Masai Mara National Reserve

If you ever wanted to experience the unforgiving African savanna, the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is the ultimate destination for your African wildlife safari. This park is one of the ultimate destinations for East Africa wildlife experiences. And we can ensure your experience will be nothing short of incredible when you book your safari with Bison Safaris.

We at Bison Safaris have considerable knowledge of the Masai Mara National Reserve and can ensure that you have a wonderful holiday. We only book top class guides that know their wildlife inside out and respect their habitat. Our team is also incredibly passionate about the Masai Mara and will do everything in their power to make your safari holiday one that you will never forget.

Why the Masai Mara National Reserve Should Be Your Next Destination

The Masai Mara National Reserve is probably the first place that comes to mind when talking of an African safari. As an extension of the Serengeti in Tanzania, together with that park, it forms one of the greatest wildlife experiences the planet has to offer.

It wasn’t long before I fell in love with the vast expanses of the rolling plains of the Mara scattered with iconic acacia trees, set against the stunning backdrop of a brilliant African sky. The landscape was both timeless and alive. With such a high density of wildlife the Masai Mara National Reserve guarantees a sensational safari experience be it your first or whether you are a seasoned traveler to Africa.

The Great Migration: Nature’s Greatest Show

We always recommend visiting the Masai Mara National Reserve for The Great Migration. Every year from July to October time the Great Migration sees two million plus wildebeest, zebras and Thomson’s gazelles traveling in search of greener pastures to eat.

Watching a river crossing is something to describe but cannot be put into words. For hours one can sit on the banks of the Mara River while a huge herd of animals waits at the banks of the river. After a while they will move into the water and cross the river. While doing so they are exposed to the waiting crocodiles in the river. The noise and the amount of dust that is raised by the thousands of animals makes for a very impressive and powerful scene. Our expert guides will position you for the best views of the crossings of the Great Migration within the Masai Mara National Reserve.

National Reserve.

Unrivaled Predator Viewing

While the migration is without a doubt one of the main attractions to the Masai Mara National Reserve, it is also renowned for housing some of the world’s greatest predator populations and the Big Cats in particular.

The open plains of the reserve allow for excellent viewing of any animals on the move and the Lions in particular can be seen resting in the shade of trees or moving through the long grass in search of prey. I have had some truly amazing experiences in the Masai Mara National Reserve including a cheetah doing 60mph+ in a straight line in order to catch its prey and also a very elusive leopard lying draped over a branch of a tree in the late afternoon sun.

The Mara is home to an abundance of Hyenas, Jackals and even the odd African Wild Dog (endangered species) though sightings are not frequent. Each game drive in the Masai Mara National Reserve is different and each visit will see interactions of the various species of prey with their predators.

The “Big Five” and Beyond

You generally think of a safari as wanting to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino). The Mara is one of the few places in the world where you can actually get the Big Five in one trip!

Large herds of elephants are frequently encountered; many of them browsing or bathing in rivers. Buffalo can be found everywhere across the grasslands, while Rhinos are harder to find but since the Mara Triangle is a 35 square miles protected area in which both Black and White Rhinos occur, the chances to see them are excellent.

However, Mara is more than the Big Five. You can see giraffes ambling peacefully across the horizon, warthogs of all shapes and sizes ambling around with their tails held high, and there are even antelopes. Many of them are small, such as the dik-dik, while others are the largest of them all, such as the eland.

A Birdwatcher’s Paradise

For all the fellow Birding Fanatics out there, the Masai Mara National Reserve is a Birding Paradise. With 450 plus recorded species it is a vibrant and noisy Eco system.

Do not miss to bring a good pair of binoculars. Secretary Bird’s are roving around the plains during the day, Lilac-breasted Rollers can be spotted for a split second from a distance perched on a tree, huge Marabou Storks as well as a couple of different species of vultures are always hanging around for leftovers. With such a huge amount of different habitats within the reserve (open grassland, bush, riverine forest… to name just a few) you would expect to see a huge amount of different species of birds as well. And you are right – 450 and more different species of birds have been recorded within the reserve already.

The People of the Mara

An integral part of the safari experience in the Masai Mara National Reserve is the interaction with the local Maasai people. They are a proud pastoral tribe that live side by side with wildlife in this incredible part of Africa.

Bison Safaris can also arrange visits to local Maasai manyattas (villages) and in these we have found that they are a really integral part of the safari experience, allowing visitors to experience and learn about the local culture. They can see the dances that the local people perform and even get a tour of the homes. It really helps to enhance one’s overall experience of the Masai Mara.

Why Choose Bison Safaris for Your Masai Mara Adventure?

1. When planning your trip to the Masai Mara National Reserve, choosing the right safari operator is crucial. At Bison Safaris we specialize in creating personalized and truly unforgettable experiences for our guests.
2. Expert Guides – We call the people who work for Bison Safaris Guides for a reason. Not only do they have very detailed knowledge of the Masai Mara National Reserve, including where the wildlife can be found, but also the more hidden corners of the reserve. They are passionate about what they do, and will make every effort to ensure that you see as much wildlife as possible during your time on Safari.
3. Personalised Safaris: The trip you book will be specifically designed for your requirements. We can reserve spaces at luxury lodges, simple tented camps or anything in between. If you are looking for a Safari specifically designed for wildlife, photography or adventure then Bison Safaris can tailor a trip to your exact specifications.
4. Our goal is Responsible Tourism. We work to protect the environment, support local communities, and ensure that we practice what we preach in our conservation efforts. Booking a safari with Bison Safaris contributes to the preservation of this incredible environment and its wildlife.
5. We will make sure that you are safe throughout your trip, your vehicle will be equipped with the best tools and we will pick the best viewing spots in order to have excellent sightings while being as comfortable as possible.

Ready to Experience the Magic?

The Masai Mara National Reserve is more than just a wildlife park, it is a place that gets to the very soul of all who visit the Reserve. The Reserve is part of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and is host to the ‘Big 5’ as well as the Great Migration of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle which takes place within the Reserve during the months of July to October.

So if you are looking for the trip of a lifetime, Bison Safaris will guide you to the Masai Mara National Reserve to experience all it has to offer. We will organize and make all the necessary arrangements so that your visit is all you dreamed it would be and more. Contact us for more information on how to start your safari adventure today.