Maasai Mara National Reserve

Kenya’s most popular wildlife reserve, this is the land of predators. The Maasai Mara boasts the world’s largest single concentration of plains game and the most diverse concentration of wildlife anywhere on the continent. Covering an area of approximately 1672 km2 of unspoiled wilderness, this extraordinary area offers the possibility of seeing almost every mammal indigenous to the region. The vast grassland plains are littered with gazelle, impala, hartebeest, topi, herds of inquisitive buffalo and many more species of plains game. These mammals all provide a plentiful food source for predators such as lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena and jackal. Solitary black rhino may occasionally be sighted as well. In the Mara river pods of hippo submerge themselves in the water, surfacing regularly with a disgruntled snort and sleepy crocodiles sun themselves on the riverbanks. Also rich in bird life, over 450 species have been recorded in the Mara and amongst these 57 species of birds of prey.

The Mara is, however, most famous for the world’s greatest wildlife spectacle, the annual wildebeest migration from the Serengeti which takes place between July and October. Each year over 1.3 million wildebeest, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, gather on the Serengeti plains to begin the long and dangerous trek north into the Mara. Drawn by the new flush of sweet grass following the long rains, the vast herds move in a surging black mass of life, stretching as far as the eye can see. It is an extremely hazardous journey, the herds attract large prides of hungry lions and hyenas who target any lame or sick animals. In addition, many animals drown or fall prey to crocodiles lying in wait ready to strike with lightening speed as the herds attempt to cross the muddy waters of the Mara and Talek rivers. Once the grass in the Mara has been grazed bare and rain in Tanzania has brought a new flush of grass there, the herds turn south and once again begin the long march back to the Serengeti to complete the cycle.

The Maasai Mara lies approximately 270 km south-east of Nairobi, and takes about 4 to 5 hours by road. There are scheduled flights twice daily from Wilson Airport Nairobi, which take 40-45 minutes.