The Masai Mara

The Masai Mara is the most famous of the Kenyan Game Parks, covering an area of some 1,500 square kilometres. Situated in the south-west of the country, it joins with the Serengeti to its south, across the border in Tanzania, to form a huge reserve for the animals within. It gets its name from the tribe who own the land, the Masai, and the river that runs through the park, the Mara.

The most famous spectacle of the Masai Mara is the annual wildebeest migration. Over 1,000,000 animals wandering across the savannah as they move to find fresh pasture. Although impossible to predict exactly, those visiting in July through to September are likely to see the huge herds, maybe even crossing the Mara River with its hungry crocodiles in attendance.

The Masai Mara is home to all of the big 5. It is especially famous for its Lion prides and it is in the Mara that the BBC filmed the series "Big Cat Diary". The Mara and Talek rivers are also home to some large groups of Hippos. The area is especially good for cheetah, with the parks vast, flat savannah allowing them to use their speed to good effect.

Herds of elephant wander through its grasslands, feeding off the shrubs and trees that litter the park. Amongst them, zebra, eland, Thomson's gazelles and many, many more types of grazing animal spend their days and nights grazing the rich grasslands. To the west of the park is the Esoit Oloololo Escarpment, a particularly good area in which to see the wildlife. But overall, the Wildebeest rules, with huge numbers around the park.

There are several lodges and camps to choose from in the Masai Mara, ranging from large properties with over 100 rooms, to small, remote camps with no more than 4-5 tents. The majority of the lodges are situated in the south-east of the reserve, either inside or on its border. They range from lodges to fixed tents, the majority having swimming pools and some being unfenced to the game. There are also camps and lodges on the western side of the Mara River, which bisects the park, which more difficult to reach (fly-in safaris sometimes the only option) but which offer exceptional game-viewing.

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