Masai Mara Wildlife

Welcome to Masai Mara wildlife.

The iconic Big Five (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Leopard, and Buffalo) as well as the Big Nine (Cheetah, Giraffe, Hippo, and Zebra) are among the mammals found in the Masai Mara. Masai Mara is a unique wildlife conservation haven known for its stunning natural diversity of species.

It is also a top Kenya Safari destination in East Africa, with numerous reasons for people to explore this animal paradise.

Read on to find out more about the riveting landscape of the Masai Mara where wildlife are in abundance and activities are plentiful.

History & Culture

Climate

Best time to visit

Wildlife

Great Migration

Activities

Protected Areas

Summary

The Masai Mara

Masai Mara National Reserve is a large picturesque area of gently rolling African savannah plains totaling 1510 square kilometers in south west Kenya. The Masai Mara is home to a breathtaking kaleidoscope of wild and rugged landscapes, friendly and hospitable people, and a diverse array of large and tiny animals. The Great Migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra takes place every year in the Mara. The Mara has a variety of lodging options, from tented camps to upscale resorts.

History of the Masai Mara

Maasai Mara, also sometimes spelled Masai Mara and locally known simply as The Mara, is a large national game reserve in Narok, Kenya, contiguous with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. It is named in honor of the Maasai people, the ancestral inhabitants of the area, who migrated to the area from the Nile Basin.

People of the Masai mara

Northern, central, and southern Kenya, as well as northern Tanzania, are home to the Maasai, a Nilotic ethnic group. Due to their location near the various wildlife parks of the African Great Lakes, as well as their peculiar customs and dress, they are among the most well-known local populations in the world.

The Maasai are said to have originated in the lower Nile valley north of Lake Turkana (northwestern Kenya) and began migrating south during the 15th century, according to their oral history. Between the 17th and late 18th centuries, they landed in a large land mass that stretches from what is now northern Kenya to central Tanzania.

Importance

The Masai Mara Ecosystem is part of the Great Lake Victoria basin. To the east the landscape is dominated by the Ngama Hills, granite and quartz rock formations created by volcanic activity. The natural northwest boundary of the Masai Mara is made up of the Oloololo Escarpment. Once wooded, these cliffs were left barren after fire and elephant damage and are currently mostly covered by grasses.

The Mara River

It feeds enormous populations of many other wildlife species, including hippopotamus, and supplies the only stable source of water for the world’s largest remaining overland migration of 1.2 million wildebeest.

From July to October, the remnant herd travels north to the flowing Mara River after fording Tanzania’s difficult Grumeti River. The wildebeest line up as far as the eye can see along its banks, eager to take the season’s final plunge in the hopes of finding perhaps healthier grasses – and, according to new research, better drinking water – on the other side. Swarms of fierce crocodiles await them before they arrive. Getting to the other side alive is akin to a very dangerous.

Weather and Climate

Sunshine or rain, a visit to the Masai Mara will never be in vain. Although most would prefer bright blue skies and sunshine during a safari trip to the Masai Mara, there’s beauty in the African ‘rains’ as well. As you may recall, even the 1980 rockband Toto ‘Blessed the rains down in Africa’. Before packing up your suitcase, here’s a look at what you can expect as far as weather and climate in the Masai Mara.

Best Time to Visit

Late June to early October is the finest time to visit the Masai Mara, as this is when the wildebeest migration is at its peak. Midsummer can be crowded, so visit at the beginning or end of the season for the best wildlife viewing without the crowds. The migration’s timing varies slightly from year to year depending on the rainfall, but it normally takes place in the Mara from late July to early October, with July/August being the busiest time when the majority of the animals are present. If you want to observe the migration at other times of the year, you’ll have to travel to Tanzania and visit the Serengeti National Park.

Masai mara wildlife

The classic Masai Mara safari has several attractions, since the reserve is home to a great year-round concentration of wildlife, including the famous Great Migration of over two million wildebeest, zebras, and other antelopes. We have categorized the wildlife into a general Mammal list to include the famous Big Five ( Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Leopard and Buffalo ) and the Big Nine to additionally include the Cheetah, Giraffe, Hippo and Zebra. 

The Big 5

The “Big Five” is a term that is used to refer to the 5 African animals that early big game hunters considered most difficult and dangerous animals to hunt on foot in Africa. These animals include the African elephant, lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, and rhinoceros.

With plentiful elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion, and cheetah among migrating wildebeest and zebra, the reserve is a photographer’s and naturalist’s dream. Leopards are common, endangered black rhinos hide in impenetrable thickets, and the Mara River is home to massive rafts of hippo and monster crocodiles.

The Big 9

The Big Five, which include the lion, leopard, rhinoceros (both black and white varieties), elephant, and Cape buffalo, are the five most difficult creatures in Africa to hunt on foot. Now that poaching is banned and strongly discouraged by all countries, the new phrase is “Big 9,” which to some defines the success of a safari as having seen all nine of the “Big Nine” animals: the lion, leopard, cheetah, cape buffalo, elephant, black rhinoceros, hippo, zebra, and giraffe. These are the four species that comprise the extended family of the Big Five: the cheetah, hippo, zebra and giraffe.

Masai mara wildlife : The secret 7

The Secret Seven are all unique animals who value their privacy, but their adapted coping techniques for surviving in the wild set them apart. The aardvark, African wild cat, civet, huge spotted genet, pangolin, porcupine, and serval have all been discovered.

Because they are regarded the most difficult game creatures to discover while on safari, a handful of these animals have been dubbed the “Secret 7.”

Masai mara wildlife : Bird Life

If you’re walking through the Masai Mara, you might be inclined to keep your eyes on the ground, bushes, and plants in front of you. There’s also plenty to view in the skies over the African plains. The region is home to around 500 different bird species. The good news is that most trackers and guides will make sure you don’t miss out on the brightly colored birds that soar about you. The vivid green and yellow feathers of a Fischer’s Lovebird or the Kori Bustard are not to be missed.

The ecosystem of the Mara-Serengeti is crucial for habitat-based bird conservation. The Masai Mara is also known for its large raptor population. The area is home to 57 different species of birds, including the spectacular Bateleur eagle. Bird watching is possible all year, but the months of November to April are the greatest. This is when migratory birds from Europe arrive.

Masai Mara wildlife in the Water

Wildlife at the Mara RiverThe Mara River is home to hippos and Nile crocodiles, the biggest of their species in Africa. Elephants, elands, lions, and even leopards may come to the river to drink. Fortunate adventurers may catch a glimpse of a black rhino.

The Great Migration

What is the Great Wildebeest Migration? The Great Wildebeest Migration is the largest animal migration in the world. Every year, more than 2 million animals (wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle) migrate in a clockwise direction across the ecosystems of the Serengeti (Tanzania) and the Masai Mara (Kenya). Some experts regard wildebeest to be a “keystone species.” As a result, the creatures have a significant impact on the habitats in which they reside. Large carnivores, particularly lions, prey on wildebeest. Wildebeest, in general, generate favorable conditions for other large mammals.

The Great Wildebeest Migration is deservedly regarded as one of the most spectacular natural events on the planet. The Great Migration, which includes about 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras, and antelopes, is the world’s last surviving multi-species migration. Millions of newly arrived brown and black dots spread the wide plains of the Mara beginning in late June, adding to the wonder of this Natural Wonder of the World.

Witnessing the Great Migration with Basecamp gives a new dimension to this natural wonder of the world. A safari with one of our Maasai guides is a life-changing experience that will give you a better knowledge of the Masai Mara ecosystem’s subtle nuances.

Activities

When visiting Masai Mara, you will have the opportunity to participate in a range of safari activities. The Savannah’s splendor may be experienced on a game drive or on foot, during the day or after dark, whether you wish to stay out all day or return in time to rest in your tent. Experience the pleasure of sleeping in the middle of a bush, surrounded by the noises of wild creatures, by going mobile camping. Maasai guides and guards will ensure that your stay is as safe as possible.

Game viewing

Game drives in the Masai Mara are unforgettable due to the abundance of wildlife and the spectacular landscapes. … The Great Wildebeest Migration passes through the Mara for approximately three months each year. Game drives may last from a couple of hours to the whole day, with a picnic breakfast and lunch.

Night drives

Nocturnal animals are animals which are more active at night than during the day. In many cases, these animals spend most of their daylight hours sleeping. They include hippos, lions, leopards, porcupines, civet cats, white-tailed mongoose, aardvarks and cape hares. To spot these animals, you have to experience a night game drive.

Night game drive experiences are not attained inside the confines of the Maasai Mara National Reserve hence guests who wish to go on night drives are advised to book their stay in one of our camps in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy where we conduct successful night game drives.Our night game drives in Mara Naboisho are conducted by experienced Masai guides in our tailor-made 4×4 safari cruisers or land cruisers that are fitted with powerful lights for proper sightseeing at night.

Bush walks

The Maasai Mara’s basecamp walking safaris reflect the Maasai people’s rhythm. Walking with the Maasai is a life-changing experience that brings you closer to nature and, more importantly, to yourself.

Swap the typical 4×4 game vehicle for a guided bush walk or short walking safari in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, and you’ll be in for a thrilling trip you’ll never forget.

Walking through one of the world’s most famous and stunning natural places – known as the Seventh Natural Wonder of the World – is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you can have while on safari. The Maasai Mara has the highest density of land animals in Kenya and Tanzania, and it is, of course, on the route of the yearly Great Migration, which brings 2.5 million wildebeest, zebra, and antelope species across Kenya and Tanzania.

Hot air ballooning

Nothing is more spectacular than launching at sunrise & floating effortlessly in a hot air balloon over the Masai Mara Game reserve. This is a true one-of-a-kind adventure activity, and the Mara serves as the ideal background for the incredible balloon ride. The journey lasts around an hour as you fly gracefully above the African savannah, admiring the spectacular wildlife below. The pilots have a lot of experience, and the activity has a great safety record. The most thrilling of these activities has to be the early morning Hot Air Balloon expedition.

Star gazing

The region is particularly good for star gazing during the dry season, when the plains’ unobstructed view of the night sky is enhanced by lower humidity. This makes for better visibility. Located near the equator , this location allows you to potentially see all 88 constellations, from Ursa Minor in the north to the Southern Cross in the south. Its dark skies and surrounding plains provide excellent viewing conditions.

Community visits

The majority of Masai tribes still practice their customary way of life as pastoralists with their livestock at the center of their culture and social life. They proudly welcome visitors to their villages, often with song and dance, which you might even be able to join in! Another popular activity is visiting a traditional tribal Maasai village, which provides visitors with a fascinating glimpse into the nomadic warrior tribe of the Maasai, which may be found in Kenya and portions of East Africa. 

Sustainable tourism

How is the Masai Mara conserved? These conservancies are on private land owned by Maasai families that have been set aside for wildlife conservation and tourism. The landowners lease their land to safari companies and lodges, who then pay monthly fees which go back into the community, funding education and other development initiatives.

Protected Areas

The Serengeti ecosystem, which includes both Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, spans around 30 000 km2. A number of other private game reserves and protected areas are also included. The Masai Mara National Reserve, located in southwest Kenya and measuring 1,510 square kilometers (583 square miles), is a country of beautiful landscapes, plentiful wildlife, and unending plains.

Masai National Reserve

The Masai Mara National Reserve, in south-west Kenya, is a wide beautiful expanse of gently rolling African savannah grasslands that stretches for 1510 square kilometers and borders Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to the south. Masai Mara is a unique wildlife conservation haven known for its stunning natural diversity of species. It is also a top Kenya Safari destination in East Africa, with numerous reasons for people to explore this animal paradise. Many Lions, Cheetahs, Elephants, Rhinos, African Buffaloes, Wildebeest, Giraffes, Zebras, and other creatures can be found in the park in their natural habitat, free to explore the immense wilderness that stretches for miles.

Naboisho conservancy

For wildlife fans, the Mara Naboisho Conservancy in southwest Kenya is a dream come true. The area features one of the largest populations of lions in the world, along with cheetahs, elephants, and giraffes. A safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most tourists, and if you’re seeking for a unique animal encounter, the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, which borders the Maasai Mara National Reserve, is the finest location to go for exclusive safari excursions in a really authentic setting.

The Naboisho Conservancy spans 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares) of unspoiled wildlife habitat and breathtaking scenery. Despite its brief history, Naboisho has gained a reputation for its abundant biodiversity and magnificent beauty. Researchers have already seen how wildlife thrives in protected regions.

Summary on Masai Mara Wildlife

If you enjoyed learning about the unique Masai Mara wildlife, have a look at our blogs on where to see the endangered painted dogs of Africa; wild dog packs and the best tours to encounter lions on guided walking tour safaris in Africa.