Top 8 Reasons Why You Should Go On A Masai Mara Safari Tour
The Maasai Mara game reserve is located in Narok County Kenya. Named after the Maasai people and their description of the beautiful land, Maasai Mara is an incredibly popular spot for tourists visiting Africa. The ‘spotted’ landscape is truly mesmerizing and filled with countless animal populations, all of which you can discover for yourself. The national reserve is actually only a small part of a larger ecosystem that includes various other places including Kimintet, Lemek and Koiyaki ranches.
The nature reserve was established as a sanctuary for wildlife in 1961. Part of the area was provided with national reserve status in 1974. By 2001, the reserve was being run by the nonprofit organisation, Mara Conservancy.
The reserve now covers a tremendous 1, 510 square kilometres with the full area open for exploration. With so many incredible nature reserves around Africa, you might be wondering why you should visit this beautiful destination and mark it as your number one choice. There are various reasons why you shouldn’t miss out on a trip to Maasai Mara.
It Holds The Seventh Wonder Of The World
Are you keen to see all the wonders of the world in your lifetime? Then you need to make sure that you do book a trip to Maasai Mara for a tour of the safari. Annually, over one million wildebeest travel from the Serengeti into the nature reserve by crossing the Mara River. While this in itself may not be that spectacular, the Mara River is filled with predators making it a perilous journey. Nile crocodiles and other predators are constantly waiting to make the wildebeest their prey.
If you want to see this wonder of the world, you’ll need to make sure that you arrive at the correct time. Most people go a few weeks before the migration is scheduled to begin to make sure they don’t miss it. While you wait, you can spend your time enjoying the rest of the wildlife that frequent the park. People come from all over the world to see this impressive feat of nature.
Safety Guaranteed
Many people who are keen to visit a nature reserve like the Maasai Mara are put off by safety fears. It’s true that some nature reserves can attract hunters and criminals. The hide and bones of some animals can be incredibly valuable on the black market. Despite hunting being banned in many locations, this does not stop hunters breaking the law. When this happens, it’s not just the animals that are in danger. Tourists can get caught in the crosshairs. However, at this particular reserve you’ll find that there is plenty of security on foot and in jeeps to keep you safe. You can’t travel more than a few kilometres without bumping into an officer on patrol, ready to protect both you and the animals.
The Kenya Wildlife Services provides the reserve with officers to make sure that the area is locked down tight. Rest assured, if there is trouble you will be informed immediately. The protection of you and other tourists on the site will always be the top priority for the officers. However, people who visited say that at Maasai Mara, they have never been in the position where they felt anything other than perfectly secure.
Animals Galore
We’ve already mentioned the Wildebeest, but there are plenty of other animals that you are sure to encounter during your Maasai Mara safari. In fact, the location is home to literally thousands of different species. All of the main five you’re eager to see can be found here including rhinos, lions, buffaloes, leopard and yes even elephants. Tourists often agree that the safari is home to some of the rarest animals in the world. Indeed, you might be interested in seeing the Wide Rhinos left in Africa. Well, they’re all right here, safe and ready for you to watch from a distance.
It’s not just wildebeest that migrate into the reserve either. Topi, Thomson’s gazelle and zebra all migrate from the Serengeti to the Loita Plains. If you’re keen to witness this, make sure to visit between July and October.
The safari is also one of the main reasons why the population of Black Rhinos is slowly increasing. By 1980 the population was only 15 but thanks to the reserve it is slowly but surely rebounding.
Head down to the rivers, and you might just spot a hippopotamus or too as well as crocodiles. While throughout the reserve you are likely to see bat-eared foxes, cheetahs, jackals and hyenas. If you’re keen to see the rarest and most majestic of animals including lions and cheetahs, the Esoit Escarpment is certainly the place to be.
Did We Mention There are Birds Too?
If you’re a fan of bird watching and want to spot some rare species, Maasai Mara is certainly the right safari for you. There are over 470 species of birds that have been identified throughout the park, and sixty of these are raptors. You can spot everything from crowned cranes to African pygmy-falcons and vultures. There’s also the lilac-breasted roller which is actually the national bird of Kenya.
Awesome Adventures And Activities
You might be eager to get more from a safari than just a look at the animals, and Maasai Mara certainly won’t disappoint. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to board a hot air balloon and float over the planes of Africa, perhaps while watching the animals running below? Well, you can discover the magic of this experience right here. Yes, there are hot air balloons that will send you soaring over the Serengeti. If you want the perfect view of the seventh wonder of the world, then this is certainly the way to get it.
Of course, the safari itself is quite impressive too. It’s there that you’ll be able to venture into the wild, getting up close to these beautiful beasts. With game viewing, it’s possible to get a thrilling experience as an expert guide leads you closer than you had ever dreamed to lions and leopards.
Of course, when you’re not on safari, you’ll want a chance to relax, unwind and enjoy the beauty of your surroundings. Well, you can certainly do that here. If you’re staying at one of the hotels or resorts on site, then there is an abundance of activities available to you including tennis courts, spas, massage treatments and of course, swimming pools. You can choose the right place for your stay when you book your trip. But you certainly won’t be disappointed with the possibilities available here.
Totally Accessible
There are a whole variety of ways to get to the Masai Mara safari experience. Some nature reserves are in the middle of nowhere and virtually impossible to reach except on a dangerous muddy road. That’s not the case here, and you’ll find that there are flights that can take you straight to Mara. Make sure you do check out SafariLink to discover which airlines will take you to this beautiful destination.
Indeed, SafariLink now make daily flights to Maaai Mara, and the reason for this is to ensure that the reserve is accessible to all rather than just select few. As well as making the reserve easily accessible, you can also choose when in the reserve you want to be. You won’t be stuck in one location and instead can travel straight to the place you are staying. So, forget about the long flights, the painful waits and any other issues with access you might be worried about. These are certainly problems of the past.
A True Once In A Lifetime Experience
You might be wondering whether the experience that you get here can be replicated anywhere else in Africa or indeed, the world. Well, we can promise you that nowhere else around the globe can provide the same thrills that you get here.
Imagine waking up not to the sound of an alarm clock but to animal noises outside your window. Well, that’s exactly what can happen here with resorts that put you right in the heart of the action. You’ll hear the roar of the lion, the stomping hooves of the wildebeest or the snort of a hippo. It’s not just the sound either, the scents are here too with the fresh tropical small of the Serengeti and plains all around you.
Then, when you do take a safari, this won’t be your typical trip. You’ll see predators stalking and devouring their prey, cubs playing together and much more. Each moment on a safari here will likely be a memory that you will want to treasure forever. With beautiful weather guaranteed to give you a breathtaking and undisturbed view every day, you’ll never have to deal with the reserve being off limit. Then there’s the food. All the resorts in the area provide traditional, yet world class, dining options for you to enjoy. We don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that once you arrive, you won’t want to leave.
Meet The People
Masai Mara isn’t like your typical nature reserve. It’s totally different because unlike other places this location is inhabited. We’re not talking about the animals but the Maasais themselves. Yes, there are tribes that live near the Mara, and while you may have heard stories about these individuals, nothing can match the incredible reality. It’s true that these people are fearless and they are the only ones who you will see walking freely through the mara around the animals. They can do this because they have lived in harmony with these creatures for centuries. They know their ways, how to stay safe and they understand what it takes to share the land with these creatures.
While the animals themselves may be the true reason for visiting, tourists are often spellbound when they counter the Maasai People. And encounter them you shall. These individuals are more than happy to greet, welcome and interact with tourists and really anyone who decides to visit the reserve. Why do tourists find the people here so fascinating? It’s likely due to the fact that they have a culture and a way of life that has lasted for years. The people here are charming and can tell you what it’s like to live around the Mara lands. If you want to return home with a few stories to tell after your trip to Africa, you definitely need to make sure that you have at least one encounter with the Maasais. Many people find that it completely changes their perspective on life.
Incredible Accommodation
Whether you want an authentic experience during your stay or to lavish in luxury, you’ll find it here. There are variety of resorts and safari clubs to choose from including Kichwa Tembo, Fairmont Mara Safari Club and Mara Serena Safari Lodge. You won’t be taking a trip back in time with these resorts. They are firmly embedded in the twenty-first century with all the home comforts you’d expect.
Yes, you might be sleeping in a tent, but this is more likely glamping. Comfortable beds, ultra sophisticated technology and much more all await you. Yet, the tents that you sleep in give you that much-craved feeling of sleeping outdoors in a world filled with beasts and magnificent creatures. It’s actually better than staying in a hotel because you can hear the sounds of the nature reserve through the material. You can wake up in the morning and head straight out to see animals roaming close by. Of course, you are still completely safe, but you’ll get the thrill of seeing an elephant wandering close to where you slept that night. It truly needs to be experienced to be believed.
We hope you now see why you definitely need to book a trip to Masai Mara safari nature reserve sooner rather than later. Whether you want to see animals in the wild, explore a world wonder or just get a completely fresh vacation experience, this is the place to be. It’s so much more than you could possibly imagine with countless adventures just waiting to be discovered.