What to see in Maasai Mara National Reserve?
Maasai Mara National Reserve, which is a vast area of wilderness in Kenya, may be the most incredible of safaris in Africa. You can hardly take a step without being confronted by another breathtaking view of nature, from the dramatic settings to the exceptional abundance of wildlife.
Unlike many parks across the continent where only a hint of the ecosystem is experienced, the Mara is one of those rare places that takes you straight into a dominant and vibrant natural ecosystem. For the first-timer, getting an idea of where to focus your attention will make for an immersive experience that perfectly blends the excitement of being a hunter in search of the Big Five with an enjoyment of the overwhelming cultural and natural backdrop. Quite simply, what you see in the Mara is a living natural history documentary happening before your very eyes.
The Big Residents: Africa’s Big Five and the Big Cats
The Maasai Mara is perhaps the easiest place in East Africa to tick off a Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros. As you will discover, the Big Five is a phrase originally produced by big-game hunters to refer to the five hardest animal species to hunt on foot that has now become the ultimate checklist for a safari.
Lions are the clear favorites of the Mara. With one of the highest lion densities in the world, sightings of them are practically a given. You will see pride after pride of lions—including tumbling, playful cubs and impressive, maned males—resting on rocky outcrops called kopjes or snoozing on the open plains. The Mara is known for its large prides of lions, providing fantastic opportunities to observe their social behavior.
The elephants are in greater numbers and exhibit matriarchal family structures, roaming around in large herds. There is something very special about watching these gentle giants socialize, dust themselves, or drink at a waterhole. Cape buffalo can also be seen in enormous herds, particularly around water, and their presence enhances the grassland scenery. The elusive leopard will take a little more patience and luck, as they are effective nocturnal hunters and tend to be seen at dawn or dusk, lazily draping over a tree branch, their spots blending perfectly into the foliage of the riverine forests.
The rarest of the five to be seen is the black rhinoceros. The Mara is still home to this critically endangered species and is one of the protected areas where you will actually have a chance to see them, especially in the less explored and bushy areas of the Mara Triangle. For any visitor, being able to find all five at the same time—a “Big Five Safari”—is the ultimate success.
However, in addition to the Big Five, the Mara is also known as the “Capital of the Big Cats.” The Reserve offers some of the best chances in the world of spotting the Cheetah, which loves the open plains, often allowing for thrilling high-speed chases while they hunt gazelles and wildebeest.
The World’s Greatest Show: The Great Migration.
No conversation about the Mara would be complete without mentioning the annual Great Migration. This phenomenal migration of over 2 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle in search of fresh grazing is an attraction unto itself. The migration reaches the Maasai Mara typically between July and October and it is the primary attraction for international tourism.
Without a doubt, one of the most dramatic sights is the mystical Mara River crossing; an ancient instinct draws the thousands of herds, most notably the wildebeests, to the riverbanks to wait, for days at times, for the instinctual push to cross the crocodile-infested waters. At this moment, you are witnessing pure, raw nature: a thunderous, dust-filled spectacle of life, death, and survival.
Witnessing a crossing, or even the continuous lines of animals marching together across the plains, is an experience that is both awe-inspiring and humbling; at the same time, it defines the very essence of the African wild. Many times the mass of resident wildlife in the Mara, even outside of the main migration months, is amazing, but witnessing the migration itself is like no other experience.
Landscapes and Geographical Features.
The Mara isn’t just about the animals either; the gorgeous wonderland of scenery that the reserve has to offer is such an important part of this experience, since the landscapes are different and give the Mara its extraordinary feel, look, and identity. The Maasai word “Mara” means “spotted” to describe the patchwork of short-grass plains with scattered acacia trees with shadows from the clouds and the rock formations that peak through the grass.
The expansive golden plains of the Maasai Mara are what you picture when you think of an African safari. These grassy plains are open and provide no obstruction for viewing the game or capturing the typical wide-angle photograph. Also, the Mara River is a popular attraction, as it is the lifeline that meanders through the reserve and provides a rich tapestry of thick Riverine Forest along its banks.
These Riverine Forests provide prime habitat for leopards, monkeys and an amazing number of birds. In terms of photography and panoramic views of the surrounding area, the Oloololo Escarpment (also referred to as the Siria Escarpment) at the western boundary of the Mara offers incredible views. Standing on the edge of the escarpment, you can look out over the entire Mara Triangle, which is significant for its splendor and brings this wilderness to scale.
Aquatic Life and Avian Wonders.
Although the Big Cats steal the show, the Mara River and nearby riverbanks provide compelling sights of the water pilgrimage. The river hosts large aquatic pods of Hippos that spend their days submerged in the cool water only to occasionally rise to the surface to fight for possession. Huge Nile Crocodiles lie in wait on the mud-covered riverbanks for their moment to eat the annual feast during the migration.
The Mara is a paradise for bird lovers, with over 570 species noted. You will see birds of prey like the Martial Eagle and vultures soaring overhead, an important cleanup crew of the savannah. That’s just the beginning! On the ground, the colors of a Lilac-Breasted Roller or the ridiculous walk of a Secretary Bird will provide endless reasons for your photo-taking finger to be ready. You will see beauty comes in all forms and sizes in the Mara.
The Culture—and the Conservancies.
To really get to know the Maasai Mara, you need to get to know the people the reserve is named after. Visiting a traditional Maasai Village (Manyatta) will provide one of the most unique cultural glimpses of this famously proud, semi-nomadic group. Your initiation will include their welcome dance, insight into daily options, beadwork, and connection of their life dependent on wildlife health and safety and anthropological significance. This cultural interchange is a rare encounter, connecting you with the human part of this ancient land.
Finally, the Private Conservancies adjacent to the main reserve are worth a visit because they provide yet another different and more exclusive safari experience. The Conservancies are community-owned lands that have been leased for conservation. Since they are a separate land area, there tend to be fewer vehicles, allowing for activities prohibited in the main reserve, such as night drives and walking safaris.
Observing the wildlife in these less-crowded areas gives you an opportunity to have a more personal and quieter experience with the treasures of the Mara with African Vacation Safaris.