Masai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara National Reserve

This Is The Finest Reserve In Kenya. All The Big Game Is Here: Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah And Buffalo Are Prevalent, Along With Black Rhino. Other Commonly Sighted Species In- Elude Zebra, Wildebeest, Thomson’s Gazelle, Eland, And Masa’ Giraffe. This Is The Only Place In Kenya Where Topi Are Common Masai Mara National Reserve, A Northern Extension Of The Serengeti Plains (Tanzania), Is Located Southwest Of Nairobi And Covers 590 Square Miles (1530 Km2) Of Open Plains, Acacia Wood¬lands, And Riverine Forest Along The Banks On The Mara And Talek Rivers, Which Are Home For Many Hippos, Crocs And Waterfowl.
One Of The Best Places To Look For Game Is In The Mara Triangle In The Western Part Of The Reserve, Bounded By The Siria (Esoit Oloololo) Escarpment Rising About 1000 Feet (305 M) Above The Plains On The West, The Tanzanian Border To The South And The Mara River To The East. A Multitude Of Savannah Animals Can Be Found On These Open Grasslands.
Lion Are Distributed Throughout The Park. Cheetah Are Most Often Seen On The Short Grass Plains. Black Rhino Are Most Highly Concentrated In The Olmisigiyoi Region In The Center Of The Park, In The Northwest And Extreme East Parts Of The Park; There Are No Rhino In The Mara Triangle.

The Best Time To Visit Is During The Serengeti Migration From Approximately Mid/Late-July To Mid-September When Great Herds Of Wildebeest (1.4 Million) And Zebra (400,000) Reside In The Mara And Northern Tanzania Before Returning To Serengeti National Park. At This Time Prides Of 40 Or More Lion May Be Seen. From The Serengeti Of Tanzania, A Major Portion Of The Migration Moves Northwest Toward Lake Victoria, Then North Across The Mara River Into Kenya In Search Of Grass, Usually Returning To Tanzania In Mid-September/Early October.
Over A Period Of Three Days During A Recent Visit, We Saw Wild Dog, Five Rhino, Several Lion, Spotted Hyena, A Herd Of 40 Elephant And Several Smaller Herds, Buffalo, Masai Giraffe, Black-Backedjackal, Wildebeest, Zebra, Topi, And Ostrich, Among Other Species.

In The Mara Triangle And The Northwestern Part Of The Park, Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicles Are Recommended. There Are Two Flights A Day From Nairobi Servicing The Park. Keekorok Lodge Is Located About 170 Miles (275 Km) And The Mara Serena About 210 Miles (340 Km) From Nairobi.

Fishing Safaris By Private Air Charter To Rusinga Island On Lake Victoria Are Available From All The Camps (Book In Advance). Accommodation - All Lodges And Camps Listed Below Either Conduct Hot-Air Balloon Safaris Or Will Take You To Where One Is Being Offered. Many Guests Fly Into The Mara (Highly Recom¬mended) And Are Taken Game Viewing InFour-Wheel-Drive Ve¬hicles (Preferably) Or Minivans. Most Camps And Lodges Are A Five-To-Six-Hour Drive From Nairobi.

Accommodation In The Reserve - Class A: * Little Governor’s Camp, Located In The Northwest Part Of The Park On The Mara River, Has 17 Tents With Facilities Ensuite. Guests Reach The Camp From Governor’s (Main) Camp By Crossing The Mara River. * Governor’s Camp, Located A Few Miles From Little Governor’s Camp On The Mara River, Has 38 Tents With Ensuite Facilities, Excellent Food And Service, Is A Semipermanent Camp (The Location Changes) With 20 Tents With Facilities Ensuite. * Mara Intrepids Club Is Situated On The Talek River And Has 27 Deluxe Tents With Four-Poster Beds, Ensuite Facilities, And Swimming Pool. Groups Of Two To Four Tents Share A Private Mess Tent With Bar And Refrigerator. Walks Are Offered In The Adjacent Masai Land. Class A/B: * Governor’s Paradise Camp, Situated Between Governor’s And Little Governor’s Camps, Operates In The Dry Season Only And Has 20 Tents With Flush Toilets And Bush (Bucket) Showers. * Keekorok Lodge Is An Old-Style Lodge With 72 Rooms And 12 Tents With Private Facilities And Swimming Pool. * Olkurruk Mara Lodge Has 63 Deluxe Rondavels With Ensuite Facilities, Overlooking The “Mara Triangle” Next To The Esoit Oloololo Escarpment. * Mara Serena Lodge, Located In The Central Western Part Of The Park, Has 78 Rooms With Private Facilities And Swimming Pool.

Class B: * Mara Sopa Lodge, Located On The Eastern Border Of The Park High On A Ridge Overlooking The Mara Near Olola-Imutiek Gate, Has 72 Rooms With Facilities Ensuite, Swimming Pool And Excellent Food. * Sarova Mara Camp Has 75 Tents With Private Facilities And Swimming Pool.

Accommodation On The Periphery Of The Re¬serve - Class A: * Sekenani Camp, Located Just Outside The Park Near The Sekenani Gate, Has 19 Luxury Tents With Private Facilities Including Full-Length Bathtubs. Walks Escorted By Mai Are Offered In The Sekenani Valley And The Surrounding Hills. * Mara Safari Club Is A Deluxe Tented Camp (40 Tents) Located North Of The Park And Surrounded On Three Sides By The Mara River At The Base Of The Aitong Hills,

Class A/B: * Kichwa Tembo Camp Has 45 Tents And Six Rondovels With Private Facilities And Swimming Pool. * Siana Springs Camp Has 38 Tents With Facilities Ensuite. Walks, Day And Night Game Drives Are Offered.

Class B/C: * Mara River Camp, A Rustic Camp Located On The Banks Of The Mara River, Has 27 Tents With Ensuite Facilities. * Fig Tree Camp, Located On The Talek River, Has Chalets And Tents (100 Beds Total) With Facilities Ensuite And Swimming Pool. Walks, Day And Night Game Drives Are Offered.

Camping: Sites Are Located Outside The Park Along The Talek River.