Masai Mara Game Reserve
Highlight
Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most popular tourism destinations in Kenya- Africa. The reserve is located in the Great Rift Valley in primarily open grassland.
Wildlife tends to be most concentrated on the reserve’s western escarpment.
The Masai Mara is regarded as the jewel of Kenya’s wildlife viewing areas. The annual wildebeest migration alone involves over 1.5 million animals arriving in July and departing in November.
There have been some 95 species of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, and over 400 bird species recorded on the reserve.
Mara Triangle
Wildlife- Nowhere in Africa is more wildlife abundant. The Mara is known as one of the finest wildlife destinations in the world, with an excellent chance of seeing the big five, cheetah, serval, hyena, bat-eared foxes, black-backed and side-striped jackals, hippo, crocodile, baboons, warthog, topi, eland, Thompson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, impala, waterbuck, oribi, reed-buck and zebra.
Climatic conditions – Altitude 5,300 feet (1,600 metres). Rainy seasons are from November through May, with peak rainfall in December-January and April-May. The dry seasons are from June-November. Often there are sunny mornings with cloud build-up in the afternoons – during the rains this develops into thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Max temperatures up to 30°C and min temperatures around 20°C.
Activities – Game viewing, camping, night game drives, visits to Masai cultural villages, ballooning, bush dinner, lunch, and breakfast. Masai Mara makes for a spot for a destination wedding photographer to engage different scenes with clients.
The government body responsible for managing the Masai Mara is the Kenya Tourism Board with support from several wildlife conservation Agencies. The Park entry of the Masai Mara is €75, well as some other optional activities can be done in the Masai Mara like the Hot Air Balloon which costs €450.
Best time to visit – Peak season is between July and October, during the migration. Early November and February can also offer excellent game viewing.
The greatest health risks in Kenya like all the other East African are accidents and malaria. Much of Kenya lies at too high an elevation for malaria to be a major concern, but the disease is present and prophylactic drugs are recommended. Travelers should seek professional medical advice on taking anti-malarial medicines and take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, especially between dawn and dusk.
Travelers should ensure they are up to date with vaccinations, following the advice of their local healthcare provider, and should consider bringing a small first aid kit. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required.
Masai Mara can be reached by air and road. The nearest airport and link to the park is Jomo Kenyatta international airport in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. Kenya Airways, RwandAir, Uganda Airline, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and KLM all have flights to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. From Nairobi Wilson Airport, one would need to book a smaller plane to Mara Serena and Kichwa Tembo. Which can be booked with the help of a tour operator or you can still reach the park by driving from other parks if you’re doing a road trip around Kenya country.
For further advice on planning your Masai Mara Game reserve, simply enquire with one of our local Safari Experts.
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Visa Costs
A single-entry tourist visa costs $50 (exclusions apply for select countries and is valid for 90 days)
A multiple Tourist Visa US $100 (exclusions apply for select countries and is valid for 12 months)
The East African Tourist Visa (EATV) covers Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda costs $100 and is valid for 90 days.