Maasai Mara Game Reserve

One of Africa's Greatest Wildlife Reserves

Maasai Mara, also sometimes spelled Masai Mara and locally known simply as The Mara, is a large national game reserve in Narok County, south west of Kenya, measuring 1510 square kilometers in area and bordering the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the south. It is named in honor of the Maasai people, the ancestral inhabitants of the area, who migrated to the area from the Nile Basin. Their description of the area when looked at from afar: "Mara" means, "spotted" in the local Maasai language, due to the many short bushy trees, which dot the landscape.

Maasai Mara is one of the most famous and important wildlife conservation and wilderness areas in Africa, world-renowned for its exceptional populations of lion, African leopard, cheetah and African bush elephant.

From Nairobi Via Narok Highway or
Nairobi to Nakuru to Naivasha Highway
Main roads around the park are all weather. Game viewing trucks can only be used by four wheel drives during the rainy season.
From Wilson/Kisumu Airports three airstrips serve the Mara:-
1. Keekorok,
2. Olkiombo, and
3. Musiara all of them murramed.

Wildlife & Biodiversity

Big Five: Home to all of Africa's "Big Five" lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino.

Other Wildlife: Includes cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, zebras, wildebeests, and over 470 species of birds.

Great Migration: One of the world’s most spectacular wildlife events where over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles migrate between the Serengeti and the Mara (usually July to October).

Conservation & Communities

Named after the Maasai people, the traditional inhabitants of the area.
"Mara" means "spotted" in Maa (Maasai language), referring to the scattered trees and bush that dot the savannah.
The Maasai are deeply involved in conservation and community-based tourism.

Tourism and Activities

Safari experiences: Game drives, hot air balloon safaris, walking safaris, and cultural visits to Maasai villages.

Accommodation: Ranges from luxury lodges to budget-friendly campsites.

Best time to visit: July to October for the Great Migration, but wildlife viewing is excellent year-round.

Protection Status

Not a national park but a national game reserve managed by local authorities (Narok County Government).

Several private conservancies surround the main reserve, often offering more exclusive safari experiences.