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Planning a visit to Kenya's Masai Mara? Here are leading luxury safari lodges you must consider staying on on your Visit. Read More!

Safari Updates, Visit East Africa, Wildlife safaris

Luxury Safari Lodges To Consider on Your Visit To Masai Mara

Masai Mara national reserve has some of Kenya’s leading luxury safari lodges that complement the vibrant big five and wildebeest migration safaris. Masai Mara is renown for its big five mammals that can be experienced in the Mara Triangle and and the various conservancies around the reserve. Accommodation is Key in exploring the vast lands of the Masai ecosystem and a number of luxury safari lodges have been set up over the years. These are strategically located making it easy for tourists to access Masai Mara for general activities like game drives.

Let us look at some of the most outstanding luxury safari lodges you must consider when visiting Masai Mara.

Mahali Mzuri

This beautiful luxurious tented safari camp is situated in the Olare Motorogi conservancy. The camp has 12 luxury cottages that are self contained with great views of the conservancy. Mahali Mzuri was voted Number 1 hotel and number world safari lodge in 2021 in Travel+Leisure for its outstanding services and luxurious touch.

Mahali Mzuri has an infinity swimming pool where you can swim and cool down on a hot day and relax enjoying the views of the wilderness. The pool is also heated and you can still enjoy your swim on a chilly day.

While staying at the Mahali Mzuri you get to experience big cats safaris, Wildebeest migration if it is the right season, safari game drives and much more. The Olare Motorogi conservancy is famous for the big cats and many other wildlife species. Incase you are interested in visiting the Mara triangle you can still do for wildlife viewing. You can also have a community to the Masai where you would get to know more about their culture and heritage.

Ensure to make your booking to the camp in advance since it gets fully booked especially in the peak tourist season.

Angama Mara Safari Lodge

Angama Mara is one of the best luxury safari lodges in Masai Mara overlooking the reserve. It is situated on the Rift Valley escarpment over looking the Rift valley floor. The tented safari lodge has 15 luxurious self contained and fully furnished tents that offers interrupted views of the great Rift Valley.

It is among the best exclusive and Honeymoon destinations in Kenya. It has over the years been internationally recognised as among World’s best accommodation facility for its outstanding beauty and excellent services offered there. It featured in and got accolades from renown travel magazines including Travel+leisure, Conde Nest Traveler, National Geographic among others.

Angama Mara is the perfect place to explore Masai Mara starting from Big five and big cats plus the wildebeest migration experiences. The lodge has a mobile tented camp called Angama Safari Camp in the Mara Triangle that is very ideal to explore the wildebeest migration. With this you are able to keep up with the wildebeest migration including live predators hunting moments.

The lodge can easily be accessed by air to the lodge’s airfield and it would be the best means to maximise your experience at the lodge. The safari experience starts right at the lodge and at the Angama Safari Camp so if you a wildlife lover you are very much covered. Those interested in filming or photographic safaris are very much welcome here. The lodges strategic location makes it ideal for filming and a lot of scenes from Out of Africa were filmed here. You can therefore enjoy photographic safaris, family safaris, Masai cultural visits, classic game drives, ballon safaris, guided nature walks among others.

Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp

You can not list luxury safari lodges and camps in Masai Mara and fail to mention andBeyond’s Kichwa Tembo tented camp. It is located on a private concession on the Oloololo escarpment overlooking Saparingo River. The concession is home to wildlife species including big cats that are often seen while on game drives. Kichwa Tembo is one of the best places in Masai to enjoy the great wildebeest migration experience.

It has 8 superior view tents, 20 superior tents and 12 classic tents that are well furnished and decorated with a rustic touch. They offer great uninterrupted views of the Masai Mara and one can easily spot wildlife even at the comfort of their tent. The tents are self contained and private and you get to have an exclusive access during your stay at Kichwa Tembo.

Kichwa Tembo also has a beautiful infinity pool where you can relax enjoying the sunset and the great scenic views. While staying at Kichwa Tembo you can engage in a number of safari activities including game drives, nature walks, community visits among others.

Elewana Sand River Masai Mara

This rustic camp has 12 tented cottages and it is among the top luxury safari lodges in Kenya’s Masai Mara. Its strategic location makes it an ideal place for game drives featuring the big cats. It is very exclusive giving one an opportunity to enjoy interrupted wildlife safari experiences and services at the lodge it self.

Elewana Sand River overlooks the Sand river and often times dinner and breakfast is set at the River banks. Here one relaxes enjoying great scenic views of the River and wilderness in general. There is also a swimming pool overlooking the plains of Masai Mara where you can enjoy a swim or sunbathe.

While Elewana Sand River you can engage in a number of safari activities like game drives, nature walks, community visits among others. The lodge is very ideal for the great wildebeest migration as you can get to watch the migration from your cottage.

The lodge received a Conde Nest traveler Readers’ Choice award in 2020 and it is truly outstanding.

Mara Intrepids Tented Camp

This beautiful camp overlooks Talek River and is also strategically located in the heart Masai Mara national reserve. The camps location makes it an ideal place to enjoy and explore the great Masai mara and its wildlife species. Mara Intrepids Tented Camp is located just a few minutes drive from the Mara River where millions gather to witness the Wildebeest River crossings as the wildebeest cross over from Tanzania’s Serengeti National park. With this easy access to the Mara River, the camp is the best and ideal to book if you are much interested in the wildebeest migration.

The luxury tents at the camp are self contained with great views of the surrounding scenery. You can engage in a number of safari activities while staying at the lodge. These include safari game drives, photography safaris, ballon safaris among others. Mara Intrepids Tented Camp is also a great place to stay with your family. They organise kids activities that keep them engaged and also get an opportunity to learn and explore more of the African and Masai Mara wilderness.

They also organise bush dinners and sundowners where you can enjoy the view of the sunrise and sunset. The camps exclusive nature makes it a great option if looking for luxury Safari Lodges to stay at when in Masai Mara.

Wildebeest Migration Visit East Africa. 3 Days Masai Mara

Safari Updates, Wildlife, Wildlife safaris

The Wildebeest Migration Adventure

The great wildebeest migration is an annual animal migration between Serengeti and Masai mara ecosystems in Kenya and Tanzania. It features vast numbers of wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, and other antelope species moving over the plains of Serengeti and Masai Mara for fresh pasture. This natural phenomenon happens month per month gradually transitioning into the other as the grazers move facing deadly predators, especially the big cats.

The Wildebeest Migration Annual Road Map

In January at the beginning of the year, the migration is often in Southern Serengeti. Here they evenly spread throughout the Ndutu conservation area and part of the Ngorongoro Crater. They would have returned from Kenya’s Masai Mara around mid-October spreading throughout Northern Serengeti.

The wildebeest stay in southern Serengeti throughout the months of February and March also double as a calving period. The young ones are a great addition to the wildebeest population that eagerly awaits to take on their journey up north once again. The calves are however targeted by the predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs that often hide in the lush grasses ready to take down their prey.

In April and May, the wildebeest steadily start moving towards northern Serengeti as the wet season ends. These ushers in the dry season in June as the animals spread further west. Here they encounter River Grumeti their first major obstacle on their journey. The high water levels from the rains in the wet season discourage the wildebeest from quickly crossing over. The River banks are also graced with some of the deadliest Nile crocodiles that the wildebeest have to look out for.

In July and August at the peak of the dry season, quite a number of them would have crossed the Grumeti River. They move further north towards Masai Mara crossing the Mara River that has a number of predator crocodiles that take advantage of the wildebeest numbers. The Nile crocodiles feast big time on the herbivores that also fight hard to continue on course northwards. The wildebeest move over the Masai Mara Ecosystem till around mid-October when they start crossing back to Serengeti.

The Migration cycle then starts all over again a journey that wildlife enthusiasts often want to be part of.

The Big cats

Serengeti and Masai are among the few places in East Africa with highest concentrations of big cats. These have large prides of lions whose survival is directly linked to the wildebeest and the many herbivores that they prey on. The wildebeest migration is among the few places where you can catch live action hunting in the wild.

Apart from the lions, the wilds’ most stealth predators the leopards are also many in Serengeti and Mara ecosystem. These also take advantage of even the calving period to hunt prey for their survival. Cheetahs are also present here and use their speed advantage to race out herbivores. The big cats are often accompanied by hyenas that like to steal some of the already hunted prey.

Hyenas are also deadly predators that are evenly distributed in the region. These attack in groups to easily maximize their chances of a kill.

The wildebeest Migration Experience

The best way to enjoy the wildebeest migration is on a day game drives in the parks and the respective conservancies. Luckily the migration can be easily predicated month per month which enables travelers to plan accordingly on where to visit at a particular time. Early morning game drives are highly recommended for those who would like to catch up with the early risers.

Evening game drives are ideal for you to see the wild animals retire from a busy hunting and grazing day. You are also able to catch up with the African sunset while on evening game drives. The nocturnal wildlife then start heading out as they are most active at night including the big cats.

Hot air ballon safaris are also highly recommended as they offer a panoramic view of the wildlife. It is always refreshing to observe wildlife from an elevated point of view and in the masai mara and Serengeti it is even more spectacular. The best time for ballon safaris are early mornings and late evenings. For the early morning expeditions, you can have bush breakfast that is prepared and served in the wilderness offering you uninterrupted views of the game.

Accommodation

There are a number of accommodation facilities that are strategically located within and at the outskirts of the parks. Staying at one of these beautiful Wild places ahead of your wildebeest safari expedition is very ideal. You can start your game drives right from your lodge or tented camp and occasionally have wildlife visitors like lions and other big five mammals including elephants.

It is very important to book the appropriate accommodation depending on the wildebeest migration movements. There are temporary safari camps that move with the migration throughout the year. Before you book your tour it is better to be certain where the wildebeest are for you to book the most convenient accommodation option.

The dry season from June to September doubles as the peak tourist season a time when accommodation facilities get fully booked. Incase you plan to travel during this Time it is highly recommended for you to book your accommodation in advance. October is a transition month from the dry to wet season but still busy and features River crossings of the wildebeest from Masai Mara to Serengeti. You would still need to book your accommodation in advance a year or couple months before to avoid missing out.

During the wet season mainly in November, March, April and May, there are high chances of rainfall which makes some game drive trails impassable. This however does not prevent one from enjoying the migration especially with the calving period. A number of lodges also offer discounted rates during this time of the year and could ideal to travel if you want to save some money.

Birding

For birders, the wet season is the best time to visit as the migratory birds set in coming from as far as Europe. General wildlife viewing is also great including the big cats that are spotted hiding in the lush vegetation.

Now that we are in the middle of the peak tourist season, you can plan your safari now and visit towards the end of year or book for the next season come 2023. Visit East Africa for these and much more wildlife adventures.

Safari Updates, Tours & Travel, Visit East Africa, Wildlife

Kenya Wildlife Adventures To Do This July

Kenya is a renown destination for epic wildlife adventures thanks to its wildlife diversity. The country offers by far some of the most enjoyable classic African safaris experienced in over 20 national parks. Aside from the usual savanna parks and game reserves, Kenya has marine national parks along the coast. These gives one opportunity to enjoy marine wildlife adventures featuring dolphins, sea turtles among others.

Let us briefly look at the leading Kenya wildlife adventures you must not miss this July.

Wildebeest Migration Wildlife Adventures

The wildebeest migration is an annual animal mass migration over the Serengeti and Masai Mara ecosystems. It involves over 1 million wildebeests, Thompson gazelles, zebras, and other major grazers. These move in search of fresh pastures and are often times guided by rains.

The great wildebeest migration is a true life cycle that involves every stage of life with births, survival, and deaths. It attracts the land’s most feared predators that readily take down their prey. They include large pride of lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and many scavengers.

Every month features a unique wildebeest migration and wildlife adventures transitioning to the other. In this month, the River crossings have started from Serengeti to Masai Mara and the wildebeest has to overcome the deadly Nile crocodiles in the Mara River. Those that make it alive sweep across the Mara ecosystem until late September when they start going back to Serengeti.

While on a visit to Kenya ensure to visit Masai Mara to be part of the great wildebeest migration. Look out for other wildlife in the park and reserves including elephants plus a number of bird species. A number of tour options to Masai Mara feature the migration. In case you have a limited time in Kenya you can opt for 3 Days Masai Mara Tour. Longer Safari options are however recommended for more chances of wildlife views.

Amboseli African elephants

Amboseli national park is among Kenya’s most famous national parks. It is the best place to see African elephants as they freely roam the open savanna of the park. Mount Kilimanjaro Africa’s highest mountain can be best seen in Amboseli national park. Wildlife safari adventures in Amboseli are a great deal with the magnificent background view of the Kilimanjaro.

Apart from elephants, you can see other wildlife species in the park like giraffes, buffaloes, zebras among others. The park is also home to over 400 bird species including flamingos that are present in the wet season. Given that the park has diverse ecosystems of grasslands, woodlands and swamp vegetation, it attracts different bird species.

The park can be visited any time of the year but the best time is in the dry season. This ranges from December to February and June to September. A visit to this park can be done in additional to a wildebeest migration safari in 6 to 7 days for better chances and maximisation of wildlife.

Nairobi City Safari escapes

Nairobi is Kenya’s capital city and it is the only city in the world in the proximity of a national park. Nairobi national park is situated just a 40 minutes drive from the city centre. This gives nature lovers an opportunity to go for short wildlife adventures with ease and convenience.

The park is home to various wildlife species including Rhinos, giraffes, lions, zebras, wildebeest and a number of antelope species. Even in a day trip to the park you will be able to enjoy game drives and later return to the city for an overnight.

Birders are also well catered for here as the park is home to over 500 bird species. Notable birds here include black-headed heron, Ostriches, blacksmith lapwing, kori bustard among others. The migratory birds also set from November to April coming from as far as Europe.

For those with little time in Kenya but would love to enjoy African Wildlife adventures this is the place to be.

Mombasa Marine Wildlife Adventures

Mombasa is Kenya’s biggest sea port and city. It is strategically borders the Indian Ocean and is a one stop centre for Marine wildlife experiences. Mombasa has beautiful white sand beaches where one can relax and enjoy the African sun with uninterrupted ocean view. Leading beaches in Mombasa include Diani beach, watamu beach, Tiwi beach, Nyali beach, Kalifi beach among others.

All the beaches have accommodation facilities where one can stay incase they are visiting for more than a day.

The key wildlife attraction in Mombasa are the aquatic wildlife that are not found in any place in Kenya. They include sea turtles, dolphins, fish species among others. Diving is a major activity done giving one an opportunity to see the aquatic wildlife and enjoy the adventures in the Indian Ocean.

A visit to Mambasa is a great supplement to the classic wildlife adventures on the mainland. It also enables one explore the ocean side and get to relax at the beach. Other activities one can engage in include beach football, volleyball, wind surfing, boat rides on the ocean.

The great rift Valley adventures.

The eastern arm of the great Rift Valley in Kenya is a wonder it self and the Rift Valley floor is home to a number of wildlife species. They are a number of Rift Valley lakes in Kenya including lake Nakuru that was gazetted into a national park. Lake Nakuru national park’s location not only offers a great Rift Valley experience but also incredible wildlife adventures.

Lake Nakuru is famous for flamingos and was one of the best places to see flamingos. Due to climate change and weather conditions, flamingos migrated but still occur in smaller numbers. Great white pelicans though occur in large numbers making the lake a birders haven. Other notable birds here include grey crowned cranes, shining sun bird, crab-plovers, Kenya rufous sparrow among others.

For those interested in the big five there are four of the big five mammals present here. These include White and black rhinos, buffaloes, leopards and lions. Other wildlife species present include giraffes, hippos, zebras, that are often sighted while on game drives in the park.

Kenya is no doubt a safari giant and a must visit for those seeking incredible wildlife adventures in East Africa. Safaris here are possible all year round though for best experiences it is often recommended to visit in the dry season when there are minimal rainfall disturbances. The dry season stretches from June to September and from December to January.

Kenya Safari Experiences to Part of This March

Kenya safari experiences form a great part of an African safari and its the reason why Kenya is a leading safari destination. The country has diverse wildlife and physical attractions that leave many adventurous tourists wanting more. The coming month is a transition one from the dry to the wet season that will last till May. The wet season comes in handy with the rains making safari activities not as enjoyable like in the dry season. However there are a number of adventurous Kenya safari experiences one can still be apart of. They include the following;

Birding Safari

Much as March is part of the low season its a great time for a birding safari in Kenya. From March to May, there are a number of migratory birds in Kenya. A number of them come all away from Europe and a combination of these and then natives make birding very enjoyable. Notable birds to see on a Kenya birding safari include the southern ground hornbill, crowned hornbill, Amani sunbird, Jackson’s hornbill among others. There are also a number of birds endemic to Kenya including Clarke’s Weaver, Taita thrush, Williams’ lark most of which while on game drives.

Big Cats Safari Experiences

Big cats will forever form a great part of a Kenya Safari experiences. The country is home savannah’s major big cats and leading predators. These include lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas. Prides of lions are often seen in Masai Mara National reserve and other national parks and conservancies.

Some of these caught in action hunting their prey. Leopards the strongest of all the cats even like to climb with their prey up the tree. Here they can feast in comfort without any disturbances especially the hyenas that like to eat already hunted prey.

Game drives featuring any of the big cats are very enjoyable. At least major national parks and conservancies in Kenya have 2 or all the big cats. Because there are a number of newly borns, predators are very active hunting taking advantage of the young ones.

Big Five Mammal safari experiences

The fact that March is not so crowded it makes it a perfect month for big five mammal safari experiences. Savannas’ big five include elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards and Rhinos. These are seen while on game drives in beautiful places like Amboseli National Park. This park has the best views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the best place in Kenya to see Elephants.

These are complemented by the major herbivores including antelopes, zebras, giraffes that are easy to spot because with the rains there is plenty of grass. Most times the predators hide in the lush and relatively tall grasses to slowly take down their prey.

The other major benefit of having Kenya safari experiences march included is that some lodges reduce on rates.

5 Kenya Holiday Cottages To Spend Your 2021 Christmas

Kenya is widely known for its wildlife and the beautiful Holiday Cottages evenly distributed it the country’s wild places. The country is an ultimate African safari destination and many take on safaris there to be a part of never-ending adventures.

Accommodation being key, the Kenyan hospitality industry has done a great job and offers a variety of Hotels and holiday cottages at the various safari lodges in the country. Now that Christmas is setting in and the majority would love to spend this day in a cool place, let us look at the top Kenya holiday cottages where you can have your Christmas from.

Solio Lodge

This beautiful safari lodge is located in Laikipia and offers some of the best Rhino viewing experiences in Kenya. The property is strategically located in the Solio game reserve and offers great views of the plateau. It also lies between Aberdare ranges and Mount Kenya some of the most iconic attractions in Kenya

Solio Lodge has a very calm ambience and enables one peacefully enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. The cottages at Solio Lodge are luxurious with private decks, a fire place, and an en suite bathroom. There are also many other amenities that makes ones’ stay worthwhile. Each cottage has an interior design of an African setting and definitely where you would want to spend your Christmas holiday.

While at the lodge you can engage in a number of activities including Rhino tracking, horseback riding, game drives and much more.

Borana Lodge

Borana Lodge is located in Kenya’s Borana Conservancy one of the famous Rhino sanctuaries in Kenya. The lodge has beautiful holiday cottages that offer endless magnificent views of the Borana conservancy.

The lodge has 6 cottages with four stand-alone with a double beds and 2 family cottages that have a shared sitting area. Each cottage has a fireplace, bath tabs and showers and a veranda offering great views of the surroundings.

Borana Lodge is very ideal for Christmas holidays and if you plan a visit to Kenya this Christmas ensure to add a stay here. The activities you can engage in while here include nature walks, game drives, mountain biking, farm tours, rhino tracking among others.

Ol Donyo Lodge

Ol Donyo Lodge is perfectly located in Chyulu hills in Amboseli National Park one of the must visit wildlife destinations in Magical Kenya. The lodge has 6 self contained cottages each with a its own plunge pool.

The lodge’s cottages offer exclusive and romantic getaways making Ol Donyo among the top properties in Kenya for a Christmas season. Each cottage also has a roof deck where you can relax as you enjoy the views of Chyulu Hills.

While at Ol Donyo you can do game drives, nature walks, community visits, horseback riding or you can visit Amboseli National park. In Amboseli you will have great views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the many herds of elephants.

Elsa's Kopje

Elsa’s Kopje is located in Meru National park one of the most diverse national parks in Kenya. The lodge has 6 en suite cottages and each of these was crafted around the rocks in the area. The cottages are spacious with a large bathroom, a sitting area all overlooking the endless plains of Meru National Park.

Elsa’s Kopje is very exclusive and quiet best for honeymoons and relaxation. A Stay at the lodge offers a great deal of adventurous activities one can engage in. These include game drives in Meru national park, rhino tracking, nature walks, visits to River Tana among others.

There no doubt that the holiday cottages are Elsa’s camp offer one of the unforgettable wild experiences and while in Kenya, add a visit to the lodge.

Lewa Wilderness Lodge

This historical safari lodge is situated in Lewa wildlife conservancy and its one of the perfect spots for exclusive luxury holidays. The lodge has 6 thatched holiday cottages that offer uninterrupted views of Marania Valley. They are very exclusive and best for those seeking classic African safaris.

Lewa Wilderness Lodge’s interior designs has a rustic and African touch. As the festive days are setting in, it would be great to spend them in an exclusive environment like Lewa Wilderness Lodge. While here you can engage in a number of safari activities that include nature walks, safari game drives, horseback or camel riding and flying safaris.

The year 2021 has also come to an end as the world is still coping up with a new normal because of the COVID 19 pandemic. Many economies are still recovering and with the tourism industry fully open unlike last year, it will be great to take on safaris in Kenya for unforgettable safari moments.

Why Kenya Should Be Your Next Safari Destination

Kenya is East Africa’s wildlife safari destination and among the Must Visit places while in the region. Kenya has various wildlife species that offer classic safari experiences that one should be part of. The diverse wildlife in Kenya makes the destination magical and you can never get enough of the experiences.

Below are some of the reasons why Kenya Must be your next wildlife safari destination.

Unique Marine Wildlife

Kenya is one of the few East African countries where you can enjoy marine wildlife. The country has over Four Marine national parks with wildlife species that make tours there unique.

Malindi Marine Park is among the most visited marine parks and was established in 1986. The Marine park has wildlife species ranging from coral reefs, turtles, fish species, shorebirds, among others. While here you can engage in activities like snorkeling, deep sea fishing, Kite-surfing and diving.

Watamu Marine, Kisite mpuguti and Mombasa marine parks are other leading marine parks in Kenya. In these marine parks you can see green sea turtles, Manta Rays, Reef sharks, Octopus among others.

A Safari on the Wildebeest Migration

Kenya is most famous for the wildebeest migration in Masai Mara national reserve. The Wildebeest mass migration is an annual wildlife wonder that involves game like wildebeest, zebras and antelopes looking for pasture.

This migration attracts Masai Mara’s predators from Lions, leopards, Cheetahs and hyenas that hunt the grazers on the wildebeest migration. Safaris in the wildebeest migration can be explored on game drives in the open Masai plains.

Wildebeest migration in Kenya can be best viewed from Mid-August to Late October before the animals head back to Tanzania.

Africa’s Big Five and More

Kenya has many savanna national parks that are homes to Africa’s Big five Mammals. The Big Five Mammals include Lions, Leopards, Rhinos, Buffaloes and Elephants. These were named big five because of how difficult they were to be hunted by trophy hunters.

The Big Five mammals are often seen while on game drives in the different savanna national parks in Kenya. They also occur in large numbers especially buffaloes as many of the other big five populations was affected by poaching.

Kenya wildlife destinations have more than the big five with other wildlife species like Hippos, Giraffes, zebras and Antelope species. Apart from game drives, these can also be seen on guided nature walks or hot air balloon safaris.

Rich Culture and Heritage

While on a safari to Kenya, culture is one thing you should ensure to look out for. The country has some of the unique cultural encounters especially with the Masai people.

The Masai people live near Masai Mara national reserve and many are employed as guides. Guided Masai tours are very incredible as the local people are well knowledgeable about the wildlife.

While at the safari lodges and Tented camps in Masai Mara, the local Masai people make folk performances. This enables one to know more about their local culture.

The Best of Masai Mara Game Reserve’s Wildlife Safari Experiences

Masai Mara game reserve is a popular wildlife safari destination in Kenya located in the rift valley region. The reserve has open grassland favoring a number of grazers that easily traverse the area in search for pasture.

The reserve has over 400 birds and 95 mammal species making it one of the best wildlife viewing destinations. Masai Mara has sectors or conservancies like the Mara Triangle, Lemek, Mara North, Maji Moto among others all with wildlife. A combination of all the conservancies is what forms the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Masai Mara game reserve covers a total land area of 1,510 square Kilometers traversed by the Mara and Talek River. Below are some of the best wildlife safari experiences you can enjoy while visiting Masai Mara.

The Wildebeest migration

This wildlife trek of grazers involves over 2 millions animals that move from Serengeti to Masai Mara game reserve. It is usually comprised of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles in thousands looking for fresh pastures over the Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystems. Animals on the wildebeest migration arrive in Masai Mara game reserve around the month of July and depart in November.

The wildebeest migration is not your usual wildlife migration as it attracts the land’s leading predators to hunt prey. The major predators in Masai Mara include lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs and the crocodiles. There are also Vultures that are usually ready to feed on the remaining carcass after the predators have left.

Masai Mara’s wildebeest migration is a natural phenomena to look out for by any one interested in wildlife adventures. It offers an insight of life in the wild as grazers look for pasture for survival while predators hunt them.

There are several births on the wildebeest migration journey a hope to life and opportunity to learn more about nature. Best time for the wildebeest migration in Kenya is July to November when the animals have crossed over from Serengeti.

While on the wildebeest migration safari in Masai Mara look out for the River crossings especially around Mara river. Here there are thousand crocodiles that wait in the shallow river waters to take down their prey

Safari Game Drives

Masai Mara game reserve is one best place in East Africa for safari game drives. The reserve has over 95 mammal species often seen while on game drives. They include world’s largest mammals like elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffaloes, Rhinos, zebras and many antelope species.

The reserve has the major big cats including large prides of lions, leopards, cheetahs and spotted hyenas. These are seen on early morning game drives best to catch up with early risers and nocturnal animals especially cats. Masai Mara big cats are very fierce that they also make successful attempts in the big mammals like elephants.

Safari game drives in Masai Mara are very rewarding and unpredictable that each encounter offers a whole new experience. These game drives can also be enjoyed in the evening which also offers chance to view the African sun set.

Masai Mara Birding Safaris

As earlier communicated, Masai Mara game reserve has over 400 bird species including the areas endemics only seen there. The reserve is therefore one of the leading birding safari destinations in Kenya and East Africa at large. Commonly seen birds in Masai Mara game reserve include crowned cranes, Marabou storks, Horn-bills, ostriches, Eagles among others.

Birding can be done alongside game drives offering chances of diverse wildlife viewing. There are however tourists interested specifically in birds which can still be done as the reserve has so many species. The best time for birding safaris in Masai Mara game reserve are in the morning and in the evening.

Balloon Safaris

Wildlife balloon safaris have over the years taken trend for adventure tourism and Masai Mara offers great opportunities for this. With the vast size of Masai Mara game reserve, balloon safaris are easily done offering great views of the wildlife.

Aerial views of the open Masai Mara plains offer opportunities for great photography and panoramic views of the reserve. While on the balloon safaris, you also get to see the beautiful landscapes enjoying the sights of nature. Ensure to book in advance to avoid missing out on this Masai Mara adventure experience.

Why You Should Visit Kenya Now

Kenya is one of the countries in East Africa with diverse wildlife species and popularly known as Magical Kenya. Its a Must Visit place for nature lovers and offers classic African safaris featuring a number of wildlife species. The country borders the Indian ocean and has a long coastline giving great chances for beach sports and activities.

Kenya opened its airport to international commercial flights 1st August 2020 after several months of lock down. This was due to the ongoing Corona Virus pandemic that has affected all economies worldwide. With the opening of Jomo Kenyatta international airport, you can visit Kenya for wildlife tours after several months of lock-down.

The variety of the game in Kenya ranges from Big Five animals, birds, reptiles evenly distributed over the beautiful landscapes. Most of these are seen while on game drives in the national parks.

A wildlife safari in Masai Mara

Masai Mara is the most famous of all the national parks in Kenya with large populations of wild animals. Enjoy the wildebeest migration seeing millions of wildebeest move across the Serengeti and Mara Ecosystem looking for fresh pastures. This epic journey is enthusiastically awaited by the predators that hunt down the animals.

The Wildebeest migration is an adventure to look out for when you visit Kenya and East African in general. This can be enjoyed while on game drives in the park on organized wildlife tours.

Wildlife in Kenya can also be explored on Balloon Safaris also in Masai Mara National game reserve. This offers great aerial views of the animals below and the various landscapes the game reserve has.

Guided walking safaris or horseback riding allows you to get closer to wildlife enjoying sights and sounds of nature. Kenya has over twenty national parks all offering unique wildlife experiences. In case you are looking for a best post lock-down destination then Kenyan National Parks are places to be.

Water sport activities

Water Sports activities in Kenya are other alluring activities to this beautiful East African country. Kenya has a number of water bodies from lakes, rivers, the Indian Ocean offering opportunities for water sport activities.

Done activities include diving with sea animals like turtles, dolphins, sharks and to the coral reef gardens under the sea. Diving activities reduce in July and August as there are usually high sea tides and increased silting reducing visibility.

Most of these sea activities are done at Watamu Marine National park situated along the coast. The marine park has a number of diving sites making it an ideal place for even the learners. The reef at Watamu is near the shore and the coral gardens here can therefore be easily accessed.

Thrilling Adventures

Visit Kisite Mpunguti Marine game reserve where you can enjoy thrilling water sport activities with the marine wildlife species. The reserve is south of Mombasa with sea creatures like Manta Rays, the rare zebra sharks and other sea wildlife.

Thrilling adventures like snorkeling, Kite surfing, sport fishing that can be done along the major water bodies in Kenya. White water rafting is a must for adventure tourists. Rafting is often done along River Tana that is just about 95 kilometers from Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city. You can also do it along the Ewaso N’giro river where you even encounter the Savannas wildlife like lions & elephants.

Beach Holidays

Kenya has beautiful white sand beaches ideal for beach holidays and beach sports like beach soccer and volleyball. The beaches offer havens where green sea turtles lay eggs and is ideal for those who want to sea them.

Diverse Culture

Explore the diverse Kenyan culture and heritage where you can have great cultural experiences while in Magical Kenya. Kenya has a diverse cultural background with a mixture of people including native Kenyans and the foreigners who settled there. They mainly include Asians, Indians, Europeans and other nationalities have continued to live in this beautiful country.

Authentic Kenyan culture can be experienced in the Villages where you get to meet some of the local and native people’s of Kenya. Some have over the years preserved their culture for example the Masai and Turkana people.

Cultural experiences are done after wildlife tours but you can still have a tailor made itinerary for culture and heritage.

The economies are easing the lock-downs after the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic so visit Kenya for amazing wildlife safaris. You can have game drives, water sporting activities and cultural encounters for the best of the East African travel memories.