Maasai Mara Kenya
The Maasai Mara is the glittering jewel on Kenya’s safari circuit: a global treasure, a natural wonder of the world, a gathering of wildlife so concentrated that it invites gasps of awe. The Maasai Mara is famed for the Great Migration a mass movement of wildebeest, zebra and antelope that migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara every year. The huge herds make easy picking for predators, as a result the numbers of lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and other meat eaters balloons. There are very few places on earth where you can view big cats with such ease as well as the rest of safari’s big 5.
Weather in the Maasai Mara, Kenya
The weather in the Maasai Mara is temperate and fair for most of the year. Kenya is located on the equator but the Maasai Mara sits at between 1500 – 2000 metres high and temperatures are cooler than you might expect from an equatorial country. Summer’s can get very warm but winters can be frigid especially at night. The long rains fall in April through to June and can be very heavy turning the roads to bog and running rivers. While there will be less tourists at this time of year there is a high probability of getting your vehicle stuck and its pretty miserable game viewing in an open safari vehicle. In October – November the short rains fall but they are generally lighter and less chaotic than the May rains. The great migration is a natural event and as such is completely unpredictable, but the best time to view river crossings and vast herds of cattle are June – August, this correlates to Kenya’s winter season so bring warm clothes for the evenings early mornings.
Things to do in the Maasai Mara
Safari in the Maasai Mara
Safari’s usually start before sunrise, when the predators are still hunting and you stand a good chance of seeing a kill. The experience of a lion taking down a zebra bathed in the golden morning light of a Mara sunrise is something I’ll never forget. Your drives will last from early morning to lunch time and then you will go out again late afternoon until dusk. For further details on safari check out my posts on ‘the Great Migration’. and ‘how much does a Maasai Mara safari cost?’
Maasai Village
The Maasai are Kenya’s most well known tribe and their culture is rooted in tradition. The Maasai continue to work as nomadic pastoralists and their adherence to the old ways is apparent on a visit to a Maasai village. Many Maasai remain living in handmade mud huts, and wear their traditional dress and jewellery. A visit to a Maasai village is a chance to see a more ancient way of Kenyan life, to learn about their beliefs, culture and how they are starting to work with the local environment and wildlife. A
Sundowners
Are sundowners an activity? In the Maasai Mara it is! As the sun turns a deeper shade of ochre, the eagle eyed among you may spot safari vehicles loaded with gin and tonics and icy cold beers parked at various viewpoints. The ritual of the sundowners is a way to reflect on the days viewings, marvel at the majesty of this part of the world and perhaps spot a last minute hunt as the predators come out and the stars awaken.
Balloon ride
Park fees:
80 USD- Non residents / 1,200 KSH residents / 1,000 citizens
Camps and lodges in Maasai Mara Kenya
Where to stay in the Maasai Mara depends on budget and whether you want to stay in or out the reserve. Accommodation is usually cheaper outside the reserve, but you sacrifice the ability to be up and on your game drive before dawn and you will miss those epic sundowners. Instead the early morning may be spent in a queue of cars waiting to pass through the gates. Inside the reserve camps and lodges are expensive, although there are a couple of camping options at Oloololo, Eluai and Iseiya campsites, which will bring the costs down considerably. Booking.com lists a lot of the big camps and is a good way to get an overview of what is available, make sure you look clearly as many of the accommodations listed are outside the park. Some of the more exclusive and high end camps aren’t listed on booking.com. The names to look out for are Cottars Camp, Little Governors, Governors 2, Naibosho, Angama Mara, Mara Intrepids, Salas camp, Mara Bush Camp and Porini Lion Camp. I highly recommend the wonderful Naibor Camp – full review is here
Flights to Maasai Mara
Driving from Nairobi to Maasai Mara
Kenya’s Maasai Mara sits to the far south-west of the country, right on the border of Tanzania. There are no international airports nearby, so the best way to reach the Maasai Mara is to fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. It is also possible to fly internationally into Mombasa on the coast, it is further away but allows you to start your trip with a beach break.
Local flights fly from various locations around the country into one of approximately 10 airstrips within the Mara. The flights are in small planes many of which provide a sort of taxi service, bouncing from one airstrip to another, dispersing passengers. From Nairobi flights depart from the smaller Wilson airport. I recommend Safarilink as the airline of your choice, they operate some larger planes and have a good safety record. Prices for flights can be very steep often costing around 300 USD for a return ticket for a single person. Flights take approximately an hour.
Many people choose to drive to the Maasai Mara from Nairobi. What was once a long, painful, pothole filled journey is now a smooth tarred road with little traffic. It’s possible to reach the Sekanani Gate, the closest entrance to the Maasai Mara, in 3.5 – 4 hours. Driving is definitely the preferred option and gives you the opportunity to self drive through the Maasai Mara.
Driving within the Maasai Mara requires a 4×4 vehicle. Many of the roads within the reserve are smooth and well maintained but those closer to rivers can cause problems even for capable drivers. Driving within the reserve requires frequent traversing of luggas (small streams). Caution is advised if it has been raining as the black cotton soil can turn into thick bog. Come prepared with appropriate tools and equipment for getting stuck as well as water and food for a long wait for assistance. Economy cars has decent 4×4 vehicles available from Nairobi airports.
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