Masai Mara is located in the south western part of Kenya bordering Tanzania’s Serengeti national park in the south, Masai Mara national Reserve is one of the most popular national parks on the African continent and one of the most visited in the country.
Founded in 1961, Masai Mara National Reserve derives its name “Masai” from the initial inhabitants of the area who are the popular Masai people, a prominent tribe in Kenya and Africa history.
The magnificent park covers about 1,510 square kilometers and stretches to connect the endless plains of the Serengeti national park in Tanzania hence forming the vast Mara Serengeti Ecosystem. Masai Mara National reserve is also the biggest host of the Big five mammal species including leopards, lions, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos.
Activities And Attractions
Great Wildebeest Migration
As soon as the calving season is approaching its end, the largest wildlife migration globally takes commence. Large populations of wildebeests, zebras, topis, gazelles, to mention but a few, move clockwise for longer miles following the yearly weather calendar to and from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya’s Masai Mara national reserve chasing rain patterns and in search of enough fertile food and drinking water.
The event is recognized internationally as one of the seven wonders of the world and arguably the greatest wildlife migration in the entire world. Visitors who have got a feel of this thrilling tourism activity admit the great event is once in a life time experience and worthy of more visits.
The exciting activity kicks off around the dry season of year in July to August and features in several TV documentaries and movies. What happens at the dramatic yet touchy Mara River crossing is what attracts every viewer’s eye. Hungry but patient Nile crocodiles settle in water patiently waiting for the long-waited meal as other predators on the other hand in form of lions, leopards and big cats also wait to take an advantage of the exhausted migrating animals and weak struggling young ones. This therefore forces the migrating animals to first congregate in large numbers on the banks of the river so as they can all storm the water and cross at once. This touchy but exciting scene is also termed by many as “survival for the fittest”.
Migrating animals will then proceed with the journey to Masai Mara National Reserve and once they reach the destination, they spend about 2 to 3 months within the area. After they will then transfer back to the endless plains of Serengeti in Tanzania and the event occurs annually.
Hot Air Balloon Safaris in Masai Mara
Visiting the Masai Mara and not have a thrilling hot air balloon is almost impossible and if missed, it just doesn’t sit right. This exciting activity is one of the most popular tourism activities in the great Masai Mara and a big number of tourists never miss it out. Just like most of the activities enjoyed by many travelers, Hot air balloon experience in Masai Mara starts off with a s mall briefing in the wee hours of the morning around 5:00am.
Masai Mara hot air balloon safari gives such a remarkable experience as it gives visitors a touch and feeling of what it means being closer to the nature and wilderness of the endless plains of Masai Mara.
Visitors shall also have stunning unforgettable wildlife views of several mammal species including herds of elephants, buffaloes, duikers, wildebeests, bush bucks, zebras while having clear shots of nature. The great wildebeest migration including large populations of migrating animals can also be sighted during the hot air balloon safaris. Depending on the condition of weather, hot air balloon flight may take about 50 minutes to 1 hour and sometimes more. After the flight session, visitors can take a glass of champagne or wine before heading back to their accommodations.
Game Drives
Game drives in Masai Mara are also another thrilling tourism activity in Masai Mara and cruising on the endless plains of the Mara while having remarkable views of animal species like elephants, buffaloes, lions and more is just a breathtaking experience that one can never miss out.
The magnificent park also enables visitors to participate in night game drives and encounter night mammal species especially the big cats. Masai Mara offers three game drive session to its visitors including the first in morning, afternoon and night game drive.
HOW TO GET TO MASAI MARA?
Located in Narok County, getting to the great Masai Mara is more of a walk over and therefore visitors should expect to have a less challenging travel experience. The infrastructure in Kenya especially inform of roads are of the standard level while safety is guaranteed. The magnificent park can be accessed by both road and air means of transportation. There are about 180 kilometers from Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi City to Masai Mara and therefore the journey takes about 5 to 6 hours with short breaks inclusive. It should be noted
