Famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration, attracting around 1.5 million animals during the months of July through to October each year, the Masai Mara is Kenya’s greatest national reserve. Not an exclusively seasonal destination, wildlife is tremendously abundant year-round with excellent sightings of the Big Five, as well as many others on the open plains.
The Great Wildebeest Migration is a natural phenomenon, with the animals moving between the Serengeti in Tanzania, and the Masai Mara in Kenya. These two countries combine very well together as an itinerary throughout the year.
Journey to Amboseli for the best view of Mount Kilimanjaro during your stay in this incredible country, try your hand at ‘the Adamu’ with the Maasai tribe (jumping as high as possible), or simply let them teach you about their customs and tribal life. End it all with a balloon trip over the open grass plains of the Maasai Mara, a truly unforgettable African safari experience.
Located in Loitokitok District, in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya, Amboseli National Park has an endless underground water supply filtered through thousands of feet of volcanic rock from Mount Kilimanjaro’s ice cap, funneling into two clear water springs in the heart of the reserve.
Amboseli spans 39 206 hectares in size at the core of a diverse ecosystem that spreads across the Kenya-Tanzania border, and is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-roaming elephants, as well as a host of other wildlife species.
In addition to the famed elephants and Big Five wildlife, the reserve’s attractions include opportunities to meet the proud Masai people and take in spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Epic skies and breathtakingly beautiful horizons combine uniquely with swampy springs and dry, dusty earth, setting the scene for a splendid safari experience.
The world renowned Masai Mara, also known as ‘The Mara’, is located in south west Kenya and is an awe-inspiringly vast expanse of gently rolling African savannah plains. The word ‘Masai’ refers to the Masai / Maasai tribe, nomadic inhabitants of the area and ‘Mara’ is their term for ‘spotted’, with reference to the flat-topped Acacia trees, shrubs and bushes that dot the landscape picturesquely across the reserve.
Measuring over 150 000 hectares, it borders Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park in the south. A unique wildlife conservation haven, The Mara is famous for its diversity of wildlife and is a premium Kenyan safari location. Large numbers of lion, cheetah, elephant, rhino, African buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe and zebra roam the reserve freely and unconfined, in their vast natural habitat.
The Great Wildebeest Migration is a year-round phenomenon, moving between Tanzania’s Serengeti and the Masai Mara. This famed natural spectacle is usually only present in Kenya from around July through to November. In addition, The Mara boasts a host of safari activities ranging from hot air balloon flights over the plains, bush meals under the African skies, nature walks and specialised wildlife treks. Visits to traditional Masai tribal villages give guests a fascinating glimpse into the way of life of these nomadic people, one thing is for certain – The Masai Mara is worthy of a spot on every traveller’s bucket list!
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