Masai Mara National Reserve is one of Africa’s most popular parks and it’s one of the best places that provide the best wildlife viewing. The wildlife viewing is excellent throughout the year. The vast savannah plains and regular rainfall patterns support a massive population of herbivores, sequentially attracting many predators.
The big cats in this park are relatively easy to see. The great migration that comes yearly through the park is one of the world’s most amazing spectacle events. However, other activities are carried out in this park, and these include:
Game drives at Masai Mara
Game drives in Masai Mara are the most common and popular activities in Masai Mara National Park. They are memorable experiences carried out with a need to explore the abundant wildlife in the vast scenic landscapes. Travelers can expect to encounter large numbers of animals year-round, including big herds of elephants, buffalos, and other plains game. It is also common to see predator-prey interaction.
The Great Wildebeest Migration passes through the Mara for approximately three months yearly. This provides a chance for many tourists to enjoy different wild animals in the same residence and enjoy predator-prey interaction in the wilderness. Typical game drives are carried out in standard tour vehicles with pop-up roofs.
Game drives in Masai Mara National Park are carried out in shifts. There are morning game drives and afternoon and night game drives. Morning game drives usually begin in the morning after breakfast. This is when most animals are heading out to the fields to start grazing. Afternoon game drives always start at 2:pm up to 6:30 pm. More animals can be spotted during this time as they approach water sources to drink water while others are returning to their hideouts.
Nevertheless, whether you opt for a morning or afternoon game drive the reward is equally the same, and expect to see all the big five, hyenas, elands, giraffes, gazelles, cheetahs, and black rhinos.
In Masai Mara National Park, night game drives are carried out on special requisition. They are usually done in privately conserved areas with the help of trained game guides who know the night spots of the animals. On a night game drive, you will luckily observe leopards, lions, and hyenas tracking their prey.
Wildebeest
Birding in Masai Mara national park
Masai mara is a bird watcher paradise that attracts many people interested in knowing more about birds from around the world. This park is home to over 450 bird species 45 of which are raptors. Several bird species can be spotted in the different ecosystems of the park, especially at the riverbanks, in the trees dotted in the savanna grasslands, at the rift valley escarpments, and on the rock sides this activity can be carried out year-round. This park holds the world’s largest bird commonly known as the “Masai Ostrich”.
Masai Mara National Park holds the genesis world record award for recording 342 bird species in 24 hours. Bird watching in this park can be done throughout the year, but most migratory birds are usually witnessed between October and February. Some of the bird species found in this park include the African fish eagle, Hamerkop, Cattle egret, Rufous Heron, Long-tailed Cormorant, Ostrich, Kori Bustards, secretary bird, Sacred Ibis, Sooty chat, Tawny Eagle, Helmeted guinea fowl, spur-winged goose, Egyptian goose, white stork, northern pintail, northern shoveler, African black duck, saddle billed stork, Ross’s turaco and many others.
Horseback riding
This is another interesting activity in Masai Mara that brings you closer to the natural wilderness. Horseback riding is done in the open savanna grasslands where most animals can be spotted, and the park’s landscape provides the best scenery.
This activity is usually carried out with the guidance of a well-trained game ranger who will ensure human security in case you meet some dangerous animals especially those under the cat family. horse riding safaris are not allowed in the main reserve but are carried out in the surrounding areas like the game reserves and private conservancies.
Horseback rides are always done in two sessions in a day and always last for two hours. The morning session begins so early before sunrise and ends with a bush breakfast. The second session starts at 3:00 pm and ends with a beautiful sundowner at your lodge or campsite.
Cultural encounters (visiting Maasai people)
Masai Mara National Park is surrounded by the Maasai people famously known for their interesting and wonderful culture and traditions they have maintained for a very long period. the Maasai are originally pastoralists and live a nomadic life. When you visit the Maasai community, discover their unique customs and norms that are exhibited through their unique traditional houses made of sticks, mud, cow dung, and thatched with grass.
Enjoy how they get fresh blood from animals and women lead in milking the cows. They present a fine cultural dancing style of jumping up and down, a beautiful dressing style in shukas and beads, and their craftwork. Through all these presentations, many tourists are attracted and buy some of their souvenirs to support the community, hence promoting the park’s conservation.
Hot air balloon safaris
This is a sensational way of exploring Masai Mara National Park’s landscape and overall scenery while in the skies. As you fly high, you will witness the exciting mixture of riverine forests, swamps, towering escarpments, and rugged rivers. Hot air balloon flights are a unique way if viewing the park’s abundant wildlife living below.
Hot air balloon safaris are usually conducted very early in the morning before sunrise, it may look an inconvenience to your safari when you wake up between 4;00 -and 5:00 am but so exhilarating and a feeling of freedom as it is a unique adventure. In this experience, you will get into the basket beneath the balloon then the balloon crew will inflate the balloon to set it in motion. The flight takes 45 minutes to an hour depending on the weather conditions. At least 8 -16 people occupy the basket per flight.
Hot air balloon safaris in Masai Mara are most rewarding between July and October when the great migration is at its peak. Watching the wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles while in the sky in breathtaking. Other exciting sights include watching predators like lions hunting their prey, spotting leopards high in trees, and active hyena dens. Your pilot will fly to lower levels for you to have the best photography. The hot air balloon adventure ends with a bush landing accompanied by a hot coffee breakfast and champagne toast in the savanna grasslands of the park.
Guided Nature walks in Masai mara national park
Nature walks are a gentle meander in an excellent way in which adults and children straighten out their legs in following gentle paths in smaller trails of the park. Guided Nature walks in Masai Mara are a unique and intimate experience that allows you to get closer to the stunning landscapes, diverse wild animals, and enchanting culture in the region (park).
Masai Mara National Park offers two types of nature walks that is within the campsite and outside the main reserve. Nature walks involve exploration of the park on foot with the leadership of a trained game guide and ranger.
In this experience, you will see animals and plants, learn about their habits, and behaviors, and gain insight into the culture and traditions of the Maasai people. Nature walks are possible for all levels of fitness bespoken to meet one’s interest. They can be offered half-day, full-day, or multi-options and can be combined with other activities like game drives, cultural visits, and any other activity carried out in the park.
No matter which option you choose, you’ll enjoy a truly fascinating and genuine experience that allows you to truly connect with the natural and cultural wonders of the Masai Mara.
Visiting the Mara River
The Mara River lows from the Kenyan highlands and drains into Lake Victoria. It is the main source of water for animals in the reserve and provides the best scenery for the great migration as the wildebeest, zebras and gazelles cross as they migrate from the Serengeti National Park to the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The Mara River water volumes increase during the wet season and is home to some of the largest Nile crocodiles in Africa. Most game drives in the Masai Mara National Reserve end at the riverbanks that attract birds, crocodiles, and hippos.
The best time to visit Masai Mara National Park
The best time to visit the Maasai Mara National Park is between July to October and December to February. July to October is when the great migration reaches the Mara while December to February is the best time to witness the big cats. If you wish to have a private safari, visit the park when the migration is beginning or about to end.
If you are not interested in the great migration but only want to see the Big 5, plan to visit the park in the low season from November to March. The big 5 mammals do not migrate and can be spotted on most occasions when you visit the park. this makes the park the best place to be visited throughout the year and game viewing can be combined with other activities for one to fully enjoy the African wilderness.
How to get to Masai Mara National Park
Masai Mara National Park is easily accessed from the Capital city of Kenya (Nairobi) by either road or air. Using road transport is the most popular means of accessing the park. the distance from Nairobi varies according to the gate or entry point to be used.
When you access the park from the Narok side, you will use the Sekelani, Oloolamutia or Talek gates. The journey will be hours from Nairobi including brief stopovers.
When you start from the western side, use, OLoololo and Musiara gates. This route may be a bit longer as the roads are poor and bumpy.
Using air Transport is another option to travel to Masai Mara. Several airstrips are connecting from Nairobi (Wilson airport) to the park in only one hour. Some of these airstrips include Siana Airstrip, Musiara Airstrip, Keekorok Airstrip, Serena Airstrip, Kichwa Tembo airstrip, and many more.
Entirely, whichever means of transport you use, you will have quick and easy access to the park for the best wildlife expeditions.
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