Complete Guide to Masai Mara
Masai Mara is a reserved Park in South West Kenya. It lies in an open Savannah 1510 Squared Kilometer bordering the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the South. This park is famous for its wildlife, especially the number of Lions that are found there.
Mara is their word for spotted, by how you see the acacia like spots from a far while the Masai is from the inhabits of the area hence the name Masai Mara. It is a place with a lot species of trees as the Acacia, shrubs and bushes that makes the landscape unique from the rest of the reserves.
Watching the big five together with cheetahs, antelopes, wildebeest, giraffes and other wildlife roaming freely in the wilderness leaves you with nothing but exceptional memories. This makes it very unique reserve to visit.
During July, Mara is known to be the land of the Wildebeest. Visitors travel often during this season as the wildebeest tend to migrate from Serengeti to Tanzania. Watching how they fight for survival from the predators makes the safari even more adventurous.
It has variety of conservancies that also have wildlife species living there. Not only the species but also supports the migration of the wildebeests. A Masai Mara Safari is one of the tours that one can never go wrong or feel disappointed in it.
Below is a table of content to summarize on what to expect once you visit Masai Mara or is in your itinerary, then you will understand why it is among the top best parks in Africa.
- Location
Maasai Mara is located in the Southwestern Part of Kenya covering an area of 370000 Acres and is in the North of the famous Serengeti. Sand, Talek and Mara Rivers are rivers that drains the Masai Mara. It is about 224 Km from Nairobi hence with a light flight, it may take approximately 45 minutes to fly there.
Masai Mara is an open Savannah that gives watchers perfect views of the park. It has patches of bushy areas where rhinos, elephants and giraffe considers places to stay. Also due to its openness, you get to witness the hunting especially cheetahs as they chase the preys in the open.
The conservancy offers private and exclusive safaris compared to the reserve, reason being people in the conservancy can enter the National Reserve while those on reserve cannot. It offers accommodations as Olare Orok and Olkinyei. Because these lands belongs to the Maasai, you will pass through their manyatta as you view how they look after their cattle.
Here you will enjoy migration as it is not always crowded as in the Reserve. If you ae planning perhaps to visit Masai Mara, atleast get to try staying in the conservancy for a change and you will never want to go back.
- Cost
A cost in Masai Mara may vary with what you would want to experience in the park. Generally, a cost is made by the type of accommodation you prefer, whether you will use light flight or drive to the Park, or activities you will do once in the park.
Also, depending on the season you choose to travel, maybe during the low season, automatically your package will not be expensive. So before traveling, ensure you know what to expect according to your budget. Also, the park fees for the park during this season changes.
As long as you state your budget, Golden Cats Safaris create a customized tour package that you can enjoy. Mara offers budget, midrange and luxurious accommodation to fit for all that are wishing to travel.
The peak season in Mara is from end June to October, here you must make your bookings earlier to avoid missing out. Booking during this season makes the cost of your Masai Mara Safari a bit costly since it is on peak.
Golden Cats Safaris are here to ensure your dream travel becomes a reality. With expert guides who can take you around the Mara and ensure nothing but seamless experience for you. By this guide, you will know when it is safe for you to travel according to the budget you have.
- The Big Five
Masai Mara is believed to be the home of the big five; Lions. Leopards, Buffaloes, Rhinos and Elephants. Although, it is difficult to view the Rhinos, there is a small number of them that lives there.
Even though the Cheetahs do not form the big five, the open Savannah is quite important for the cheetahs living in Mara because they are adapted to it. They are not among the big five but, watching how fast they chase the preys with their stream lined body and speed is marvelous.
Going on a game drive and seeing a pride of lions resting under a shade of tree, while trying to retain the energy they will use during hunting is recommend ably beautiful. Watching cubs as they play with their mothers is quite picturesque.
On the other hand, making videos of leopards climbing on top of the tree after a hunt only for it to eat on top cannot be compared by anything. The always angry buffaloes staring at the 4×4 as you pass through them is another feeling that one will forever remember.
How about the enormous elephants, though most are found in Amboseli National Park, you cant miss to see some with big tusk walking towards water hole areas to quench their thirst, truly, there is nothing that beats these vies.
Not leaving the rhinos behind, you get to enjoy seeing the mother rhinos leading younger once during walks. This adventures are nothing but forever memories.
If you are someone who is always interested in the big five, then Mara should be in your bucket list where you will see them without facing troubles in locating them
- Best Time to Visit
The best time to go on visit in Mara is during the July season. July – October is peak season, this is when the migration of the Wildebeest together with the zebras take place. Watching them how they fight to cross the Mara River is spectacular.
During this time, crocodiles are always waiting for the Wildebeest so that they can attack. Here is where the survival for the fittest lies. Watching how they face their fears and altogether cross whoever makes it on the other side is lucky.
But also, generally Masai Mara can be visited at any time due to the abundant wildlife found in the plain. Apart from the rainy season that is in April – May season, because the roads are always impassible and most hotels in the camps are closed.
So due to the riskiness of the area, guest are adviced not to travel. But opting to go on a safari in the month of July, you enjoy both the wildlife and the migration of the Wildebeest. Golden cat Safaris can help with delivering the best of your Safari.
Email info@goldencatsafari.com and wait for your adventure to begin. You will witness the best and a package that will fit all, be it a honeymooner, or family or friends, you will have nothing but good memories to share with others.
- Other Activities in Mara
Apart for the adventurous game drive, you may enjoy other activities in the Masai Mara. One can enjoy the Hot air balloon in the sunrise to get and enjoy the aerial view of the place. Get to take the pictures of the animals in landscape.
Another activity you can opt to enjoy during your stay in Mara is a visit to the Maasai Village where you will enjoy their dance together with them. Get to buy the artefacts to promote their business. Also get to learn how to make the beads handcrafted. Get to learn more of their culture and how they came to existence.
Another activity one can enjoy is bird watching. If you are a birding person then Masai Mara is one of the parks that is a habit for the birds. With a guided tour guide, you may enjoy nature walks as you get to record a lot of birds.
Another activity to be enjoyed is the horse ride. You can imagine seeing elephants while in a closer contact on the plain. It is one of the activity that you can never get rid of the memories. Apart from the hoarse ride, imagine enjoying sunset, in your comfort zone while sipping a drink.
Capturing moments as those should definitely be in your bucket list during a visit to the Maasai Mara. Dancing with the masai warriors in the sunset is a feeling you wouldn’t want to miss. Taking pictures also is a plus one activity that you should definitely add in your activities.
So carry your camera and get ready to take photographic pictures as Mara knows how to show off with giving perfect views of the wildlife.
- Choosing your Safari
Depending on what you are interested to do more in your Safari, one should know when to go on a safari. If you are a photographer, or a bird watcher, the best time you can opt to go on a safari is during the low season, when the light is clearer and birds are plenty.
Also, grazers give birth to little ones during this period of time. Sighting the predators hunt will reward you with good pictures and videos. A plus is for the first time visitors, it is advisable to visit Mara first because the roads in in the reserves are well maintained.
They will see the big five without struggling and it offers a 360 degrees view of the plain. There is where they will meet the authentic cultural experience from the gate of the Maasai Mara till the last day of their adventurous safari.
Honeymooners are given an experience of hot air balloon to enjoy. An added experience of well lit candles with spectacular setting is just a plus. Or enjoy a bush dinner with beautiful set up in the middle of the forest is exclusively amazing.
With the family friendly lodges, it makes one of the destination that is family friendly. No limits of children while travelling to this destination. Masai Mara is definitely a destination you must do since the vibes you get from there are always different.
- Health and Safety
Kenya is one of the safest destination to visit. But if you have no idea of the amount of safety you need, then here is a guide on what you should expect and do. If you have any critical disease as Asthma and so, always seek advice from your doctor before travelling.
As it is said, prevention is better than cure, you are advised to take Anti- Malaria medication before coming even though the chances are low. It is always safer to check on your health before the journey.
Always choose to roam around with a guide since it is dangerous. Never walk alone to your rooms at night even with a fence camp or lodge ensure someone is there to guide you back to your room.
- Masai Mara Combines best with?
Visiting Masai Mara, you may opt to combine it with Amboseli because of the perfect views of Kilimanjaro. Lewa conservancy for the Northern white rhino as they are difficult to trace them in the Masai Mara.
Combines well with Samburu due to the beautiful special five and leopards. Also for mostly honeymooners, you can combine with Diani, for experience of both wild and beach. Nakuru is not far from Maasai Mara and you can get beautiful view of the Flamingo.
Basically, it is a destination that give allowance to combinations with most Parks in the world.
