Masai Mara National Reserve

The Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s most famous Reserve, is one of the must-visit destinations during Kenya Wildlife Safaris. A safari to Kenya means a safari to Masai Mara National Reserve, home to the iconic African Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant), the spectacular wildebeest migration, and the iconic wilderness. Masai Mara National Reserve is famous for the abundance of lions, the Great Wildebeest Migration, and the Masai people, well known for their distinctive customs and dress code; it is without a doubt Africa’s most famous safari destination.

The Mara adjoins Tanzania’s Serengeti, and animals can freely roam between the two Countries, Kenya and Tanzania, together forming one of the largest and most biodiverse ecosystems in East Africa. This larger ecosystem is comprised mostly of acacia-studded grasslands interspersed with woodland and savannas. The Mara and Talek Rivers are the lifeblood of the Park.

The Masai Mara is particularly famous for its annual Wildebeest Migration, often considered one of the natural wonders of the world, when almost 1 and a half million wildebeest, zebra, and Gazelle Migrate Northwards around July of each year, in search of fresh pasture. Predators, including lions and cheetahs, follow in hot pursuit. In October, the animals return. Whether you visit the Masai Mara in time to witness the Great Migration or not, you will most certainly see a massive variety of Wildlife, including the ‘big five’ and around 450 recorded bird species.

Being one of the best national parks in East Africa, Masai Mara is definitely one of the favorites for most visitors, together with Amboseli National Park, the sanctuary of Lake Nakuru National Park, and Nairobi National Park, to mention. For birdwatchers looking for a good site to host the best birding trip in Kenya, choosing Masai Mara blesses visitors with the sighting of about 500 species of birds, including the ostrich, the world’s largest bird. More excitingly, the birding adventure inside the national reserve is one of a kind, allowing the spotting of 47 birds of prey.

The things to do in Masai Mara- Attractions & Activities

Wildebeest Migration

The great wildebeest migration in Masai Mara Reserve is one of the 8 wonders of the African continent that many travelers from all over the world are interested in seeing. This epic adventure ( the seasonal wildebeest movement) is the second-largest mammal migration after the ice age as it involves more than 1 million wildebeest and zebras trekking between the Masai Mara Reserve and the Great Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania. During this Kenya wildlife adventure, there are iconic attractions like the Mara River crossing, where the wildebeest have to cheat death before moving across the crocodile-infested waters.

Big Five viewing in Masai Mara National Reserve 

One of the famous Big Five destinations in East Africa is Kenya’s Masai Mara Wildlife Sanctuary. This place offers one of the most spectacular encounters with the Big Five animals like lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and the huge rhinos. The number of lions in this sanctuary competes with other destinations like Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park, which have more than 600 lions. Masai Reserve is also a good choice for those looking for the best place to find elephants in Africa, where the animals are frequently viewed during the game drives.

Bird watching trips in Kenya

Africa’s prime wildlife destination is not only a great place for Big Five animals, but many birds have also been recorded in this reserve. There are about 500 species of birds living inside the large wildlife home of Masai Mara Reserve. Not forgetting the endemic birds of Kenya, 47 species of birds of prey, and migratory species from other parts of Africa and the world. Travelers have the once in the life time opportunity to find the ostrich and other birds of East Africa and Kenya.

Game drives ( Game Viewing Safaris in Kenya) 

Inside the largest national reserve in Kenya, game drives are the most popular adventures to find the animals of the African savannah as well as the Big Cats ( leopards, lions, cheetahs). The game drives allow easy viewing of the lush green world in the reserve. This experience enables travelers to view photogenic places like open savannahs, Acacia woodlands, and many more.

The Best Time to Visit: When to Visit Masai Mara National Reserve 

For those looking forward to indulging in the epic adventures inside Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve, the best time to visit the wildlife sanctuary is during the dry season in the months of June-September and December-February. Usually, the dry season comes with easy mobility of on the tracks for 4×4 vehicles, and distant animals can be spotted with ease in the short grasses.

Getting To Masai Mara National Reserve

While getting to the Masai Mara Wildlife Sanctuary, visitors can use both air and road transport. By air, travelers from the capital Nairobi can hire chartered flights from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and move to the airstrips around the reserve. For those using road transport, the journey commences from Nairobi heading towards Narok, taking 2-3 hours. The road trip opens up the hidden beauty of the countryside in Kenya, like the Rift Valley, lush green fields, open savanna fields, among others.