Experience the Unparalleled Wildlife of the Masai Mara
Experience the Unparalleled Wildlife of the Masai Mara - 03 February 2020
The greatest natural show on Earth is calling to you! Thundering hooves sweeping through sun-parched grassland. The pounding urgency of pure instinct. The Great Migration sees thousands upon thousands of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle pour into the iconic Masai Mara, stalked at every turn by eager carnivores. It’s been called one of nature’s miracles- but the beauty and intrigue of the Masai Mara extends far beyond the migration. With African Safari Excellence here to bring you all-encompassing out-of-Africa experiences, this is a reserve you simply cannot miss, no matter what time of year you visit.
The Perfect Way to Bring Your Time in Kenya to an End
The Great Migration is one of the most iconic and sought-after events in African safari culture. If you find yourself entranced by the thought of enjoying an incomparable safari experience, it’s a spectacle you simply cannot miss. While the long journey ends in the lush grasslands of the Masai Mara, it starts thousands of kilometres away in the seemingly endless Serengeti. Yet, surprisingly, the two parks technically border one another.
The Rivers of Life And Death
You may find yourself asking, what distinguishes the Masai Mara from the neighbouring Serengeti? Why do the animals seek solace here and are they really that different from one another? To begin with, the park is far smaller than the 30 000km sweep of the Serengeti, which sets a unique and intimate tone to the overall wildlife experience from the outset. A utopia-like landscape accompanied by green grassland and mineral-rich soil leaves migrating herds spoilt for choice. Despite the seemingly endless distance from start to finish, the two landscapes technically converge at the Mara River. With the nearby Ngorongoro Crater hosting tiny wildflowers in the wet season, flat golden savannahs embalming the ‘traditional’ African landscapes and thick forests surrounding breathtaking lakes, this is an area unlike any other. If one was to explore both areas, you’d find the Northern Serengeti and the Masai Mara rather similar consisting of a high density of trees and an undulating landscape full of hills with the flowing banks of the Mara river as it sweeps from the Masai Mara into the Serengeti. These crocodile-infested waters bring vital life to the area, but ironically these same waters are where thousands of antelope will also take their last breath. In a single frame, this encounter demonstrates the life that awaits and the cruel death that accompanies the failure to make it across. Experiencing this first-hand is sure to stop the hearts of everyone who sees it.
The Wildlife of the Masai Mara
The beauty of the Masai Mara cannot be limited to the migration alone. Year-round, you are able to find some of the best wildlife viewing in the world here. While the elusive (and endangered) black rhino can still be difficult to spot, the abundance of Big 5 in the park means leopard, buffalo, elephant and lion sightings are – dare we say it – practically guaranteed.
The big cats of the Masai Mara are one of the park’s strongest drawcards. Here you’ll find one of the highest concentrations of rhino in the world, as well as substantial leopard and cheetah populations. The bat-eared fox thrives alongside hyena and jackal. Antelope populations flourish in huge herds. The utterly unique Masai giraffe- the largest giraffe subspecies there is- can also be found here.
And this beauty isn’t limited solely to mammals either. Five-hundred bird species call the Masai Mara home, including a dizzying array of raptors and seven vulture species. Migratory birds flock to the park from November through April, offering bird viewing encounters one would not find elsewhere.
To conclude, there is no place on Earth like the gorgeous expanses of the Masai Mara. Whether you opt for a September visit to experience the peak of the migration, or simply come to experience the dazzling beauties of the park itself, we can confidently state that you will never be disappointed. The Masai Mara offers some of the very best wildlife viewing in the world. With African Safari Excellence able to assist you throughout East Africa, from Tanzania and Rwanda to Uganda, Zanzibar and (of course) Kenya, allow us to craft a once-in-a-lifetime experience unlike any other.
