Masai Mara
Masai Mara is the most famous wildlife conservation area in Kenya and indeed the world. This game reserve is home to
a rich variety of wildlife in a natural and untouched state.
Masai Mara has a rolling savannah landscape dotted with shrubs and bush thickets, and is the Kenyan part of the
large ecosystem stretching south to Serengeti in Tanzania.
The wildlife in Masai Mara is varied, ranging from the big cats to elephant, rhino and vast herds of herbivores such
as wildebeest. A true animal kingdom !
Masai Mara Safari
There are several safari options by road to the Masai Mara. These
mostly start from Nairobi, and include a scenic 5 - 6 hour drive into the Great Rift Valley and to the main Sekenani entry point of the Mara.
Accomodation is in lodges or tented camps which offer quality service, rooms, and meals on a full board basis. Safaris are usually for a minimum of 2 nights / 3 days, although it is possible to have a quick one night safari here as well, though this is considered too short for a proper travel experience. Flying Safaris to Mara are also available.
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| Area: 1510 sq km Altitude: 1500 to 2180m [4950-7195 ft] |
| Access from Nairobi: Road : 270 kms ( 5.5-6.5 hours ) Air:60 minutes, daily flights. |
| Location: Masai Mara is in the Rift Valley Province, S. W Kenya and S.E of Lake Victoria. |
| Animals: Prolific wildlife , including the "big 9" and many more carnivores and plains herbivores. |
| Vegetation: Open savannah and light patches of bush, woodland. River forests along the Mara river. |
| Birds: Rich variety , including birds of prey such as vultures commonly found in Masai Mara and other Kenya parks. Other parks in Kenya such as Lake Nakuru however have a more diverse birdlife than the Mara. |
| Accomodation : Several lodges, ranging from luxury to budget as well as campsites within the reserve. |
| Safari Attractions: Wildlife all year round, and the annual wildebeest migration between July and September makes Masai Mara a prime safari location. Entry Fee: Adults: $40 per day: Children: $15 per day for 2008 |
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The Maasai Tribe
This warrior tribe of nomadic pastrolists are descendants of Nilotic and Cushitic people originally from north of Lake Turkana over 10 centuries ago. Their life is dominated by their herds of their cattle and livestock.
They often move hundreds of kilometers with large herds of livestock in search of water and rich pastures. The Masai diet is based on fresh curdled milk and meat from their livestock.
Centuries ago the Maasai were feared as ruthless conquerors and cattle rustlers who invaded other tribal areas in search of bigger grazing land and more cattle. The Maasai are also famous for drinking a mixture of cattle blood and milk during ceremonial rites.
Conservation in the Masai Mara
The Masai Mara has a strong but vulnerable eco system with thousands of tourists annually visiting the reserve , putting pressure on the environment. Conservation in the Mara is of paramount importance, and has been targetted at preservation of the wildlife and environment.
Like most third world countries, Kenya has growing demand for land, with the increasing population ever searching for more space to live and cultivate on. The Mara has it's share of human-animal conflict.
This is an issue being taken up by government, conservation bodies and NGOs. Funds are a major problem when it comes to conservation
and often, organisations involved in conservation bodies depend on charities and donor funding.
