Maasai Mara National Reserve
Overview
Masai Mara National Reserve is located in south west Kenya and is a vast scenic expanse of gently rolling African savannah plains measuring 1510 square kilometers in area and bordering the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the south. Masai Mara is a unique wildlife conservation haven famous for its spectacular natural diversity of wildlife and is the premier Kenya Safari location in East Africa, offering visitors numerous reasons to visit this animal paradise. Large numbers of Lions, Cheetah, Elephant, Rhino, African Buffalo, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Zebra and many more animals are found in the park in their natural habitat, unconfined and free to roam the vast Kenyan wilderness stretching for miles on end.
It is no surprise that tourists from the world over travel here to experience a Masai Mara Safari tour, more so as the reserve has been voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Regarding the origin of the name, the word 'Masai' comes from the Maasai tribe, nomadic inhabitants of the area and the word 'Mara' is their word for 'spotted', referring to the ubiquitous flat topped acacia trees, shrubs and bushes that dot the landscape across most of the reserve.
Attractions
The most thrilling of the activities has to be the Hot Air Balloon safari, taken at the break of dawn and ending with a leisurely 'Champagne Bush Breakfast'. This is a truly unique adventure activity and the Mara provides the perfect backdrop for the amazing balloon excursion. The flight lasts for about an hour as you glide gracefully over the African savannah watching the magnificent wildlife below. The pilots are highly experienced and the activity boasts of an exceptional safety record. Another popular experience is visiting a traditional tribal Maasai village which allows visitors a fascinating insight into the unique way of life of the famous Maasai, a nomadic warrior tribe found in Kenya and parts of East Africa. There are also nature walks, bush meals and sundowners as some of the other popular things to do in Masai Mara as a tourist visiting this reserve.
The reserve has a magnificent collection of wildlife and it is quite possible to spot not just the 'Big Five' as often mentioned widely, but also infact the 'Big Nine', to include the Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Girrafe, Zebra, Cheetah and Hippo. It is quote possible that due to the nature and richness of flora and fauna in the national park, one can see all of the above animals not just in a single 2-3 hour game drive, but also with a little more luck, within an hour of your drive in the reserve. The section above lists photos and brief information on some of the amazing wildlife and animals that you will find in Masai Mara including a list of Birds commonly seen here. The game reserve is quite the animal kingdom and likely the very best place to see an amazing eco system of African wildlife in the wilderness.
How to get there
International air travel
The recommended port of entry, when travelling to the Masai Mara, is Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) in Nairobi. NBO Airport serves as East Africa's biggest hub and as a result many convenient flight options are available. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Kenya Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Swiss all operate flights from a multitude of major airports around the world. Also many regional flights options (including flights to neighbouring countries and Southern African destinations) are available.
Domestic air travel
The favoured route for a Masai Mara fly-in safari is by flying from Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL). From here it is a short (between 45 and 60 minutes) flight to the Mara. For this reason, flying into the Masai Mara is our recommended mode of travel. Although road conditions have improved in recent years, there are still considerable stretches of road that are in very poor condition. There are several airstrips in and around the Masai Mara for you to fly into. Which one you fly into will depend on where you decide to stay during your safari. Flights to the Mara are operated by airlines such as SafariLink and AirKenya. Upon your arrival at the airstrip closest to your accommodation, a safari vehicle will be waiting to take you to your Masai Mara safari lodge. The good news is... you are now in the Masai Mara – so you can start spotting wild animals by air during your flight and on the ground while in the safari vehicle taking you to your camp. Read all about flights to Masai Mara.
It is also possible to fly from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Tanzania. There are also direct flights (mostly in high season) from the Kenyan coast (Mombasa and Diani) and other national parks in Kenya such Amboseli National Park and Samburu National Reserve.
Most important Masai Mara airstips
Here is a quick list of the major airstrips located in the Masai Mara:
Keekorok
Serena
Musiara
Mara North
Ol Kiombo
Getting to the Masai Mara by road
Masai Mara drive-in safaris
The most common way to travel to the Masai Mara by road is by booking a guided drive-in safari. Drive-in safaris start from Nairobi and allow you to include multiple other destinations in Kenya besided the Masai Mara. Extended classic Kenya safari itineraries usually include overnight stays in Amboseli National Park and Lake Nakuru National Park. Please contact us if you are interested in an extended safari itinerary, we are happy to assist!
Masai Mara self-drive safaris
Although not recommended, the Masai Mara is accessible when travelling by (rental) vehicle. Please keep in mind that careful planning is necessary when driving yourself. A 4x4 vehicle is required to access all roads throughout the year. Kindly note that we do not assist self driving visitors.
Masai Mara National Reserve gates
Once you reach the Masai Mara National Reserve there are several entry gates. It is important to take the correct gate into the National Reserve to save time getting to your accommodation. There are five main gates leading into the Masai Mara National Reserve: Sand River, Talek, Sekenani, Musiara and Oloololo. These final two gates are a bit further away and will take an additional 30 minutes to reach in comparison to the other gates. All gates open at 6.00 AM in the morning and all gates close at 6.00 PM in the evening.
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