Masai Mara & Conservancies
Masai Mara Experience
Maasai Mara, also known as Masai Mara and popularly referred to as The Mara by the locals, is one of the largest national game reserves located in the heart of Narok County, Kenya. It shares its borders with Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. The reserve is named after the Maasai people, the area’s indigenous people who migrated there from the Nile Basin. The word “Mara” means “spotted” in the Maasai language, describing the small, bushy trees that are scattered throughout the region.
Masai Mara is home to a variety of wildlife, including lion, leopard, cheetah, and African bush elephants. It is one of Africa’s most significant regions for wilderness and wildlife conservation. Furthermore, it is the site of the Great Migration, which has earned it a spot among the Ten Wonders of the World and the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.
From thrilling encounters with African big cats to the Great Migration the Masai Mara safari is full of thrilling moments.
Every traveller going on a safari must visit the Masai Mara. It’s an amazing experience to witness the golden plains of Africa and its people from a bird’s-eye view by taking a flight. You can also opt for an exciting vehicle safari to have a closer and more personal encounter with the family of lions, zebras, hippos, elephants, wildebeest and other wildlife of the region. The conservancies and Masai Mara National Reserve are truly awe-inspiring and enchanting places that you should not miss.
A lot of individuals including you have a shared aspiration of embarking on an African safari adventure. They envision being surrounded by vast savannahs filled with wildebeest, encountering lions unexpectedly, and feeling their hearts race as they witness a predator chasing its kill. Among the most incredible places to experience this dream is the Masai Mara National Reserve and its conservancies. Let me give some of the reasons of booking with us your next Masai Mara safari.
Information regarding Masai Mara conservancies
If you’re planning to have a Masai Mara Safari during the Great Migration, a hot air balloon safari is a must-do activity. It’s a unique and unforgettable way to witness one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles. We at Bongo Safari are more than ready to fulfill that dream of having a hot air balloon safari during the Masai Mara migration phenomenon. Talk to us anytime and book your next Masai Mara safari with us.
Reasons to visit the Masai Mara?
Imagine yourself standing on a gently rolling savannah that stretches as far as your eyes can see. You see countless zebras and wildebeests grazing peacefully in your eyes. It’s a humbling yet inspiring feeling. The Masai Mara region boasts the world’s largest gathering of wild animals, with over 40% of Africa’s largest mammals residing in this area. However, the Masai Mara is not just vast plains. In addition to the main Masai Mara National Reserve, several Maasai settlements, group ranches, and a dozen community conservancies are situated in this region.
During the migration season, African big cats come to life and have a seemingly endless supply of food to choose from due to the constant stream of migrating prey. This is the time of year when lions, leopards, and cheetahs gain strength and are able to give birth to healthy young who have plenty of food to thrive on. In the Masai Mara, there are numerous lion prides that have been established for many years, with females always present. Male lions can be heard roaring loudly at night to mark their territory against other males, giving warning signs to avoid their area. To witness a lion hunting, it’s best to go on an early morning or late afternoon safari. You might even catch a glimpse of one of the females in action. Experience and discover every aspect of the Masai Mara’s fauna by traveling with Bongo Safari on a Masai Mara Safari.
The Masai Mara Great Migration is an awe-inspiring animal spectacle that occurs every year from July to October. It is hard to believe the sheer number of animals that are scattered across the plains. Every year, more than 1.5 million zebras, wildebeest, and antelopes embark on a migration journey from Serengeti to Masai Mara in search of water and lush pastures. They settle on the sunburned grasses of the rolling savannah. This incredible event is exclusive to the Serengeti and the Masai Mara.
If you are hoping to witness this amazing show at the Masai Mara safari, it is important to remember that: The herds arrive in the Masai Mara in the middle of July and start their perilous journey across the Mara River. When crossing the Mara River, the wildebeest and zebras face a number of threats, including hippos and crocodiles that live on its banks.
From September to October, the limitless grasslands of the Masai Mara are home to an incredible number of wildebeests who are enjoying the fruits of their labor.
The Masai Mara is a popular safari destination in Africa, famous for its stunning wildlife reserves. As of 2024, the park entry fees will be determined based on the number of days visitors spend in the park. Non-residents will have to pay USD USD 100 per day from January 1 to June 30, 2024, and USD USD 200 per day from July 1 onwards. Children between the ages of 9 and 17 will have to pay USD 50 per day, while children under 8 years of age can enter for free.
Visitors can choose from a variety of lodges and tented camps located in or near the reserve, as well as smaller conservancies that border the main reserve. The main reserve is unfenced, allowing animals to roam around freely, even along the Tanzanian border with the Serengeti. The Mara Triangle is located in the western part of the larger reserve and covers one-third of the entire Masai Mara. It has well-maintained gravel roads that are suitable for all weather conditions. Only two permanent lodges – Little Governors Camp and Mara Serena Lodge – share its boundaries, unlike the many camps and lodges on the Narok side.
Regular patrols by rangers prevent poaching and provide excellent game watching opportunities. Furthermore, vehicle counts are strictly regulated during animal sightings, which enhances the game drive experience. While wildlife is present in the Masai Mara throughout the year, most lodges charge higher prices during the Migration season.
The Masai Mara has several airfields.
Mara Serena Airstrip
Musiara Airstrip
Keekorok
Kichwa Tembo
Ngerende Airport
Ol Kiombo
Angama Mara Airstrips
And all these serve several lodges and camps.
Game drives are the most popular activity in the Masai Mara, but visitors can also enjoy hot air balloon rides, nature hikes, picture safaris, and cultural encounters.
Looking for the best Tour company in Kenya well we at Bongo safari can give you a thrilling adventure when you book your Kenyan safari with us.
The Maasai Mara derives its name from the indigenous Maasai people who inhabit the area. In the Maa language, the word ‘Mara’ means ‘spotted’, which describes the short, bushy trees that are scattered all over the landscape. Encompassing an area of nearly 1,510 square kilometers, the Greater Masai Mara ecosystem is bordered by the Serengeti to the south and Maasai ranches to the north, east, and west. While the riverbanks of the region’s three rivers (The Sand, Talek River, and Mara River) are covered with shrubs and trees, the majority of the reserve comprises open grasslands dotted with occasional flat-topped acacia trees. The area experiences two distinct rainy seasons, one in April-May (the long rains) and the other in November-December (the short rains).
The Masai Mara reserve, located in Kenya, is a wildlife sanctuary that boasts a large number of animals. From July to October, the Mara reserve is visited by the blue wildebeest, topi, plains zebra, and Thomson’s gazelle, which migrate from the Serengeti plains and the Loita Plains in the pastoral ranches to the northeast. The reserve is also home to the “Big Five” animals, including the lion, African leopard, African buffalo, African bush elephant, and black and white rhinoceros. However, poaching severely impacted the black rhino populations in the 1970s and early 1980s, with only 15 individuals remaining by the 1990s.
The Masai Mara reserve is also home to Nile crocodiles and hippos in the Mara and Talek rivers, while the plains between the Mara River and the Esoit Siria Escarpment are the best places to observe wildlife, especially lions and cheetahs. The reserve has an abundance of large carnivores, with lions being the most common and abundant. Spotted hyenas are also common and often compete with lions for food, while leopards can be found wherever there are trees to hide from the elements. Cheetahs from East Africa are also found in large numbers on the broad savanna, where they hunt gazelles and wildebeest.
The Masai Mara reserve is home to a variety of other animals, including antelopes such as Coke’s hartebeests, Grant’s gazelles, impalas, and duikers, as well as the unique Masai giraffe. The big roan antelope and the nocturnal bat-eared fox can also be found within the reserve boundaries, and they are rare in other parts of Kenya. Moreover, the reserve is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with nearly 470 species of birds, many of which are migratory.
The Masai Mara is a wildlife sanctuary with a rich history that dates back fifty years. It covers an area of 520 square kilometers, including the Mara Triangle. In 1974, it was designated as a National Reserve, and its size has since increased to 1,510 square kilometers. For generations, the Maasai people have depended on the land for their livelihood and cattle. The reserve’s establishment as a protected area for preserving animals and nature has enabled the Maasai to maintain their way of life and improve their standard of living. The creation of conservancies has also contributed to this development.