For thousands of people, the highlight of the Great Wildebeest Migration is witnessing thousands of animals plunge into the Mara River. They had to stay out of the way of the waiting crocodiles in order to reach the fertile ground on the other side.
The Masai Mara is home to the big migration. More than a million wildebeests migrate through the well-known Masai Mara in Kenya each year, from the Serengeti national park, in search of better grasses.
Large herds of wildebeests arrive in the Masai Mara game reserve plains from July to October, as they flee Tanzania’s arid Serengeti national park. These animals engage in combat to gain entry. It becomes far more difficult and time-consuming for the wildebeests to traverse the Mara River’s crocodile-infested waters. It’s amazing to watch the spectacle of the wildebeests slamming through this water to reach the other side and avoid the crocodiles. Because of the amazing animal viewing opportunities, the Masai Mara National Reserve is the most popular national park in Kenya.
The Masai Mara has the biggest animal concentration in the East African region due to these events of migration. The park is well endowed with a good population of the big cats and the African big five animals. They are highly sought after by the travelers on Safari to the Masai Mara national reserve.
The Masai Mara National reserve is located in the south western region of Kenya. The Reserve gets its name from the Masai people of the area.
Another aspect of the Masai Mara that you should consider is their distinctive culture. You should investigate their life and see how they have lived and are currently living. Some ancient customs have persisted, and you’ll find it fascinating how they still apply to communal living, for instance.
For travelers interested in the great migration of the wildebeests, the best time to visit would be between July to October. You will also have a chance to see some migratory birds if you visit between October and April. December and March are the best warm months for the game viewing.
Musiara swamp in Masai Mara.
This swamp is the largest marshy area in the Masai Mara area. Its located along the Mara River in the northern sector of this national reserve. The fact that this area is a water spot, then it’s a good area to watch wildlife. This is because they come here to cool off after feeding and the predators will set their traps to catch their prey. You will find a lot of hippos here. Some of the other wildlife here are: herds of elephants, leopards, buffalos, hyenas, cheetahs, as well as bird sightings like ostriches
Best time to visit Masai Mara
When to visit the Masai Mara will be determined by your budget and the time you have available. Otherwise the area can be visited at any time of the year.
Rainy/Off season
The rains also come twice a year from March to mid-June and from October to November. This time usually has very few people and those who want the area to themselves use this timing. The grass is also green and good for those who want to take pictures. This does not mean that it is the rainy season, then it rains all day and all the time.
Peak/dry season
The season usually comes in the dry months of mid-June to September and December to February. However, the longer period from June to September also comes with the wildebeest migration and if that is your main interest then this is the perfect timing for you.
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