Things to do in Masai Mara national reserve

Things to do in Masai Mara national reserve

Things to do in Masai Mara national reserve : Masai Mara national reserve is a large ecosystem situated in Narok county of Kenya in the rift valley province, Masai Mara national reserve is locally known Masai Mara and it is a renowned home for an exceptional population of animals such as zebra, Thomson gazelles, antelopes, lions, leopards, elephants and many more.  The reserve is part of the great Mara ecosystem consisting of many areas such as the Masai Mara national reserve, the Mara triangle, and many conservancies including Koiyaki, Lemek, Ol Chorro, Oirowua, Olkinyei, Siana, Maji Moto, Naikara, Ol Derkesi, Kerinkani, Oloirien and Kimitent.

Masai Mara national reserve offers many safari experiences which you can participate in as a tourist on a safari in the reserve and these include

GAME DRIVES

Masai Mara national reserve is a renowned habitant for a wide-range of different species of wildlife, the park is a home to huge population animals including the big five such as lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos which peacefully thrive in the plains of the reserve. Other animals in the park include oribis, spotted hyenas, giraffes, gazelles, hippos, hartebeests, zebras, antelopes, crocodiles and many more. Masai Mara national reserve is ranked one of the best places for viewing the wildlife which is the major highlight in the reserve, game drives offer you an opportunity to tour various regions of the reserve while enjoying sights of many beautiful animals and get to take amazing pictures.

Game drives in Masai Mara national reserve are offered in three categories that is morning game drive, afternoon game drive and night game drives,

  Morning game drive

Morning game drives in Masai Mara national reserve begin as early as 06 am so as to catch sunrise, morning game drive is  a rewarding experience as you find most the animas very active and in large numbers. Also you get to see big cats such as lions and leopards hunting for their prey that is small antelopes and many others.

    Afternoon game drive  

Afternoon game drive in Masai Mara national reserve usually start after lunch from 2:00 pm up to 6:30 pm, this session offers you sights of many animals as they crowd watering holes to drink some water.

   Night game drive

Night game drives in Masai Mara national reserve are done in the night hours, this experience starts at 6:00 am to the dark hours of the night. This experience is done with a help of a guide and a spot light which help you spot animals easily, night game drives are the perfect time to see large animals like lions, leopards as they track their preys.

Nature walks

Masai Mara national reserve is a naturally gifted paradise with breathtaking panoramic views, the reserve consists of a series of vegetation cover including savannah grassland and forest galleries.  Masai Mara national reserve consists of many trails which are used to tour the park on foot, as you walk in the short savannah grasslands you get to encounter many animals such as antelopes, lions, wildebeests, hartebeests, elands, oribis, elephants, buffaloes and many more most especially when you visit Mara river. As you walk in the park you also get to see many birds such as ostriches, storks, ibises, spoonbill, ducks, geese, herons, egrets, pelicans and many more.

Hot air balloon safaris

Hot air balloon safaris is one of the incredible experiences offered in Masai Mara national reserve  and a once in a lifetime experience offering the best experience of touring Masai Mara ecosystem, this safari offers an eye’s view of Masai Mara national reserve  and many animals such as antelopes, lions, wildebeests, hartebeests, elands, oribis, elephants, buffaloes and many more. This experience is offered by three safari companies and the mostly used company operates hot air balloon expeditions from governor’s camp, the experience starts from the camp where the balloon raises into the air of an adventurous experience of 1-2 hours. Hot air balloon safari is a very rewarding experience offering you aerial views of the park, birds such as great egrets, heron, hamerkop, sacred Ibis, tawny eagle, kori bustard, Africa fish eagle and animals, the experience also offers great photographic opportunities.

 Cultural tours

Masai Mara national reserve is more than wildlife and beautiful scenery, it also offers cultural tours which is a great chance for a tourist to enjoy and witness the African lifestyle, traditions, norms and culture. Cultural tours in Masai Mara national reserve takes you on a visit to Masai community, Masai people are nomadic pastoral people and one of the outstanding communities with highly conserved and amazing culture, traditions and norms. These people depend on rearing cattle and other livestock, they live in homesteads of 50 traditional houses built in a true Masai life style surrounding a large kraal. As you visit Masai community you will be entertained by local Masai dances and songs, you get to participate in activities like building of local houses using local materials such as mud, trees and grass, milking of cows, participating in cultural dances, how to get fresh blood from cattle and many more.

Horseback riding

Horseback riding is one of the most ecological ways of touring Masai Mara national reserve, this safari experience is not mostly offered in many national parks but Masai Mara national reserve is exceptional destination. This experience is offered on the back of the horse which is one of the most safest ways of touring as it emits no fumes or sounds, horse backing riding offers you a tour in the scenic landscape of Masai Mara national reserve while enjoying views of animals living in the park such as giraffes, hartebeests, wildebeests, antelopes, elands, lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and many more. This experience also offers you a chance to get close to the animals in the park.

Sighting the wildebeest migration

Wildebeest is one of the wonderful and exciting occurrences of wildlife migration in the world, the migration involves the movement of a huge population of animals that is hundreds of wildebeests, and gazelles lead by zebras. This spectacular and memorable occurrence takes place in the period of July – October as animals cross from Serengeti national park of Tanzania to Masai Mara, wildebeest migration depends on the pattern of the rain and involves, calving where many wildebeest calves are born, predator action as predators like lions, leopards and many fed on the calves and river crossing when the animals cross river Mara. Sighting the wildebeest migration is one of the memorable experience you can witness in the history of wildlife.

Best time to visit Masai Mara national reserve

Masai Mara national reserve is one of the best destinations in Tanzania for wildlife viewing which is one of the highlights in the park, the best time to visit Masai Mara national reserve is in the dry season experienced in the period of July to October. In the dry season it is easy to see animals as they crowd at water sources to drink water, and also animals are easy to see because the grass cover is short and the routes used while on game viewing experience are dry.

Where to stay in Masai Mara national reserve

While in Masai Mara national reserve for a safari accommodation is got from Ashnil Mara camp, Angama Mara, Mara Serena safari lodge, Keekorok lodge, Olumara tented camp, maraBush camp, Fairmount Mara safari club, Esikar gardens hotel, Maendeleo Parkview hotel, Mara frontier hotel and many more. These hotels, lodges and camps offers you amazing stay through comfortable rooms, meals and other facilities such as restaurant, bar and many more.