Situated in the southwest of Kenya is the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The region is renowned for its vast, uninhabited wildness, which covers plains of over 1510 square kilometers. Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park borders the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The many years of excellent conservation efforts in the Masai Mara have resulted in incredibly distinctive species. As the greatest place in Kenya to view leopards, the area provides the best encounters with big cats. Some of the unique wildlife here include: Lions, Cheetah, Elephant, Rhino, African Buffalo, Wildebeest, Giraffe and Zebra.
The most popular conservation area in Kenya is this national game reserve. It is hardly surprising that this is included among the world’s wonders. The annual wildebeest migration, which takes place during the dry season when animals from the Serengeti migrate to the Masai Mara in search of better pastures, is one of the wonders of this location. Another wonder here is the Masai tribe. The lifestyles of these group of people are incredibly distinctive. They used to reside in the park before it was designated as a protected area; they are nomads. Another thing to watch out for is their transition out of this kind of life.
The park gets its name from the locals of the area. The work Mara mean ‘spotted’ which generally refers to the flat topped acacia trees, shrubs and bushes that dot the landscape across the reserve. The great migration of the wildebeest here usually happens between July and September and over a million of wildebeests and other animals like Zebras and some cats move to the Masai Mara from the Serengeti National park. It’s amazing how they manage to get over and reach this place despite all the huddles, much like the seas teeming with crocodiles and numerous predators.
While visiting the Masai Mara game reserve, you can partake in a variety of activities, including horseback riding, hot air balloon safaris, nature walks, cultural experiences, and bush feasts. An hour-long flight from Nairobi can get you to the Masai Mara, or a three-hour trip by road will get you to this wildlife reserve.
African lion
Due to the floods that occurred in the 1960s, the number of lions in the Masai Mara had significantly decreased. It is reported that only a few number of male and female lions made it through this ordeal. Another fifteen men had arrived in the Masai Mara before the end of 1965. This encouraged efforts to increase the number of these creatures in the wild. More over a hundred lions were restricted to the Masai Mara National Reserve by 1975. Today, there are roughly sixty lions in the crater. The crater’s steep slopes, which discourage lions from visiting and encourage reproduction, are to blame for the decline in population. Locals that let their animals graze also kill lions.
African buffalo
They often create strong defenses against predators when they are in groups. There will be horns on both the males and females. Because buffalos are such large, hefty animals, they run the risk of dying in a lion attack. Outside of protected areas, buffalo are often violent and have run-ins with people.
African elephant
The elephant populations that one arguably sees as the greatest on a safari are in the Masai Mara National Reserve. These are enormous creatures that show off their ivory tusks. Prior to the 1980 ivory prohibition, elephant deaths were widespread, and since then, the population has significantly increased. One of the greatest spots to see these African giants is this region.
Baby elephants are about 80 centimeters tall at birth but they grow into very large adults. Elephants use their trunks to pick up objects, bathing and drinking. They use the trumpet sound to warn others. Due to their size, they intimidate the predators and they only trouble the young elephants. Elephants can use their trunks to dig and find water in periods of drought. An adult elephant will drink about 90 to 140 liters of water a day.
Rhinoceroses
The black rhinoceros and the white rhinoceros are the two species. The Masai Mara National Reserve is home to the black rhinoceros.
There are only a few black rhinos left in the world. They are almost extinct because of the numerous deaths caused by their tusks. One of the few locations in Tanzania where you can see these Black Rhinos is the Masai Mara National Reserve. About 100 black rhinos were living in the Masai Mara National Reserve alone in 1965. The 1980s saw a small increase in the population of these rhinos when Tanzania made poaching illegal. Now, the authorities monitor the rhinos every minute of the day. By the year 2004, the number of these rhinos had grown to 17. Poachers have highly endangered and nearly driven Black Rhinos to extinction. The Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the last places in Tanzania where you can still reliably see wild black rhinos. They are very hard to miss here.
Leopard
For individuals looking for the big five, this region is also beneficial. The Masai Mara is home to a sizable leopard population. As carnivores, leopards mostly eat fish, antelopes, warthogs, monkeys, rats, zebras, wildebeests, and a variety of other creatures.
Night Hunts: They are usually shy animals and most of their hunting is during the night. Most of their night preys are owls, porcupines, bats and hyenas.
Day Time Hunts: They usually hide in the caves or on top of trees or huge rocks. They prefer to spend the day time resting.
Visit Masai Mara in Kenya with these recommended Kenya tour operators or drop us an inquiry below to book your safari in Kenya directly through this website.
