Maasai Mara Game Preserve

The Maasai Mara (also spelled Maasai Mara) is a large park reserve in south-western Kenya, which is effectively the northern continuation of the Serengeti National Parkgame reserve in Tanzania. Named for the Maasai people (the traditional inhabitants of the area) and the Mara River, which divides it, it is famous for its exceptional population of game and the annual migration of zebra and the wildebeest from the Serengeti. Its twenty or more lion prides are an attraction.

Geography

With an area of 1510 km the Maasai Mara is not the largest game park in Kenya, but it is probably the most famous. The entire area of the park is nestled within the enormous Great Rift Valley that extends from the Mediterranean Sea to South Africa. It is at the bottom of the Siria Escarpment. The terrain of the reserve is primarily open grassland, with seasonal riverlets.

In the southeast region are clumps of the distinctive acacia tree. The western border is the Esoit Oloololo Escarpment of the Rift Valley, and wildlife tends to be most concentrated here, as the swampy ground means that access to water is always good and tourist disruption is minimal. The easternmost border is 224 km from Nairobi, and hence it is the eastern regions which are most visited by tourists.

Maasai Mara Wildlife

The Maasai Mara is perhaps most famous for its lions. All other members of the “Big Five” are to be found in the Maasai Mara, although the population of black rhinoceros is severely threatened, with a population of only 37 recorded in 2000. Hippopotami are found in large groups in the Maasai Mara and Talek Rivers. Cheetah are also to be found, although their numbers are also threatened, chiefly due to tourist disruption of their day-time hunting.

As in the Serengeti, the wildebeest are the dominant inhabitant of the Maasai Mara, and their numbers are estimated in the millions. Around July of each year these ungainly animals migrate in a vast ensemble north from the Serengeti plains in search of fresh pasture, and return to the south around October. The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving an immensity of herbivores some 1,300,000 Wildebeest, 360,000 Thomson’s Gazelle,191,000 Zebra and 600,000 lions and cheetas. These numerous migrants are followed along their annual, circular route by a block of hungry predators, most notably lions and hyena. Numerous other antelope can be found, including Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, impala, topi and Coke’s hartebeest.

Large herds of zebra are found through the reserve. The plains are also home to the distinctive Maasai Giraffe as well as the common giraffe. The large Roan  antelope and the nocturnal bat-eared fox, rarely present elsewhere in Kenya, can be seen within the reserve borders.

The Maasai Mara is a major research centre for the spotted hyena. Additionally, over 450 species of birdlife have been identifi ed in the park, including vultures, marabou stork, secretary bird, hornbill, crowned crane, ostrich, long-crested Eagle, and african pygmy-falcon.

Useful Information

The Maasai Mara Reserve area is administered by Narok County Council and the Mara Conservancy (under contract by the Trans-Mara county council) a local non profi t organization formed by the local Maasai.

The wildlife roam freely across both the Reserve and Conservation areas which are a continuous wildlife ecosystem. Game parks are a major source of hard currency for Kenya, and entry fees (as of April 2008) for adult non-Kenyans is US$40 ($15 for children). There area number of lodges and tented camps for tourists inside the Reserve and the Conservation area borders.

Lodges and camps inside the Reserve include Mara Serena, Governor’s camp, Keekorok, and Sarova Mara. In the Conservation area are Royal Mara Safari Lodge, Siana Springs tented camp, Mara Sopa, Elephant Pepper, Mara Simba, and Sekenani camp.

Mara Serena Airport, Musiara Airport and Keekorok Airport are located in the Reserve area of the Maasai Mara. Mara Shikar Airport, Kichwa Tembo Airport and Ngerende Airport are located in the Conservation area of the Maasai Mara.

1 Wikipedia contributors. Maasai Mara. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. December 1, 2008, 05:28 UTC. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maasai_Mara&oldid=255151293.  Accessed December 16, 2008.