Join us for an exhilarating 4-Day Nakuru and Masai lions Mara Safari Package, where you’ll experience the stunning landscapes and incredible wildlife of Kenya.
The Masai Mara National Reserve, often referred to simply as the Masai Mara, is one of Kenya’s most renowned and popular wildlife destinations. Here’s an in-depth look at what makes the Masai Mara special:
1. Overview
- Location: Southwestern Kenya, near the border with Tanzania.
- Size: Approximately 1,510 square kilometers (580 square miles).
- Neighboring Areas: It forms part of the larger Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, which extends into Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.
2. Wildlife
- Great Migration: The Masai Mara is famous for hosting the Great Migration, one of the most spectacular wildlife events on the planet. Every year, from July to October, millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Mara in search of fresh grazing. The migration includes dramatic river crossings and intense predator-prey interactions.
- Big Five: The reserve is home to Africa’s “Big Five” – lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinoceroses. The Mara is particularly known for its large lion prides and elusive leopards.
- Predators: Besides the Big Five, the Masai Mara supports large populations of cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs. The reserve’s ecosystem provides a rich hunting ground for these predators.
- Bird Life: With over 450 bird species, the Mara is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Notable species include the secretary bird, martial eagle, and various types of vultures and storks.
3. Activities
- Game Drives: The primary activity in the Masai Mara, offering guided tours through the reserve in search of wildlife. Early morning and late afternoon drives are best for seeing the most animals.
- Hot Air Balloon Safaris: Provides a unique perspective of the Mara’s landscapes and wildlife from the air. Balloon safaris typically end with a champagne breakfast in the bush.
- Walking Safaris: Guided walks allow for a more intimate experience with the environment and offer opportunities to learn about the flora and smaller wildlife.
- Cultural Visits: Visitors can explore Maasai culture by visiting local Maasai villages, learning about their traditions, crafts, and lifestyle.
4. Accommodation
- Luxury Lodges: High-end lodges offering luxury amenities and exceptional service. Examples include:
- Mahali Mzuri: An exclusive tented camp with stunning views and top-notch service.
- Governors’ Camp: Renowned for its classic safari experience and prime location along the Mara River.
- Mid-Range Lodges: Comfortable lodges with good facilities, such as:
- Mara Serena Safari Lodge: Situated on a hill with panoramic views over the Mara.
- Mara Sopa Lodge: Offers spacious rooms and traditional Kenyan hospitality.
- Budget Camps: More affordable options that still offer a genuine safari experience, like:
- Mara Explorers Camp: Provides a more rustic, tented experience with basic amenities.
5. Best Time to Visit
- Dry Season (June to October): The best time for wildlife viewing, especially for witnessing the Great Migration. The weather is generally dry, and animals are easier to spot.
- Wet Season (November to May): The reserve becomes lush and green, and wildlife viewing can still be excellent. The long rains (March to May) and short rains (November to December) offer fewer crowds and lower prices.
6. Conservation and Community
- Conservation Efforts: The Masai Mara is part of ongoing efforts to preserve wildlife and their habitats. Various conservancies work to involve local communities in conservation activities.
- Community Involvement: Many lodges and camps support Maasai communities through education, healthcare, and other development projects.
7. Tips for Visiting
- Pack Appropriately: Bring layers for varying temperatures, sun protection, and comfortable clothing for game drives. Neutral colors are recommended to blend into the environment.
- Respect Wildlife: Maintain a safe distance from animals, follow your guide’s instructions, and avoid disturbing wildlife.
- Book Early: Especially during peak seasons, early booking ensures better availability and rates for accommodation and activities.
The Masai Mara National Reserve offers a quintessential safari experience with its rich wildlife, stunning landscapes, and opportunities for adventure and cultural immersion.
Itinerary
Leave for Lake Nakuru National Park and proceed on a short game en route to the lodge to arrive in time for lunch. Check in to your lodge for lunch. After lunch relax before embarking on a late afternoon games drive till dusk.
Dinner and overnight stay at your chosen lodge.
Depart for Masai Mara after breakfast and arrive in time for lunch. After lunch relax before embarking on afternoon games drive from 3.30pm till dusk before returning to your lodge at 6.30pm
The afternoon game drive allows spotting of the magnificent wildlife in the park ranging from the big cats such as Lion, Leopard & Cheetah to Rhino, Elephant, and Wildebeest.
Dinner and overnight stay at your chosen lodge/tented camp.
Leave the lodge/tented camp after early morning breakfast for a day long game drive that will involve witnessing the great wildebeest migration besides viewing other wildlife species including members of the big 5 family. Masai Mara is famous for its black mane lions and the annual wildebeest migration.
This is one of Kenya's most visited reserves with an extraordinary density of animals including the Big five and many other wildlife.
Mara River cuts through Mara and Serengeti ecosystems giving life to both reserves before finally pouring out into Lake Victoria. Impressive and most notable is the wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle instinct-led migration from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Mara in Kenya.
You will have a picnic lunch near Mara river and then continue with the game drives arriving at the lodge in the evening.
Dinner and overnight stay at your chosen lodge/tented camp.
Go on an early sunrise game drive, thereafter return to the camp/lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, you will check out of your room with your luggage. There will be time for one final game viewing before you drive out of the park. Your driver will be alert for any extraordinary happenings around the park.
You’ll have an excellent chance to take any last-minute photos and videos. You will also be able to visit any areas of the reserve you had not seen.
After about two hours, you leave the reserve and head for Nairobi with a stopover at Narok town. The Maasai live a conventional life, herding cows for a living. You’ll learn how they construct their huts using soil and cow dung and how they put together their beautiful beadwork.
You will have an excellent chance to purchase souvenirs for your loved ones back home. After a quick lunch at Narok. You will then proceed to Nairobi for your flight back to your country or any other arrangement.