Location of Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Location of Maasai mara national reserve is a very first question for the first traveler to the reserve on a Kenya safari. And getting the answer to this question this will guide the traveler to have the perfect Kenya safari. Africa Vacation Safari offers you all the information about the location of Maasai Mara national reserve. Maasai Mara national reserve is located in the southern part of Kenya along the Great Rift Valley area, in Narok County that is less kilometers away from the main and largest Maasai town Narok. The reserve is located only 224 kilometers way from Nairobi the capital city of Kenya. Maasai mara national reserve and Serengeti national park are the two safari destinations that are part of the world’s oldest ecosystem that is Mara-Serengeti Ecosystem. Mara-Serengeti is one of the largest ecosystems in Africa that covers an area of approximately 25,000 square kilometers. Maasai mara national reserve is located in the semi-arid area that is majorly covered by the open savannah grassland dotted with the circles of the Acacia trees, it’s bordered by the Great Rift Valley Escarpments to the East Siria (Esoit) on the west, then the Maasai ranches on the North, and then Serengeti national park to the south. Maasai mara national reserve is drained by the three rivers and these include Sand River, Talek River and then Mara River.
History of Maasai mara national reserve.
Maasai mara national reserve is known as the largest and then protected area that is located in the Narok County. The reserve is managed and then protected by the Maasai locals compared to other national parks that are managed and protected by the Kenya Wildlife Services. The name Maasai Mara originated and was to honor the Maa people that occupy the land that the reserve is located. The Maa people are the ancestral inhabitants of the Maasai land where they described the topography of the land using the local language Maa as the ‘’Mara’’ that means looked from far. On a Kenya safari with African Vacation Safaris; Maasai mara national reserve is one of the outstanding protected areas not only attracted by only Africans but the reserve attracts tourists from all over the world to have the exceptional experience. Maasai mara national reserve was established during 1961 as a wildlife sanctuary that was covering an area of 520 square kilometers, than later the reserve was declared as a national reserve during the year 1974 and later more land was added to the reserve thus during 1976 the reserve had an area of about 1510 square kilometers until today and this gave the reservation to have enough land for the wildlife to inhabit the reserve.
Accessing the Maasai Mara national reserve being in a great location that is approximately from 5 to 6 hours from Nairobi the capital city in Kenya that is the park has can accessed by both the road and air transport.
Road transport, Maasai mara national reserve being about 224 kilometers in the South western part of Nairobi along the Great Rift Valley region of Kenya. The reserve can be reached by the road transport where you will pass through the Narok town that is located less kilometers from the reserve. On a Kenya safari to Maasai mara national reserve you can book a safari through a reputable operator like African Vacation Safaris that will save you from the exhaustion of booking accommodation, transportation and others. African Vacation Safaris will offer you full package safaris with accommodation, transport, safari guides, and entrances and among others. During the road transport you will have the stopovers especially at the viewing points of the Great Rift Valley through the smooth road. No matter how the driving distance from Nairobi to Maasai mara national reserve is a bit along but its scenic and rewarding that is worth it that will offer you the fascinating experience.
Flight transport; Maasai mara national reserve can as well be reached by the air transport that is the quickest way to reach the reserve. This is where your African Vacation Safaris guide will pick you from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or from your hotel in Nairobi and then he will transfer you to Wilson Airport in Nairobi for your flight to Maasai mara, there are always domestic flights that are operated by the wide range of the domestic private aircraft and this takes you about one hour to reach the reserve.; along the flight you will catch the incredible aerial views. Maasai mara national reserve has various airstrips that are located inside the reserve. And these includes Maasai Mara Airstrip, Kichwa Tembo Airstrip, Shikar Airstrip and among others and once you land, your hotel tour guide will pick you and transfer you to your lodge. Maasai mara national reserves are maintained by the various domestic airlines like Safari link, Air Kenya, Mombasa Air Safari and among others. On a combined safari Maasai mara national reserve is connected from various safari destinations across East Africa that includes Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi with the direct flights that makes your safari the most rewarding one. Depending on your budget during your safari to Maasai mara national park both air and road transport can guide you to reach the reserve with the rewarding opportunities during your way to the reserve.
The location of Maasai Mara national reserve being very favorable to every traveler that is from the capital city Nairobi; some tourists can opt to do the shortest 2 day Maasai mara Fly in safari, 3 days, 5 day Maasai mara with a hot air balloon safari and among others. However Maasai mara is close to other attractive safari destinations that can be combined with the nearest destinations including Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru national park as well as crossing to Serengeti national park that takes you about 6 days Maasai Mara and Serengeti safari or more that offers you the incredible safari experience. For the best advice and plan to visit Maasai mara national reserve, contact us at African Vacation Safaris you will not get disappointed.