4 days
Duration

Maasai Mara

Dream of Africa and chances are you dream of Maasai Mara. The Maasai Mara, a sprawling savannah in southwestern Kenya, is not just a wildlife sanctuary but a testament to the intricate interplay between nature and culture. Its name evokes images of endless grasslands dotted with acacia trees, where some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife roam freely. Maasai Mara is also home to the Maasai people, whose rich traditions and deep connection to the land add layers of meaning to this vast ecosystem.

The Big 5

It is the home to Africa’ Big Five species, as well as an abundance of other wildlife, including wildebeest, cheetah, hyena, giraffe and many more. It borders the Serengeti National Park Tanzania. The “Big Five,” symbolize the apex predators that dominate these lands.

Lions, with their majestic manes and powerful presence, roam the savannah, embodying both grace and ferocity. Leopards, elusive and solitary, navigate the acacia trees with stealth and precision. Elephants, the gentle giants, traverse the Mara River in search of water and sustenance, their familial bonds and intricate social structures reflecting the complex dynamics of life in the wild. Buffalos, resilient and formidable, graze in large herds, while rhinoceroses, endangered and awe-inspiring, are a poignant reminder of the conservation challenges faced in protecting these majestic creatures.

Wildebeest Migration

Often described as nature’s greatest spectacles, the great migration is one of Africa’s dramatic stories. This occurs every year between July and October where more than 1.5 million wildebeests, zebras, gazelles and elands move mysteriously from the Serengeti in Tanzania to Maasai Mara in Kenya in search of grass and water.

The Mara River, with its treacherous currents and lurking predators, becomes a pivotal point in their journey, where dramatic crossings test their endurance and instincts. The migration not only showcases the resilience of these animals but also underscores the Mara’s role as a critical habitat and migration corridor for countless species. This mass movement is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

From the western Serengeti the herds head north, following the rains (or their effects) into Kenya and the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. On their trek the wildebeests’ path is cut several times by rivers: in the Serengeti by the Mbalangeti and the Grumeti, and in Kenya by the Mara. For most of the year these rivers are relatively placid, but they can become violent torrents in response to rainfall in their catchment areas, and then they present major obstacles to the progress of the wildebeest.

Wildebeest arrive at the Mara River in their tens of thousands, and gather waiting to cross. For days their numbers can be building up and anticipation grows but many times, for no apparent reason, they turn and wander away from the water’s edge.

Eventually the wildebeest will choose a crossing point, something that can vary from year to year and cannot be predicted with any accuracy. Once on the grasslands of the Maasai Mara, the wildebeest spend several months feeding and fattening once more, taking advantage of the scattered distribution of green pastures and isolated rainstorms.

A remarkable feature of their wanderings is their ability to repeatedly find areas of good grazing, no matter how far apart.

The physiology of the wildebeest is such that it has been designed by evolution to travel large distances very quickly and economically, apparently requiring no more energy to run a certain distance than to trudge along at walking pace. Every facet of its life and behavior is designed to save time – wildebeest even mate on the move, and newborns are, as we have seen, up and running in minutes.

While the wildebeest are drawn into migrating by the needs of their stomachs, the fact that they’re constantly on the move has the added benefit that they outmarch large numbers of predators. The predators are unable to follow the moving herds very far, for many are territorial and can neither abandon their territories nor invade those of others. Moreover, the young of most predators are highly dependent upon their mothers, who can’t move very far from them.

Tira, Tano Bora & Scarface

The Mara is not only famed due to wildebeest’s migration but also to unique sightings such as Tira, Tano Bora and the iconic Scarface.

Nicknamed after the driver guide that spotted the stunning dark-skinned zebra with black spotted polka dots, Tira was such an eye – catching sight. Tira’s black spots are due to pseudomelanism – a rare genetic mutation in the stripes pattern.

Tano Bora (the 5 musketeers or the 5 brothers) which means ‘Magnificent Five’ is a coalition of five male cheetahs that have claimed Mara as their stomping ground and have become popular for their incredible take downs of huge prey and their hunting prowess.

Tano Bora have challenged so many assumptions about typical cheetah behaviour. Typically, once reaching adulthood, a male cheetah becomes solitary or joins another to form a pair. It is very rare to see a group this large bonding together.

The Tano Bora are now four after Olpadan, formerly the leader of the pack left the coalition. After he lost one of his testicles in a fight with males in March 2019, his rank dropped. From the decision maker and leader of the group, he became the last in the chain and the last one to join the meal.

Owing to one scar in his right eye, Scarface is the oldest and most sought-after lion in the Mara. His machismo is legendary and coupled with his sturdy looks – a black exceptional mane that sweeps back from his forehead- Scarface is the face of survival and resiliencee.

Scarface earned his moniker in 2012 when he lost his right eyelid while making a territorial grab with his three brothers Sikio, Morani and Hunter. Scarface died in June 2021 at the age of 14 of natural causes.

The Mara offers such breathtaking moments – an experience in the Mara is never the same from previous encounters. Each day offers a rewarding experience. Other rewarding activities are a balloon safari and a visit to the Mara village.

Maasai Mara Ballon Safari

The trip is magical, spend about one hour silently floating over the savannah in a hot air balloon and it will fill you with enough memories to last a lifetime. You take off in the wee hours of the morning, float in the sky, drifting with the whim of the wind, overlooking the plains, just in time to experience a breathtaking sunrise and catch a bird’s eye view of the reserve.

After the flight, you will be treated to a luxurious breakfast to complete the experience as you relax and absorb the moment.

Maasai Mara Village Visit

You’ve seen pictures of them – adorned with the brilliant red, blue and purple patterns of the shukas they wear. The men with their spears, tall and proud. The women bejeweled with bright beaded earrings and scarves. These are the some of the oldest inhabitants of East Africa, the Maasai people.

They live in small mud-thatched villages, surrounded by their cattle and smaller livestock. For hundreds of years the Masai have roamed these lands of Kenya, living a free, nomadic lifestyle. Their traditional lands now comprise much of Kenya’s national parks. A highlight of your safari vacation is a visit with these Maasai people. Many of the tribes welcome visitors to their villages to view up close their culture and lifestyle.

You may get to experience the villagers singing and dancing… and you might even be able to join in! The Maasai are known for their rhythmic call-and-response singing. Perhaps their most widely known dance is the adumu or “jumping dance”. The warriors form a circle with one person entering the center. This dancer will jump higher and higher to the rhythms of the singers. As he jumps higher the singers will raise the pitch of their voices.

Standing in muted contrast to the colourful villagers, you’ll see the browns and grays of the Maasai’s houses, called bomas. Small structures with thatched roofs, it is the job of the Maasai women to build these sturdy dwellings.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Famous for its shimmering waters and abundant birdlife, Lake Nakuru National Park is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The lake itself is often filled with thousands of flamingos, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

The park’s diverse ecosystem includes forested areas, savannahs, and rocky outcrops, providing habitats for a wide range of wildlife, including rhinos, lions, and leopards. The park is also renowned for its beautiful scenery, with panoramic views from the surrounding hills.

 

 

DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION Nairobi, Kenya
DEPARTURE TIME Please arrive by 6:30 AM for a prompt departure at 7:00 AM.
RETURN TIME Approximately 4:30 PM.
WEAR Comfortable safari  clothing, comfortable  safari shoes , warm  and  light  clothes
INCLUDED
Professional Safari tour Guide Full board accommodation while  on  safari
park entrance   fees Transportation in  shared    safari Minivan.
Water  while  on  safari

 

Flying  doctors   cover.

 

NOT INCLUDED
Tips,Visa  fee
gratuity,International  flights

 

Additional information

LocationMaasai Mara Kenya, Nakuru Kenya
DestinationKenya
MonthApril, August, December, February, January, July, June, March, May, November, October, September

Day 1: Depart  to  Masai  Mara   reserve 

Pick up from your hotel at around 7:30-8am and  commence drive towards the Southwest to Maasai Mara Game Reserve (approximately 5 ½ hours’ drive). Take  a  break  at  the   Great  Rift  Valley  View  point  from  where  you  will  attend to  nature’s  call , sight  the   magnificent  floor of  the   rift  valley and definitely  take  pictures  for  your memories.  Continue   with  your  driver  to arrive  at the camp for check in and hot lunch.  After check in, at around 4:30 pm depart for an evening game drive in Mara Reserve  and here  you  will  be   looking  for   lions, cheetahs, Buffalo, Rhino, wildebeests, Zebras, Impalas   among  the  many  animals  you  will  be  seeing  today. At  dusk you will return  to  your  camp for dinner and overnight at Lenchada Tourist camp or Rhino Tourist camp.

Day 2:Full  day  Exploring  Masai  Mara   reserve

This day you will depart after breakfast  to Maasai Mara Reserve for full day game viewing drives. Picnic lunches will be served as you relax under a tree as you see the vast landscape and  beauty of  Masai  Mara. This  is  the   day  you  expect  to  see   most  animals  of Mara   ecosystem being  lions,cheetahs,buffalo, wildebeest, Zebras, Impala   among  others. Also  you  will  drive  to  Mara  river  where  the   migration  takes place.  Travelling from  June   to  September  has the  highest  chances of   witnessing  migration  as  this is  the  period of year  the  same   takes place. Later on, return  to  your  camp  at dusk for  dinner and overnight at Lenchada Tourist Camp or Rhino Tourist Camp .

The Mara offers wildlife in such variety and abundance that is is difficult to believe. Over 450 species of animals have been recorded here. You will easily see lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, giraffe, wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, warthogs, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, buffalo, leopard, elephants and many kinds of antelopes. It is in the Mara that perhaps the most spectacular event of the natural world takes place: the great migration. This is the annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra from the Serengeti (in Tanzania) in search of water and pasture. Following on their heels are the predators of the savanna being lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, jackals, hyenas and vultures

Day 3: Masai village   visit    and   drive  to  Nakuru  National  Park

This day depart after breakfast for a maasai village visit where you will learn about their way of life and culture. Later on, depart for Lake Nakuru and you will enjoying lunch on the way arriving for dinner and overnight at Buraha Zenoni Hotel & Resort.

Day  4: Morning Game  drive  in Nakuru National  Park   and   drive  to  Nairobi

After early breakfast, depart for a game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park which  will  last  till noon. While   here you  will  be   hoping  to  see  the  pink  flamingos   and the   Rhino  which  are  the  famous  animals   in this  park. Also the  park  has   other  animals   and  so  take  the   chance  to  also  enjoy  a   different  ecosystem   different  from  Masai  Mara. Early afternoon exit the park and  drive  to  Nairobi  enjoying  hot  lunch  on the way. Thereafter, continue with  drive to  Nairobi  and upon arrival you  will  be   dropped at Nairobi City Market.

flamingos in lake nakuru on safari
naivasha
rhino & flamingos in lake nakuru
flamingos in lake nakuru on safari
lion in maasai mara
lion in maasai mara
lion dragging a zebra in maasai mara
zebras and wildbeests in mara
lions in mara
lions in mara
mara