Masai Mara National Reserve
The Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya’s leading wildlife sanctuary. Established in 1961, the reserve was designed to protect animals from hunters and although it is relatively small at 1,510 square kilometres, the beauty of the landscape and the diversity of the wildlife is amazing. An excursion to the Masai Mara is included on many Overland Expeditions to Kenya.
The park’s open grasslands harbour lions, leopards, cheetah, hyenas, giraffe, impala, wildebeest, topi, baboons, warthogs, buffalo, zebra and elephants. Hippos and crocodiles inhabit the Mara River and many of the reserve’s 450 bird species live in forests along its shores. The reserve forms part of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, with the Serengeti plains of Tanzania ranging along its southern boundary.
Best time to visit the Masai Mara National Reserve
The best time to visit is between August and October when the wildebeest and zebra are at their highest number and offer plenty of food for lions, cheetahs, and leopards. During your safari you may have the opportunity to meet Maasai tribesmen at a traditional village or enkang. The Maasai people are distinctive for their traditional scarlet robes and have grazed their cattle in the Mara and Serengeti regions for thousands of years.
Free time in Nairobi
If you do not wish to participate in an included excursion to the Masai Mara National Reserve, a discount will be taken from your tour price (see price box on tour page) and you will have free time to enjoy the sights in and around Nairobi. Please note you MUST advise your travel consultant of your decision at the time of booking.
During your free time in Nairobi you can visit Karen Blixen’s house and the National Museum, and just on the outskirts of the city you can visit the Daphine Sheldrik elephant orphanage, Nairobi National Park and feed the animals at Langata Giraffe Centre.
