Masai Mara
Masai Mara
It is no surprise that the Masai Mara ranks up near the top of most famous game reserves in the world. The land of the Mara is consistently covered with herds of antelope, interspersed with prides of lions, journeys of giraffe, dazzles of zebra, and almost every other collective animal noun you can think of.
The sightings are nothing short of fantastic, and it is definitely the park to visit to tick off your "wildlife of Africa" list. The scenery of the park is similar to the open plains of the Serengeti, although the Mara is dotted with more trees, and the game viewing is equal to, or can be better than, its southerly sister.
Within the boundaries of the reserve, there are certain areas which can seem quite crowded with travellers, although there are places to escape from the crowds, and enjoy the Mara in some exclusivity. Private concessions surround the Masai Mara, allowing more private safari experiences, and additional activities.
The Masai Mara is easily accessed from Nairobi, with a number of scheduled flights operated each morning and afternoon. It can also be reached by road, but be prepared that it can be quite a bumpy 6 hour drive, with sections being particularly broken up.
Cultural Visits
The Masai tribe is world famous, and meeting some of the local people is a highlight for many travellers.
Most camps arrange village visits when you can learn about their culture, see their homesteads, and interact.
Exceptional Wildlife
The Masai Mara delivers on its wildlife promises every time. With enormous herds of antelope, brilliant birdlife, and a plethora of predators, at times it seems impossible to look around and not see some sort of creature.
Hot-air Balloon Safaris
If there is any place in the world to take a hot-air balloon flight, the Masai Mara, or the Serengeti, must surely rank up there with the best of them.
After being collected from your camp before sunrise, you will spend up to an hour floating above the plains of Africa and herds of wildlife, enjoying the silence and incredibly coloured sunrise.
Watch the continent come to life, before setting down and partaking in a champagne breakfast in the bush. Is there a better way to start the day?
Private Concessions
While the main Masai Mara Game Reserve always provides great safaris, it is in the adjacent private concessions which you can experience some exclusivity and more exciting activities.
There are no fences separating these concessions from the main reserve, so animals wander freely over them, but their rules allow walking safaris and night game drives, which cannot be experienced inside the reserve boundaries. Numerous luxury camps have been built in these outskirts, and provide some wonderful safari activities.
