A Kenya safari showcasing ‘The Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth’
World-renowned for the breathtaking spectacle of ‘the greatest wildlife show on earth’, the awe inspiring annual wildebeest migration, the Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya’s most visited wildlife protected area. Technically an extension of Tanzania’s renowned Serengeti National Park, its rolling grasslands, meandering rivers and towering escarpments offer one of the world’s most rewarding and evocative African safari wildlife arenas.
Between the end of July and November, over 1.5 million wildebeest accompanied by as many zebras and gazelles, migrate from the short-grass plains of the Serengeti to fresh pasture in the grasslands of the Mara; thus creating one of nature’s grandest spectacles. Moving in groups of up to 20,000 at a time they thunder across the plateau hesitating only briefly to cross the Mara River, where many fall prey to the waiting crocodiles. Towards the end of October they begin crossing back into Tanzania. The actual timing of the migration, however, is dictated by the weather and does not always run to schedule.
Historically teaming with wildlife, the Mara is famous for the large herds of elephant and buffalo that meander its plains; also for the fat pods of hippo that wallow in its mud-brown rivers. Other stars include the distinctive Masai giraffe, plum-coloured topi, Coke’s hartebeest, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle, zebra, impala, Kirk’s dik-dik, bushbuck, waterbuck and red duiker. The Reserve also boasts plentiful Nile crocodile, monitor lizard, baboon, vervet, blue and red-tailed monkeys.
About Masai Mara National Reserve.
The altitude in Masai Mara National Reserve is 1,500-2,170 meters above sea level. The reserve covers an area of, 672 sq km. It is located in the Rift Valley Province, Narok and Transmara Districts. The distance from Nairobi to Masai Mara is 270 kms from Nairobi, and takes about 4 to 5 hours travelling by road. There are scheduled flights, twice daily from Wilson Airport Nairobi, which take about 40 – 45 minutes.
Masai Mara Climatic Conditions
The Masai Mara National Reserve receives the highest rainfall (average 1000 mm pa) in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. The rain falls throughout the year but is heavier in the months of December, January and April.
Masai Mara Vegetation Cover
The vegetation in Masai Mara Game Reserve comprises open rolling grassland, riverine forest, acacia woodland, swamps, non-deciduous thickets, and Acacia, Croton and Tarchonanthus scrub.
Best Time To Visit Masai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara Game Reserve is an all-year-round destination. There is no specific time of the year that you will miss plenty of wildlife including the big five game. With the wildebeest migration in July to October, this is the best time to see this incredible movement of animals. Also, December to February are also great times as it is dryer, however the wildebeest and a lot of the zebra will have moved on to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania by then.
