Maasai Mara Game Reserve
Back Ground Information
South Western Kenya is the
heartland of the Maasai.
The Maasai are a strongly
independent people who still
value tradition and ritual as an
integral part of their everyday
lives. They regard themselves
not just as residents of this
area but that they are as much a
part of the life of the land as
the land is part of their lives.
Traditionally, the Maasai rarely
hunt and living alongside
wildlife in harmony is an
important part of their beliefs.
Lions and Wildebeest play as
important a role in their
cultural beliefs as their own
herds of cattle. This unique
co-existence of man and wildlife
makes this Maasai land one of
the world’s most unique
wilderness regions.
At the heart of these lands is
the Maasai Mara Game Reserve,
widely considered to be Africa’s
greatest wildlife reserve. The
Mara comprises 200 sq miles of
open plains, woodlands and
riverine forest. Contiguous with
the plains of the Serengeti, the
Mara is home to a breathtaking
array of life. The vast
grassland plains are scattered
with herds of Zebra, Giraffe,
Gazelle, and Topi. The Acacia
forests abound with Birdlife and
Monkeys. Elephants and Buffalo
wallow in the wide Musiara
Swamp. The Mara and Talek rivers
are brimming with Hippos and
Crocodiles.
Each year the Mara plays host to
the world’s greatest natural
spectacle, the Great Wildebeest
Migration from the Serengeti.
From July to October, the
promise of rain and fresh life
giving grass in the north brings
more than 1.3 million Wildebeest
together into a single massive
herd. They pour across the
border into the Mara, making a
spectacular entrance in a
surging column of life that
stretches from horizon to
horizon.
At the Mara River they mass
together on the banks before
finally plunging forward through
the raging waters, creating a
frenzy as they fight against
swift currents and waiting
crocodiles.
The wildebeest bring new life to
the Mara, not just through their
cycle of regeneration of the
grasslands, but for the
predators who follow the herds.
The Mara has been called the
Kingdom of Lions and these regal
and powerful hunters dominate
these grasslands. Cheetah are
also a common sight in the Mara,
as are Hyena and smaller
predators such as Jackals.
The Mara is an awesome natural
wonder, a place where Maasai
warriors share the plains with
hunting lions, a place of mighty
herds and timeless cycles of
life, death and regeneration.
The Mara is probably the best
serviced of all Kenyan Parks and
Reserves with a wide range of
Accommodation for any budget.
The Reserve is a popular
attraction with Safari
operators. The reserve is ideal
for game drives, and some lodges
and camps offer walks and
balloon safaris.
Wildlife moves freely in and out
of the reserve, and through
neighbouring Maasai lands.
Outside the boundaries of the
reserve there are many other
small camps and lodges, some of
which offer walking, horse
riding and other safari options.
The Loita Hills and the Nguruman
Escarpment, both considered
sacred to the Maasai, offer high
forest trekking opportunities
for the adventurous traveller.....
How To Get There
The point of road access to
this region is Narok, a 3 hour
drive from Nairobi. Some people
choose to Fly to the Mara, which
is serviced by 2 airstrips.
There are daily scheduled
flights from Nairobi, and the
coast. Private Charters also use
these strips. Accessing the Mara
area is difficult without
private transport. Most visitors
come to Maasai Mara as part of a
Safari package from Nairobi or
in a Hired Car. The park has
well established internal roads
and tracks. Accessing areas
outside the reserve is only
possible using basic public
transport, and finding your way
around can be difficult. Eyes on
Nature Safaris can arrange
specialized tours, treks or
hikes in this area. |
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