Was founded in 1961. It was named after the local population - the Masai tribe, as well as Mara river.

The Masai, an African semi-nomadic indigenous people, still live in southern Kenya, in the savannah. Within the territorial limits of the Masai Mara National Park is their village. You can visit it and get acquainted with the traditions and life of the Masai tribe.

General information, relief and climate of the Masai Mara

is located in the southwestern part of Kenya and is a northern continuation. total area the reserve is 1510 km2.

Territorially Masai Mara not the most significant nature reserve in Kenya, but perhaps it can be called the most famous. It is located entirely in a huge East African Rift System, which spreads from South Africa to the Red Sea. The Eastern border is located 220 km from Nairobi, so it is eastern region Masai Mara is most often visited by tourists.

In the territory national reserve Masai Mara dominates subequatorial climate. The coldest month is July and the warmest is February. There are two wet seasons: dry in July-August, and clearly expressed in March-May. Quite cool evenings are characteristic of the reserve, especially in June and July: at this time the temperature can drop to 10 °C. The period from December to March is the warmest and sunniest time of the year.

The Masai Mara and its flora

has grandiose landscapes. The protected ecosystem includes three large ecosystems: river beds, bush and savannah. Huge herds of zebras, wildebeests, Thompson's gazelles, buffaloes and tonies can be seen in the savannah.

Trees grow near the rivers, giraffes, elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks live there. By the rivers Talek And Mara acacia forests grow.

Masai Mara and its fauna

Fame Masai Mara reserve brought first lions that live here in significant numbers. The reserve is also inhabited by all other animals of the so-called "big five", although the black rhino population is in danger: in 2000, only 37 individuals were recorded here.

Hippos live in large groups in the Talek and Mara rivers. Also in the reserve you can find cheetahs, which are also under threat due to the annoyance factor of tourists interfering with their daytime hunting.

IN Masai Mara reserve millions of wildebeest live. Other antelopes are also found in the protected area, including impala, Grant and Thompson's gazelles, topis and others. Huge herds of zebras roam throughout the reserve. More than 450 species of birds have also been registered in the reserve.

The African reserve Masai Mara is one of the most popular places in the hottest continent on Earth.

It was founded in 1948 in Kenya, not far from Tanzania. Close to him is located wide famous park Serengeti.

The reserve is very interesting name, which arose due to the name of the tribe - the Masai, who were the indigenous inhabitants of this area. The Mara River also played a big role in the name of the reserve; in translation, its name means “spotted”.

The pearl of Kenya is the Masai Mara.

And although the inhabitants of Africa themselves consider this name strange, yet it is easily explained: from a height, the valley of the Mara River really seems motley due to the combination of several territories, namely savannas covered with grass, vegetation and swamps.


If you try to describe the Masai Mara in one word, then everything will come down to the concept of "migration". Why migration? The thing is that every year, crowds of herbivores descend after the rains that fall on the territory of the Serengeti Park. These herds walk along one paved path - to the south, through the Masai Mara reserve. Among the migratory animals are wildebeest and wildebeest.


The Mara River, translated from the local language - "spotted river".

But the reserve is famous not only for migrating animals, there are many inhabitants of the plains on its territory, which include rhinos, giraffes, harbingers, buffaloes, jackals, and others. animal world. Oddly enough, the giraffes that live here are considered endemic to the Masai Mara, since they are distributed only in this area.


locals descendants of the Maasai tribe.

On the banks you can meet crocodiles, waterbucks and hippos. The entire “African Five” lives here, including lions, rhinos, buffaloes, leopards and elephants.


This area is famous for its birds, there are about five hundred species of them! The most common are vultures and, which are distinguished by their sophistication and beauty.


There are also birds that hide and hide for a long time, but if you have time and patience, you can wait until they show up, believe me it's worth it! There is also flying foxes, and falcons, and cranes, and hornbills.


The most common tourist destination is jeep trips to the savannas. Since only caring people work on the territory of the reserve, the animals are not at all afraid of tourists, they can cross roads and approach cars without much fear and excitement. Is this the dream of every nature lover?


It is best to visit the reserve from April to September, although most tourists are observed here in summer period, as they all come on vacation and walk, considering local attractions. If you want to live on the territory of the reserve, then it will cost you about seventy dollars per day per person, not including food.

The reserve is located less than three hundred kilometers from the capital of Kenya, which can be reached in different ways. The most common is a flight, from which you can get to the reserve by car or bus, spending at least four hours on this journey. You can also use the service of flights that operate twice a day, and then you will have to spend less than an hour on the way.


Those people who love nature very much will be able to fully enjoy it and be alone with the beautiful. You can go on a horseback tour, during which you will be able to watch many animals at arm's length. During excursions, you do not need to be afraid of predators, they will not harm you, as they have long been accustomed to events of this kind.

You can go on a flight in a hot air balloon - this is truly an unforgettable experience. From above you can see everyone unique inhabitants this beautiful corner of nature, and at the same time enjoy a breathtaking flight!

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It is worth going to Kenya at least to visit the Masai Mara reserve (1510 sq. km). This is one of the most famous nature reserves in Africa. In terms of the richness of the fauna, only the Tanzanian Serengeti and Ngorongoro reserves can be compared with the Masai Mara. About 80 species of mammals and more than 450 species of birds live in the reserve.

The emblem of the Masai Mara National Park could offer an image of a plain with a flat top of an acacia and a giraffe looming against the endless sky. This reserve is by far the most popular in terms of attendance by tourists around the world. There is something about this park that makes you come back here again and again.

In the Mao (Masai) language, "mara" means "spotted". Indeed, when viewed from the air, the plain looks spotty due to rarely standing small trees. And once a year, during the migration season (from July to September), the rolling plains of the Mara turn into a black stripe due to the movement of huge masses of ungulates from the south, from the expanses of the neighboring Serengeti. This is a grandiose sight: during the great migration, about 2 million wildebeests, 200 thousand zebras, 500 thousand Thompson's gazelles and other herbivores move around the country, which are relentlessly accompanied by predators: lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyena-like dogs ... and vultures - hyenas, vultures, jackals, marabou. During the migration season, predators in the reserve are much easier to see, they become fat, lazy and often laze in the sun.

The Masai Mara lies on the territory of the giant Great Rift Valley, which has a fault line about 5600 kilometers long, originating in the Red Sea off Ethiopia and passing through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique. At this point, the valley is wide and it is possible to follow the eye up to the high slopes in the foggy distance. Most safari activities take place here in the valley. However, there are some lodges that allow safaris to take place outside the boundaries of the park in the Oloololo mountains. Animals living in this park are not fenced off from other territories, and have the right to go outside the park into huge areas called "overrunning territories". Many Maasai villages are located in the area of ​​"overclocking", and this people, over the centuries, has developed a close relationship with the wild.

There are four main types of terrain in the Masai Mara: from Ngama Hills to the east stretch sandy soils with deciduous shrubs growing on it - favorite places for black rhinos; magnificent plateaus rise to the slopes of Oloololo on the western border; in the area of ​​the Mara River, a triangular area of ​​lush pastures and yellow locust forests is a favorite area for migratory wildebeest. Most of the reserve is represented by the central plain, with rare shrubs and huge boulders among the meadows, picturesquely scattered across the expanses of the plain.

Large herds of wildebeest, zebras, Thompson's gazelles, tonnies and buffaloes can be seen in the savannah. Closer to the rivers, the first trees appear, giraffes, waterbucks, elephants and bushbucks live there. Acacia forests grow along the Mara and Talek rivers. The bush is home to impalas, hartebeests, rhinos and dik-dik. As for lions and other predators, they live everywhere, but they especially like dense thickets of acacia. Here you can see all representatives of the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros, elephant), although leopards can only be seen at night, and rhinos are almost completely exterminated, but still they are sometimes found.

A large population of hippos inhabits the Mara River. The permanent residents of the river include huge Nile crocodiles- the length of which is more than five meters and their weight reaches more than three quarters of a ton. They lie in coastal mud waiting for food until the wildebeest start looking for new pastures.

Birds of all sizes and colors fly into the Masai Mara, and there are more than 450 species of them. Here you can see crested eagles, vultures, marabou storks, predatory Guinea fowls, Somali ostriches, pygmy falcons, crowned cranes. The park is home to 53 species of various birds of prey. national park Masai Mara is a major research center that studies the habitat and habits of the spotted hyena, which is not found anywhere other than this place.

Masai Mara is the "kingdom" of lions, and these powerful and regal hunters dominate these territories. Lions and lionesses, resting on the edge of the plain, are completely indifferent to the actions of tourists, considering themselves to be the true masters here. The Mara Reserve is a huge natural wonder, a place where Maasai warriors hunt on a par with lions. This is the place of mighty herds of animals, where the eternal cycles of life, death and rebirth take place.

Just outside the park are the villages of the Masai people. They are a nomadic people, and despite making up just over one percent of Kenya's population, they are the most beloved and well-known of the tribes of Kenya. Maasai speak the Maa language, it is practically not used in print. The food of this people is mainly a mixture raw milk major cattle and blood; beef or lamb is used only during significant holiday events such as marriage or transition to adulthood. Favorite color is red. Jewelry is a key component of outfits for both women and men. They wear bracelets and earrings in specially elongated earlobes. Jewelery: Tiered necklaces, earrings and bracelets are mostly made from multicolored beads. Maasai music consists solely of vocal accompaniment, without the participation of any musical instruments. The dances consist of vigorous jumps up from a place in turn, and the higher the dancer can jump, the more talented he is considered. The Maasai culture can boast of purity, there is nothing borrowed in it. Wealth is not expressed in monetary units, the richer is the one who has more goals livestock. Not so long ago, a warrior could prove his masculinity only by killing a lion with a spear or with bare hands. To date, the government has banned this custom, in order to protect African lion. However, civilization does not leave aside this people. More and more often you can see the Maasai grazing their cattle on the plain, with mobile phone in hand.

In addition to the traditional vehicles offered on a safari, a hot air balloon safari is also possible. Flying a balloon over the Serengeti plains can be unique for enthusiastic travelers with the right means. Flights start at dawn, including a champagne breakfast, and fly over herds of grazing wildebeest and zebra, gazelles and giraffes.

The location of the park at 1,500 - 2,170 meters above sea level makes the climate much milder than in other areas. Daytime temperatures rarely exceed 30 degrees Celsius, and at night they hardly fall below 15 degrees. The rainy seasons starting in April-May and November make some areas of the Masai Mara hard to reach or even impassable due to sticky black mud. Migration of animals - wildebeest, falls on the dry season: from July to October - the grass during this period is long and lush. This is the best time to visit the park and take a safari to see the huge herds of migratory herbivores. Most warm time of the year - December and January, the coldest months - June and July. There is no night safari in this park, so as not to interfere with the hunting of animals, therefore all vehicles participating in the safari must return to the camp by six o'clock in the evening. Outside the boundaries of the reserve, there are many small camps and rest houses that offer, in addition to the traditional safari, horseback riding and other excursions.

Masai Mara National Park is a unique place. Here no one poses a threat to anyone. And life and death are in those proportions that have been established from time immemorial by nature itself. Maybe that's why everyone seems happy here: both people and animals.

  • Tours for May Worldwide

    • The most famous Kenyan national park Masai Mara is spread over 1510 square meters. km at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level, its vast territory is home to about 80 species of mammals and 450 species of birds. The climate here is mild and warm, conditionally Masai Mara can be divided into three climatic zones: savannah, bush and river beds.

    How to get there

    Distance to Nairobi - 267 km (4 hours drive), to Narok - 125 km. The most convenient way to get to the reserve is by car. The reserve has several landing sites for light aircraft (from Nairobi you can fly there in half an hour).

    Search for flights to Nairobi (nearest airport to Masai Mara)

    Campsites and lodges

    The park has a wide selection of camps and lodges for any budget - from affordable bungalows to luxury suites. It is forbidden to walk outside the territory of the hotels in the Masai Mara: you can only move around the park by jeep in the company of a driver or other tourists.

    Visiting Rules

    For the opportunity to see the wildlife of the Masai Mara in all its glory, they ask for 70 USD per person per day. As a rule, this amount is included in the total cost of the tour, along with accommodation, meals, escort and other services. You can only move around the park by car, walking is prohibited. It is also possible to view the reserve from a bird's eye view - from the basket hot air balloon. In this case, the event takes about 4.5 hours, of which the actual flight will last 1 hour. They rise into the air at dawn - from 5:00-5:30 in the morning. The cost is about 400-470 USD.

    Prices on the page are for November 2019.

    Views of the Masai Mara

    Entertainment and attractions Masai Mara

    In the vastness of the Masai Mara, you can meet not only lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos, elephants, antelopes, giraffes, hippos and crocodiles, but also many other rarer animals. First of all, the reserve is famous for the annual wildebeest migration, which takes place in September-October. Every year, around July, they travel north in huge herds from the Serengeti plains in search of fresh grass, returning south in October.

    • Location: Rift Valley, Kenya
    • Official site: maratriangle.org
    • Base: 1961
    • Square: 1510 sq. km
    • Height above sea level: 1650 m
    • Managing organization: Trans-Mara and Narok County Councils
    • The cost of a safari in the park: 70 euro

    Masai Mara - perhaps one of the most famous reserves, in fact, it is a continuation of. The Masai Mara is famous for the wildebeest migration that passes through its territory every autumn. The park itself is named after the Maasai tribe and the Mara River, which flows through its territory. The Maasai tribe lives nearby, and 20% of the income from the reserve is allocated to maintain it.

    So, the fauna of the Masai Mara is cheetahs, hippos, wildebeest, giraffes, spotted hyenas and, of course, representatives of the Big Five. The latter traditionally includes five African animals that are considered the best trophies on a hunting safari: a lion, an elephant, a buffalo, a rhinoceros and a leopard.

    Cheetahs and black rhinos are endangered here, too few of them remain in African reserves and in the Masai Mara in particular. But there are more than 1.3 million wildebeest here! There are many swamps, impalas, Grant and Thompson's gazelles, leopards, and zebras in Mare, and more than 450 species of birds have been recorded. Masai giraffes live here - an endemic species, representatives of which you will not meet in another area. Separately, it should be told about the lions, which also live here in large quantities. In the Masai Mara, since the 1980s, one pride has been observed (it was nicknamed "swampy"), which includes a record number of individuals - 29.

    Useful information for tourists

    Tourists usually travel in August or September, when numerous antelopes migrate through the Masai Mara and Serengeti parks. This area is characterized mild climate although it can get hot during the day. It is best to wear light clothing made from natural, breathable fabrics on a safari. If you are planning a trip for March-April or November, you should know that at this time the East African coast is subject to rains, which always fall at night or in the afternoon.

    The Masai Mara has a well-developed tourist infrastructure. There are lodges and campsites, tent camps and comfortable hotels. And, of course, many tourist routes for a safari, for which, in fact, tourists come here.

    How to get to the Masai Mara National Park?

    Masai Mara is located 267 km from. From there, you can get to the park by bus or car, spending no more than 4 hours on the road. If you value time, consider flying to your destination and use the services of local airlines that offer flights from twice a day.

    The cost of a safari in the Masai Mara is 70 USD. per day. This includes accommodation, meals and support. You should be aware that walking in the park is prohibited, and you can only move here by car.