions around Maasai Mara national reserve
Tourists visit Masai Mara reserve to see different attractions while on safari and they include the following;
Wildlife species
One of the main attractions of the Masai Mara Reserve is its abundant and diverse wildlife. The reserve is home to a wide variety of animals, including the famous Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinos).
Visitors have the opportunity to see the different wildlife species in Masai Mara reserve in the savannah plains and observe their behavior such as giraffes, cheetahs, impalas, waterbucks, zebras, hippos, cheetahs, hyenas, kudu, topi, and warthogs among other wildlife species.
Wildebeest migration
The annual wildebeest migration is also among the highlights of a tour in Masai Mara reserve, where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and other herbivores cross the Mara River in search of greener pastures.
This migration happens annually in Masai Mara reserve in Kenya and can also be seen in Serengeti national park in northern Tanzania. The wildebeest migration reaches its peak in July and August to October when millions of wildebeests gather in the Masai Mara Reserve.
The most famous river crossing point is the Mara River in Kenya, where thousands of wildebeests plunge into the water while predators like lions and also crocodiles lie in wait.
The Maasai
Apart from the wildlife species of Masai Mara reserve, there are also Masai people that visitors can encounter while on safari.
The Maasai have unique nomadic culture and are known for their beaded jewelry such as colored necklaces and bracelets symbolizing beauty, status, and identity. Each color and pattern has its own meaning, representing different stages of life or events.
The Maasai people live a pastoral lifestyle and are renowned for their skill in raising livestock, especially cattle, which holds immense cultural and economic significance for them.
Their traditional clothing consists of bright-colored shukas (sheets) wrapped around their bodies, adorned with intricate beadwork.
Best time to visit Maasai Mara national reserve
The best time to visit the Masai Mara Reserve is during the dry season from July to October which offers excellent game viewing opportunities as animals gather around water sources due to limited water availability in other areas.
The dry season also coincides with the Great wildebeest Migration in Masai Mara reserve. Tours in the reserve can also take place during the rainy season around March to May and also around November.
How to get to Massai Mara reserve
A road trip from Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve takes approximately 5 to 6 hours and the route takes you through the scenic Rift Valley and the town of Narok.
Flying to Masai Mara reserve is another way to get to the destination and these flights can be booked through domestic airlines. Airstrips around Masai Mara include Mara serena airstrip, Keekorok airstrip, Musiara airstrip among others.
