Masai Mara National Reserve: The Heart of Kenya Wildlife Viewing Safaris
Masai Mara National Reserve also known as the Mara, is one of the most popular safari destinations in Africa. The Mara is located in Narok, Kenya, contiguous with Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park – creating a large conservation area that inhabits large numbers of wildlife all year round. The Reserve derives its name from the local people ‘‘Maasai’’ who are the ancestral inhabitants of the area, said to have migrated to the area from the Nile Basin. The word ‘‘Mara’’ means ‘‘spotted’’ in the local Maasai Language – this describes the area when looked at from a far. The vast wilderness of Masai Mara National Reserve encompasses short bushy trees that dot the landscape – thus the name Mara.
Masai Mara is one of the wildlife conservation and wilderness areas in Africa, boasting large populations of wildlife species including lions, leopards, cheetahs, rhinos, and elephants. Masai Mara National Reserve is also known for its spectacular Great Wildebeest Migration, where millions of mammal grazers especially wildebeest enter the reserve from the neighboring Serengeti National Park, due to a long round trek od dry lands in Tanzania. The Wildebeest Migration which secured it as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, and as one of the ten Wonders of the World. The Greater Mara-Serengeti ecosystem which includes Masai Mara National Reserve is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its outstanding universal value for biodiversity and natural environment.
All you need to know about Masai Mara National Reserve: History & Facts about Masai Mara National Reserve
The Masai Mara was first established in 1961 as a wildlife sanctuary, which covered only 520km² of the current area including the Mara Triangle. In 1961, the area was extended to cover 1821km² and declared a Game Reserve. The Game Reserve was then given the National Reserve status in 1974, and the remaining area of 159km² was given back to the local communities. Another 162km² were removed from the reserve in 1976, and by 1984, the size of the reserve was reduced to 1510km². As of today, the Masai Mara National Reserve covers 1510km².
The Maasai people one of the most popular tribes in Kenya once occupied the areas covered by the Reserve, before its establishment. On top of the conservation efforts, other factors like smallpox outbreaks among the people as well as rinderpest outbreaks among the cattle also contributed to their eviction from the Reserve.
Wildebeest Migration in Masai Mara
The Wildebeest Migration in the Masai Mara is one of the most awe-inspiring natural phenomena on Earth. Each year, over 1.5 million wildebeests, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, embark on a perilous journey across the African savannah. This incredible spectacle, known as the Great Migration, has fascinated wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and adventurers for decades. The Masai Mara, located in southwestern Kenya, is one of the most famous locations to witness this epic migration, which takes place between the Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. It is a profound demonstration of nature’s rhythms, survival, and interconnectedness of species in Africa’s most iconic ecosystems.
What makes the wildebeest to migrate? – The Origins of the Migration
Although not well known, the Wildebeest Migration is believed to be driven by the seasonal changes necessitating the mammal grazers to search for fresh grazing areas. The migrating mammals usually follow an ancient cycle dictated by the rains. The cycle begins in the southern Serengeti plains, where the wildebeest and their entourage give birth to their young – popularly known as the calving season between January and March. After the birth of thousands of calves, these animals start their movement northwards to the central part of Serengeti in search of greener pastures. From the central areas of Serengeti, the animals will continue with their movement north words, crossing over to the nearby Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The migrating animals will then stay in Masai Mara National Reserve for some time before starting their trek back to Tanzania and by March, the cycle will repeat itself again.
The migration covers over 1,800 miles making it one of the longest mammal migrations on the planet.
Do the wildebeest have specific routes they follow while migrating?
Although there are no defined routes that is followed by the mammal grazers during their migration, there is a specific migration pattern that they follow. As the rains continue to fall in the northern part of the Serengeti into Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, it enables the growth of nutritious grass suitable for wildebeest and their entourage. The migrating mammals will fallow the rains and pastures all the way to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. The animals travel across the Serengeti’s vast grasslands, crossing rivers and navigating through treacherous terrain before finally reaching Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve where they will stay for a few month before starting their trek back to Serengeti.
Between July and October, there are high chances of witnessing the spectacular river crossing, and large herds of wildebeests start to arrive in the Mara. The Mara is an oasis of sustenance for these animals – teeming with unique ecosystem that provides the abundant grasses and water that can support large herds. After spending the latter part of the year grazing in the Masai Mara, the wildebeests begin their return journey south in October, trekking back either through the same route or other routes to Serengeti National Park and by late February, large herds start arriving in the Southern Serengeti, where the cycle will repeat again.
Other Wildlife & Birdlife in Masai Mara National Reserve
This Reserve is one of the best places in Africa for spotting all members of the “Big Five” – lions, African leopards, African bush elephants, African buffaloes, black and white rhinos. It is also the only protected area in Kenya that inhabits the indigenous black rhino population unaffected by translocations. Other species you will encounter include Hippopotamuses and Nile crocodiles that can be seen around the Talek rivers. The vast plains between the Mara River and the Esoit Siria Escarpment are home to lions and cheetahs.
Other carnivores here include the Spotted hyenas and Leopards – found anywhere in the reserve where there are trees for them to escape to. Cheetahs are also found in high numbers on the open savanna as you’ll witness them hunting gazelle and wildebeest. Other carnivores here include; African wolves, black-backed jackals, African striped weasels, caracals, servals, honey badgers, aardwolves, African wildcats, side-striped jackals, bat-eared foxes, Striped polecats, African civets, genets, several mongoose species, and African clawless otters among others.
There are various antelope species in the reserve including; Grant’s gazelles, impalas, duikers, and Coke’s hartebeests. The Mara plains are also home to the Masai giraffe. Masai Mara National Reserve is an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International – there are more than 500 bird species in Masai Mara including; vultures, marabou storks, secretary birds, hornbills, crowned cranes, ostriches, long-crested eagles, African pygmy-falcons, and the lilac-breasted roller, which is the national bird of Kenya. The resident Martial eagle is endangered.
Best time to visit Masai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara National Reserve is a year-round Safari destination in Kenya however; some months of the year are considered better for safari depending on what you are interested in seeing on your Masai Mara Safari. The long dry season between June to October and the short dry season between December to February is considered the best time for visiting Masai Mara National Park. During this time of the year, the conditions are ideal for safaris in the vast plains of Masai Mara National Reserve.