Maasai Mara game reserve

Maasai Mara: On the South Western part of Kenya is the heartland of the Maasai. The Maasai are a strongly independent people who still value tradition and ritual as an integral part of their everyday lives. They regard themselves not just as residents of this area but are as much a part of the life of the great plains teeming with wild animals.

Traditionally, the Maasai rarely hunt and living alongside wildlife in harmony is an important part of their culture. Lions and Wildebeest play as important a role in their cultural lives as their own herds of cattle. This unique co-existence of man and wildlife makes this Maasai land one of the world’s most unique wilderness regions.

At the heart of these plains is the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, widely considered to be Africa’s greatest wildlife reserve. The Mara comprises 200 sq miles of open plains, woodlands and riverine forest. Contiguous with the plains of the Serengeti, the Mara is home to a breathtaking array of life. The vast grassland plains are scattered with herds of Zebra, Giraffe, Gazelle, and Topi. The Acacia forests abound with Birdlife and Monkeys. Elephants and Buffalo wallow in the wide Musiara Swamp. The Mara and Talek rivers are brimming with Hippos and Crocodiles. Over 450 species of animals can be found in the mara alone!.

Each year the Mara plays host to the world’s greatest natural spectacle, the Great Wildebeest Migration from the Serengeti. From July to October, the promise of rain and fresh life giving grass in the north brings more than 1.3 million Wildebeest together into a single massive herd. They pour across the border into the Mara, making a spectacular entrance in a surging column of life that stretches from horizon to horizon.

At the Mara River they mass together on the banks before finally plunging forward through the raging waters, creating a frenzy as they fight against swift currents and waiting crocodiles.

The wildebeest bring new life to the Mara, not just through the cycle of regeneration of the grasslands, but for the predators who follow the herds hot on their footsteps.

The Mara has been called the Kingdom of Lions and these regal and powerful hunters dominate these grasslands. Cheetah are also a common sight in the Mara, as are Hyena and smaller predators such as Jackals.

The Mara is an awesome natural wonder, a place where Maasai warriors share the plains with hunting lions, a place of mighty herds and timeless cycles of life, death and regeneration.

The Mara is probably the best serviced of all Kenyan Parks and Reserves with a wide range of Accommodation for any budget. The Reserve is a popular attraction with Safari operators. The reserve is ideal for game drives, and some lodges and camps offer walks and balloon safaris.

Wildlife moves freely in and out of the reserve, and through neighboring Maasai lands. Outside the boundaries of the reserve there are many other small camps and lodges, some of which offer walking, horse riding and other safari options. The Loita Hills and the Nguruman Escarpment, both considered sacred to the Maasai, offer high forest trekking opportunities for the adventurous traveller.....
RULES AND REGULATIONS IN RESERVES AND PARKS.
* You are not allowed to drive off road.
* Keep to main roads and tracks.
* Visitors are allowed on the roads from 06:00 to 19:00. You are not allowed out of your vehicle.
* Do not discard litter in our wilderness.
* Keep your trash until you get to your place of accommodation.
* Do not harass wildlife, and avoid over crowding them.
* You are not permitted to remove or collect anything from the protected areas.

SIZE OF MAASAI MARA
1,510 km sq. made up of three group ranches, the Mara Triangle, Musiara, and Sekenani.
Surrounding the reserve are other group ranches that are now being converted into private wildlife conservancies that are basically an extension of the Maasai Mara National Reserve and are full of wildlife. These conservancies are Olare Orok Conservancy, Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Olderikesi Conservancy and Siana Conservancy.

PARK FEES
These are fees paid at the park and are used for the conservation activities by the ole kejuado county council which manages the reserve. Park fees are on Per Person Per Day basis (pppd).

Non Resident Adult (12+) US$ 60 per day
Non Resident Children (11 and below) US$ 40
Resident Adults Ksh. 1000
Resident Children Ksh. 500
Vehicle 6+ seats Ksh. 1000
Vehicle 5 seats or less Ksh. 300

HOW TO GET THERE
There are a couple of ways. The main one by road, the road has recently redone and most of the road is fantastic. The rough road is from Mahi Mahu to Suswa Town, after that it is now a great road (April 2009).

Drive through Narok Town, there is a fuel station called Kenol, you will find this as you leave the town near the river. It has clean toilets, good food and fuel. So, past Narok town there is two ways to the Mara. The main one is take the next main turning on your left (couple of clicks past Narok) there are plenty of signs on the corner, and just keep going and follow the tarmac road. The tarmac does come to an end, but just keep going along the dirt road and you will end up at Sekenani Gate.

Flying is the other option. There are several companies flying to the Mara. The man ones include; Air Kenya and Safari link. Their are also a number of airstrips near most accommodation facilities. These are;