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The Masai Mara and Great Migration
The Masai Mara is Kenya’s top safari destination, and rightly so. The Masai Mara is a small park, but it certainly packs a punch in terms of some of the best game viewing in Africa. The main reason people to the Masai Mara is witness the dramatic river crossings during the great wildebeest migration that happens every year. Millions of wildebeest and zebra migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania up into the Masai Mara, following the rains. As they head into the Masai Mara, they cross backwards and forwards across the crocodile infested Mara River.
From about July, the herds start arriving into the Masai Mara from the Serengeti in Tanzania. The wildebeest and zebra move between the Serengeti and Masai Mara over the next couple of months, until about September/October time when they start moving back south again. This is an incredible time of the year to be in the Masai Mara, but it can get busy with vehicles from all the camps, lodges and even from Nairobi converging on the main river crossings.
Outside of the migration time, the Masai Mara is still an incredible wildlife reserve. With most of the animals, including the big cats, elephants, buffalo, giraffe and more remaining behind. During the migration in the Masai Mara, because there are so many animals in the area, the resident animals like elephants, buffalo, giraffe etc. all move out to the quieter parts of the reserve or into the community concessions bordering the park.
Being a government run reserve, there are regulations in terms of the activities guests can do, and these are limited to morning and afternoon game drives. Surrounding the Masai Mara Game Reserve are community lands, owned by Masai. Together with some of Africa’s top safari companies, these community lands have been opened for eco-tourism benefiting the local communities and expanding the areas the wildlife can be safe. These private conservancies offer guests a more private safari experience as only vehicles from the camps on the land can conduct activities there. Being private, guests can enjoy morning and afternoon game drives as well as walking safaris and night game drives. There are fences separating the Masai Mara from these conservancies and so the animals move freely between the area. Guests staying at safari camps in the conservancies, still have the chance to do a game drive inside the Masai Mara to experience the difference.
From about July, the herds start arriving into the Masai Mara from the Serengeti in Tanzania. The wildebeest and zebra move between the Serengeti and Masai Mara over the next couple of months, until about September/October time when they start moving back south again. This is an incredible time of the year to be in the Masai Mara, but it can get busy with vehicles from all the camps, lodges and even from Nairobi converging on the main river crossings.
Outside of the migration time, the Masai Mara is still an incredible wildlife reserve. With most of the animals, including the big cats, elephants, buffalo, giraffe and more remaining behind. During the migration in the Masai Mara, because there are so many animals in the area, the resident animals like elephants, buffalo, giraffe etc. all move out to the quieter parts of the reserve or into the community concessions bordering the park.
Being a government run reserve, there are regulations in terms of the activities guests can do, and these are limited to morning and afternoon game drives. Surrounding the Masai Mara Game Reserve are community lands, owned by Masai. Together with some of Africa’s top safari companies, these community lands have been opened for eco-tourism benefiting the local communities and expanding the areas the wildlife can be safe. These private conservancies offer guests a more private safari experience as only vehicles from the camps on the land can conduct activities there. Being private, guests can enjoy morning and afternoon game drives as well as walking safaris and night game drives. There are fences separating the Masai Mara from these conservancies and so the animals move freely between the area. Guests staying at safari camps in the conservancies, still have the chance to do a game drive inside the Masai Mara to experience the difference.
