Everything to know about the magic of Masai Mara National Reserve.
Found in the southwestern part of Kenya, the Masai Mara National Reserve is a large expanse of breathtaking gently rolling savannah plains. The reserve is located 180km away from the city center and covers an area of 1,510 square kilometers. The reserve borders with the Serengeti National Park of Tanzania in the South.
The Masai Mara is celebrated for its natural diversity of landscape, which makes a top destination for all safaris in East Africa. The visitors to this pack will have the opportunty to see all the Big 5 while on safari roaming the wild savannah.
On top of that, the reserve has more than 500 savannah bird species record which makes it a birding heaven for the birders and here you can tick off as many as possible of the birding list you have for Kenya. The reserve is rich in raptors with a total of 57 species recorded at present. Bateleurs are always souring above the savannahs and predator kills are a good spot to find up to six species of vultures circling. Migratory birds are common around the months of November to April.
The Masai Mara is a wildlife sanctuary with a varity of wildlife species that are found here which offers an unparallele safari experience. Home to some of the largest polpulations of Lions, elephants, cheetahs, rhinos and buffaloes, wildebeests, giraffes and Zembras among other animals. This is a complete wildlife safari in itself and provides endless opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts and with luck on your side you get the chance to see it all in one trip.
The Great Migration
Reknown for the great migration, an expectacular event that happens annually with over 1.5 million widebeests and hundreds of thosesands of zebras and gazelles all journeying together from Serengeti National Park to Masai Mara in search of the greener pastures. The journey crosses rivers with all the predators lying and waiting to get fed makes it even a thrilling sight for visitors not knowing what will happen next. This migration is a testament to the resilience of these animals to find what to eat and a highlight for all visitors in the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The Maasai Mara experneice and sighting has earned its place as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, attracting thousands of tourists evey year as they come out to witness the great movement of animals. This coupled with the landscapes, other wildlifes and the cultural heritage make it a must visit destination for tourists.
The Reserve has the Maasai Mara River and Talek River which are the key draining water masses in the reserve. The vegetation in the reserve is mostly open savannah grasslanda with scattered trees, seasonal rivulets scattered acacia trees. These provide for the great wildebeest migration as they cross from serengeti following the river and serviving the big Nile Crocodiles, predators like leopards, lions among others. A tour here will guarantee that you see the big 5 on your tour when you visit the reserve together with luck on the day.
Background of the National Researve.
The reserve gets it name as an honor to the ancestral original inhabitants of the lands “the Maasai people” who discribed there land as Maara which translated as spotted circles of trees and savannah and scrub areas. The Maasai Mara National Reserve was established in 1961 as a wildlife santuary which by then covered just a small area of 520 square kilimeters of the Mara triangle. Later that year the reserve was extended further East to cover 1821 square kilometers, this was when it was converted to a national game reserve under the management fo local community of Narok County Council. In 1974, the Maasai Mara Nationa Reserve status was aquired and part of the land measuring 159km2 was returned to the locals by 1976, and by 1984 the reserve was left with 1510 square kilometers as the total land cover. In 1994, Trans Mara County Council was formed and this lead about the divison of the management of the park between the Narok County Council and the new Trans Mara County Council. In 2001, a non profit Mara conservancy was formed and they took over the management of the reserve.
Activities to do in Maasai Mara
- Game Drives
- Hot Air Balloon Safaris
- Guided Walking Safaris
- Night Safaris
- Bird Watching
- Cultural Visits
- Photography Safaris
- Horseback Safaris
- Fly Camping
- Bush Meals and Sundowners
- Specialized Wildlife Tracking
- Great Migration Safaris
- Helicopter Tours
- Family Safaris
- Luxury Safaris
Popular Safari Adventures in the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
3 day Maasai Mara wildlife safari.
4Day Masai Mara fly in safari
4-Day Budget Maasai Mara & Lake Nakuru Safari
8-Day Kenya Safari Masai Mara Nakuru Naivasha Amboseli
10 days kenyan ultimate safari
When is the best time to visit the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The best time to visit the Maasai Mara is during the dry months of July to October which incidentally is the same time as the Great Migration of the Wildebeests. Nevertheless, the reserve is open for visiting all throughout the year and all months offer excellet viewing of wildlife. The weather of Kenya is generally warm and wildlife viewing is excellent all year round especially for predators.
Are Maasai Mara tour activities for everyone.
Trips in Maasai Mara are for all ages and inclusive, be it a family or solo traveler, everyone can do this trip and there is no age limit for all. They cover for a wide range of interests and fitness levels making them suitable for all age groups. If you are interested in a trip here contact us and we will arrange a trip for you tailoring it your needs.
Obtaining a Visa for Kenya
Kenya has now moved to the new visa online application system which requires all visitors to fill in an online application form and pay the required fees where applicable. The process is simple and less time consuming compared to the old system. Click here for the online application portal to complete your visa.
How to get to Maasai Mara
By Air: This is the fastest way to reach the Maasai Mara, take a flight from Nairobi at Wilson Airport using any of the small regional operators the operate the roaute to the airstrip in the reserve, the flight is about 45minutes which makes it the quickest. Contact us for availability of flights and booking for you a flying tour to the Maasai Mara.
By Road: The drive is about approximately 5-6 hours drive and a very scenic experience to emback on. The roads are rough but we offer 4×4 vehicles which handle the journey well and suited for the terrine.
Transportations we offer
We have Land cruisers each driven by professionally trained driver guides and fuel. They have pop-up roofs for proper game viewing and photography. They come with a small fridge for cooling your drinking water while on safari (which is always included while IN THE VEHICLE). They have inverters for charging small gadgets such as smartphones and cameras. They can seat five to a maximum of seven people and each client is guaranteed a window seat.
Accommodation to stay in will visiting Maasai Mara National Reserve
Maasai Mara area offers a variety of accommodation to choose from ranging from luxury lodging options to mid range and budget options are all available to select from while here.
Luxury Lodges and Camps
- Mahali Mzuri
- Angama Mara
- Governors’ Camp
Mid-Range Lodges and Camps
- Mara Serena Safari Lodge
- Mara Intrepids
- Ashnil Mara Camp
Budget Lodges and Camps
- Mara Explorer Camp.
- Mara River Lodge.
- Mara Springs Safari Camp.
Campsites
- Mara Conservancy Campsites.
- Kichwa Tembo Camp.
Is it safe to visit Maasai Mara?
Masai Mara National Reserve is very safe place to visit and Kenya as a country has prevailing peace and the people also are friendly. Finding crime towards travelers as uncommon as the reserve security does a lot of monitoring work to ensure that this prevails. But like anywhere around the world, you are encouraged to be cautious of your belongings as theft is common especially in the city and urban areas.
Why use Encounter Africa Safaris as your trusted operator.
Encounter Africa safaris is one of the leading tour operator for the East African region, we have been organizing amazing experiences for the last 15 years and we are in position to give you the best advice in terms of getting the best out of any penny spent. We have a team of competent safari designers and guides who will make sure that planning and executing your safari is done with easy. Encounter Africa safaris is owned and run by Ugandans and part of the money paid by you is channelled to benefiting projects that support community development as well as conserving the environment. Encounter Africa safaris is highly recommended on trip advisor as well as safari bookings. Feel free to visit these platforms and get to see what other clients say about our service.