Masai Mara in Kenya is a Top Safari Destination

Introduction to Masai Mara

Masai Mara in Kenya also known as Maasai Mara is a National Reserve located in south west Kenya. It is a vast savannah plain measuring about 1, 510 Km2 bordering the great Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the south. It is named after the ancestral natives of the area the Maasai who described the area as Mara which means spotted circles of trees, scrub, savanna. The Masai Mara National Reserve was established in 1961 as a wildlife sanctuary.

Masai Mara is a unique wildlife conservation together with Serengeti offer an extra ordinary kind of experience where there is that Great Migration in Masai Mara normally a group of up to about 1.5 million wildbeests move about from Serengeti to Masai Mara and from Masai Mara to Serengeti each July through October.

In Masai Mara all great and famous animals are found in the national reserve such as Lions, Elephants, Buffalo, Rhino, Cheetah, Zebra, Giraffe and many more animals are found in the park in their natural habitat where animals are free to move freely in the vast Kenyan plains.

Cultural Significance

The Masai Mara National Reserve is culturally significant to Kenya because it is around the home of the native Maasai people whose culture is deeply linked with the National Reserve. The Maasai people both in Tanzania and Kenya are well known for keeping their traditions intact. The Maasai people over time have become part of the whole tourism and travel industries.

Spiritual Connection

The Maasai people have a spiritual connection to nature which in this case it is the National Reserve and can live in harmony with the wildelife. The Maasai people being nomadic allows them to live with nature in a good ecosystem.

Ecological Consciousness

The Maasai people being nomadic or semi nomadic carry out their traditional activities which are in balance with nature. The Maasai people use the National Reserve for many of their traditional activities such as herbs for medicinal use without causing deforestation, they hunt lions to meet certain rites in their culture without depopulating the lions and in fact their lion hunting activity keeps the lions population balanced.

Touristic attractions

The Masai Mara National Reserve is a top safari destination because of a number of realities and features found in the reserve. The most striking feature is obviously the Great Migration, wildlife, and landscape among others.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration is a phenomenon activity that takes place each year between two neighboring sites namely Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. This great event takes place each year from July to October. In this event about 1.5 million wildebeests migrate from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. This migration creates a dramatic spectacle which is indeed an amazing event to witness.

Wildlife and Landscape

The Masai Mara National Reserve accommodate a wide variety of animals including Elephants, Rhinos, Leopards, Buffalos, Lions, Zebra, antelopes, and many other kinds. Moreover, tourists are attracted by the beautiful landscape of the National Reserve featuring the savannahs, hills and rivers.

Services to tourists

Masai Mara is among great safari destinations in Africa. Tourists both local and international ones are very much welcome to the National Reserve. The Masai Mara National Reserve provides a number of services to tourists. The services include: luxury safari lodges and camps, bush lunches and nature walks, horse back safaris, hot air ballon rides, birding safaris and game drives.

Game drives and birding safaris

In Masai Mara National Reserve there is an opportunity to explore the reserve rich landscape in a 4×4 vehicle while accompanied by experienced guides for safety of both tourists and animals as well. Moreover, for those with the interest of viewing different families of birds, there is an opportunity of doing so while accompanied by trained guides.

Horseback safaris and hot air balloon rides

For tourists who are interested by safaris on a horse back there is that avenue to do so of which tourists can see wildlife such as elephants, antelopes, zebra and once again the visitors’ safety will be ensured by by through the accompaniment of experienced guides. Furthermore, for those with the interest of a ride of a hot air balloon, they can have a bird’s eye view of the plains and serve a beautiful look of the animals.

Luxury safari lodges and camps, bush lunches and nature walks

In the National Reserve there are some luxury safari lodges and camps and through such facilities you and all other visitors can have a great experience of the African wilderness. Moreover, the bush lunches and natural walks while accompanied by trained and well experienced guides gives you and other visitors an extraordinary experience in the national reserve.

Economic benefits to the local population

The Masai Mara National Reserve has significance to Kenya’s economy. The Reserve is an important partner in the travel and tourism industries. Moreover, through the site community development becomes possible through the collected revenues.

Travel and Tourism

The Masai Mara accounts for almost a quarter to all Kenya wildlife, and together with the Serengeti, has that fascinating event of wildebeest migration which attracts a huge number of visitors. The entrance fees, and other fees contribute greatly to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Creation of Job Opportunities

The different activities taking place in the reserve, the many services in Masai Mara create job opportunities to youth and other qualified individuals and so ensuring revenue flow in the communities around. Some of the jobs created include: guides, drivers, cooks, hoteliers, translators, interpreters to mention but just a few.

Community Development

The Masai Mara National Reserve has a conservation program which in cooperation with the local community of the Maasai people. The program helps in conserving the national reserve and animals which in turn attracts revenues to the community and to the travel and tourism industries.

Conclusion on Masai Mara

It is my hope that the article has given you some insights on Masai Mara National Reserve. The literature on the same is large as the site itself is full of information and events. You have seen that it is an important site to the Kenyan economy as about a quarter of all wildlife in the country is found there. You have learnt of the services that are provided at the site and it is safe for you to visit and enjoy the experience of Masai Mara in your life.

Frequently Asked Questions on Masai Mara in Kenya

Masai Mara is an interesting site that attracts lots of individuals who want to know about wildlife and those with curious minds to learn. The theme attracts a number of questions on the internet and search engines. Here are some of the questions asked by readers of this subject:

1. What services can I get in Masai Mara today?
2. What are the Masai Mara packages?
3. How good are the Masai Mara hotels?
4. Where can I buy a hard copy of Masai Mara map?
5. How Beautiful is a Masai Mara safari?
6. What are Masai Mara safari prices for a day?
7. Which County is Maasai Mara located?
8. Best time to visit Masai Mara?
9. How far is Masai Mara from Serengeti?
10. How far is Masai Mara from mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania?