Masai Mara National Reserve offers an absolutely unique variety of animals. The gentle rolling hills and plains make spotting wildlife very easy. The park is also home to a large variety of birds. Over 450 varieties of birds have been recorded out of which as many as 57 are birds of prey! The rivers Mara and Telek intersect the reserve and they are full of hippos and crocodiles. The banks of the rivers are covered in thick forest that gradually makes way for bush and grassland.
The Masai Mara is actually contiguous to the Tanzanian Serengeti National Park and has the largest collection of wild animals in the whole of Africa.
There is a particularly dramatic “spectacle” from July to October – the annual migration of huge herds of gnus and zebras. Predators such as hyenas, jackals, leopards and lions of course, closely follow these herds. During the migration season, you can see a live display of the drama called “the survival of the fittest.” Gigantic herds of over 200 buffaloes can also be observed. Plenty of food is available for elephants, giraffes, and the many species of antelopes and gazelles all of which can be observed in their natural habitat. This is one of the definitive experiences of your East African sojourn and is not to be missed.
The Masai Mara National Reserve lies about 300 km from Nairobi and it is a five hour drive. You could also fly to Masai Mara in any of the scheduled flights. The reserve is a 40 – 45 minutes flight from Wilson Airport, Nairobi. The Masai Mara National Reserve is spread our over 1,510 sq km.
