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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.

Tag: Masai Mara