Why Is Maasai Mara Africa’s Best Game Reserve?

Why Is Maasai Mara Africa’s Best Game Reserve? Everything To Know : Are you looking to go on a real safari in Africa? How about the perfect getaway? People travel in droves to Africa’s plethora of game reserves and wildlife areas each year. It’s no secret that Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve continues to be a classic safari destination due to its wide variety of breathtaking game parks.

Imagine a vast, open grassland with a year-round river that is home to a vast array of animals, including lions, giraffes, elephants, crocodiles, vultures, dik-diks, and thousands more. It’s a natural spectacle! The fact that Maasai Mara is the best game reserve in Africa is really not much of a surprise given the many wonderful things this park has to offer. It actually holds the top spot in the World Travel Awards (WTA).

WHY IS MAASAI MARA AFRICA’S BEST GAME RESERVE? HERE ARE THE TOP 9 MAIN REASONS

1. Variety of wildlife

The Maasai region includes a magnificent 1510 km2 savannah and wildlife reserve that is home to 95 different mammal species in addition to the Big 5—the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and black rhino. The vast open grasslands are home to cheetahs, hyenas, warthogs, jackals, and bat-eared foxes, as well as antelopes, gazelles, impalas, and giraffes that can be seen relaxing on the plains and hippos, turtles, and Nile crocodiles swimming or sunbathing in the rivers. In addition to these, the Maasai Mara has a diverse avifauna with over 450 species, including storks, hornbills, long-crested eagles, and even the lilac-breasted roller, Africa’s national bird.

2. Home to the world’s seven wonders

Do you know that millions of wildebeests, Thomson’s gazelles, elands, topi, and zebras stampede across the Maasai Mara River and plains during the Great Migration, which takes place from around July to October? This yearly natural occurrence is anticipated by people, who even refer to it as the “World Cup of Wildlife.” In fact, the incredible wildebeest migration has been named one of the new seven natural wonders.

If your Kenya safari vacation falls in July or August, you’ll have the opportunity to see the dramatic and intense river crossing. Why so forceful? Since the migrants are trying to cross the river alive, it is not an ABC for them. Do you recall the enormous Nile crocodiles I mentioned? They do behave like frightful immigration officials, but instead of deporting you, they eat you.

3. Customizable safari

In the Maasai Mara, it’s very simple to have the vacation of your wildest African dreams. With a variety of tour operators (such as Focus East Africa Tours) to choose from, you can plan your trip specifically to fit your needs and financial situation. The Maasai Mara will make you happy, whether you enjoy swimming, skydiving, and hot-air ballooning, or riding horses. Additionally, if you’re traveling with children, the Mara has plenty of kid-friendly activities. In addition, you can travel to the Maasai tribe and interact with them while drinking and dancing. After all, they make ideal traveling companions for a full and genuine safari experience in Africa.

You can also decide to take a 4×4 and go on an interpretive game drive with knowledgeable rangers to explore the vast wilderness. Otherwise, you can take a walking tour with knowledgeable and incredibly entertaining tour guides and see the endless horizon.

 You can’t go wrong with the Mara if you’re on your honeymoon because it also guarantees an unrivaled romantic getaway. You can plan a private candle-lit dinner, relax on the white sand beach, and ask for fresh flowers, among other romantic activities and options. Some people even get married in the middle of the wild, which only serves to further substantiate its utterly romantic vibe!

4. Accessibility

A few years ago, getting to the Masai Mara was somewhat difficult. Fortunately, numerous airlines now offer daily, direct flights to this region. Even better, anyone can easily charter a plane to travel to various Mara locations. This ensures that visitors can choose where in the reserve they want to stay indefinitely. Safarilink, Governor’s Aviation, and Air Kenya are among the airlines that offer flights to the Maasai Mara.

5. Phenomenal bird life and excellent birding opportunities.

Visits to the Masai Mara National Reserve are a treat for birding enthusiasts, in addition to its abundance of wildlife, including the African Big Five and big cat population. The Masai Mara is unquestionably a fantastic birding destination, as well as a great place to spot several of Kenya’s resident, rare, and remarkable endemic and near-endemic bird species. It is estimated that there are over 570 recorded species of birds in the reserve. Due to the fact that they are only found in Kenya and a small portion of other countries, these particular birdlife and bird species are particularly well-known and highly sought-after.

With 57 species just in the reserve, the Masai Mara National Reserve is especially abundant in raptors. Bateleur are frequently spotted circling above predator kills and flying above the grassy Masai Mara plains. As a result, predator kill sites are excellent locations to locate and observe up to six different species of vultures on scavenging missions. The Masai Mara National Reserve is also home to some other incredible birdlife, including the Red-Winged Schalow’s Turaco, White-Tipped Crest, Ross Turaco, Orange Buff Pel’s Fishing Owl, Wary Guinea Fowl, and the roving Secretary bird.

6. Tranquil Masai Mara Conservancies: Stay in a Private Conservancy

One of the most well-known and significant wilderness and wildlife conservation areas in Africa is the Masai Mara National Reserve. The Masai Mara National Reserve is without a doubt one of Kenya’s and Africa’s top places to go on a safari and see wildlife. The fact that the Masai Mara is one of the few places on earth where wild animals and their ecosystems exist in a highly protected environment, in addition to being one of the most prestigious conservation areas, sets it apart from the competition and elevates it above the rest.

The Masai Mara National Reserve, an open-range, unfenced reserve, is a part of the Greater Masai Mara region. But it also includes a number of conservancies. Maasai families privately own these parcels of land.

A very particular kind of area for the conservation of land and wildlife is a conservancy. In exchange for financial compensation and/or other assistance, the Maasai people and/or landowners enter into agreements with safari operators and/or safari lodges. This might involve managing livestock and grazing areas as well as healthcare and educational initiatives. The Maasai people and their families are then given the chance to invest in their communities by supporting development or educational projects.

Maasai farmers and their grazing cattle occasionally appear at the conservancies. Both the environment and the Maasai have benefited from the establishment of these conservancies. The Maasai can put money earned from the conservancies into their communities by rewilding land that was once overgrazed by cattle.

 In order to have a more secluded, tranquil, and exclusive experience away from the large crowds of people, we advise staying in one of the nearby private conservancies. The Masai Mara National Reserve can get crowded during safari high season (roughly June to October).

Benefits of Stay in a Private Conservancy in Maasai Mara:

• Enjoy fantastic, empty-seated game viewing.
• Have quick access to the national park, where you can see the wildebeest migration.
• In the national reserve, it is not allowed to go on night drives, off-road game viewing excursions, or guided nature walks.
• Directly support local communities and environmental preservation.

7. The Masai Mara offers endless bucket-list experiences and safari adventures!

You need look no further than Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve if you want to take a relaxing African safari vacation filled with never-ending adventure! You can choose from a variety of thrilling excursions, exhilarating encounters, and exciting safari activities in both Kenya and the Masai Mara, all of which are readily available to you.

Experience sensational up-close wildlife sightings unlike anything you’ve ever experienced by embarking on a self-drive wildlife adventure through the African bushveld or taking part in an exciting game drive in an open 4×4 vehicle with a knowledgeable and experienced wildlife guide by your side. Or why not go on a nighttime game drive through the Masai Mara wilderness and enjoy every exhilarating second? There is nothing quite like hearing a lion roar while on a night drive or safari; it is an exhilarating, once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience you’ll never forget.

If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous and risk-taking, leave the safari vehicle behind and embark on an unforgettable walking safari with a superb and knowledgeable wildlife guide. Walking through the African bush enables you to fully immerse yourself in the vast, untamed wilderness of the Masai Mara and experience breathtaking, up-close wildlife sightings and encounters that you can only read about in brochures and books. You have the incredible chance to experience the African bushveld and all of its amazing inhabitants from a completely new perspective on guided walking safaris or bush walks; it is an adrenaline rush unlike any other!

There’s MORE! This might be the most exciting part yet! Why not enhance your Masai Mara safari with an unrivaled hot-air balloon experience? Combine thrilling 4×4 game viewing with Maasai-led nature walks. The Mara River provides the best flight paths, allowing you to see below into the forests, float by vulture nests, and take in the early morning activities of rambunctious hippos. What more could you ask for after landing on the plains than to be treated to a delectable bush breakfast with champagne?

Other fantastic Masai Mara adventure opportunities include riding a mountain bike to discover the Masai Mara’s varied terrain, going on an exhilarating wilderness hike, kayaking through the rapids, or taking a memorable horseback or camel ride through the bushveld.

With so many options, it goes without saying that the abundance of once-in-a-lifetime safari experiences and bucket-list-worthy adventures in the Masai Mara is one of the top reasons to why it is the best reserve in Africa.

8. The Masai Mara Landscape Is both Breath-Taking and Diverse

Interesting fact: The Maasai people, the region’s original residents, are honored by the name Masai Mara. The Maasai (Maa) language word “Mara” means “spotted. It won’t be difficult for you to comprehend how the Masai Mara got its name once you’ve been there. The scattered, short, bushy trees give the landscape a somewhat spotted appearance. The unabashed natural beauty of the Masai Mara cannot be adequately captured in pictures, videos, stories, hearsay, or any other way.

The ecosystem of the Greater Masai Mara is enormous. The Masai Mara National Reserve, which is in south-west Kenya, is well-known for its 1510-square-kilometer expanse of picturesque, gently rolling African savannah plains. Maasai ranches can be found to the north, east, and west, and Tanzania’s infamous Serengeti National Park forms the southern border of the region.

The Masai Mara National Reserve is mostly made up of sprawling, wide-open plains and grasslands, with a few spotted, flat-topped acacia trees here and there. The riverbanks of the area’s three rivers, namely the Sand River, Talek River, and, of course, the Mara River, are lined with shrubs and trees. The vast, wonderful, and open plains of the Masai Mara offer a haven for the abundant wildlife, allowing it to freely roam the vast Masai Mara wilderness and beyond.

It’s safe to say that the breathtaking Masai Mara is unmatched. The Masai Mara is not only exceptional; it’s magical. From the breathtaking dawn sunsets, the lone standing acacia trees, the blue lightning hills in the background encircling enormous giraffe herds and plenty of wildlife beneath, to the endless open savannah plains! And it’s the kind of magic that everyone ought to have the opportunity to see and experience at least once in their lifetime. We don’t know what will motivate you more to travel to or visit the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya at the top of your African travel wish list than this.

9. The Masai Mara Has A Range Of Accommodation Options.

Every traveler and travel style can find the perfect lodging option in the Masai Mara, which includes 5-star ultra-luxury safari lodges, opulent resorts, romantic treehouse getaways in the African bushveld, opulent cave suites, and eco-friendly tented suites and camps. While some of the lodging options are found on conservancies that surround the national park, others are found inside its boundaries.

The additional benefit and allure of activities not permitted in the park itself are offered by those situated on private conservancies. Going on exhilarating night game or safari drives, going on adventurous nature walks, going on exhilarating off-road 4×4 game drives, and enjoying the incredible opportunity to dine out in the middle of the African bushveld under Africa’s glorious star-lit night sky are just a few of these activities and exciting experiences. And that’s just scratching the surface of all the unbelievable and once-in-a-lifetime safari and wilderness experiences.

Because the reserves are not fenced, as was previously mentioned, wildlife is free to roam and move between the reserves and the conservancies, forming a single, enormous wildlife area.

CONCLUSION: WHY IS MAASAI MARA AFRICA’S BEST GAME RESERVE?

 The Masai Mara gets very busy, and wildlife sightings get very crowded during the winter (June to September) and during the migration months, with vehicles lining up for a potential lion kill or river crossing. The reserve is much quieter in the summer and the “green season,” which is when there are heavy rains, especially between March and June, and visitors think they have the Masai Mara to themselves. The resident wildlife and birdlife are still as abundant and thriving as ever, allowing for exceptional and captivating sightings and encounters, even though the large herds of the Great Migration have moved on by this point. Additionally, wildlife sightings in Kenya’s Masai Mara still compete with and surpass those found anywhere else in the world, and they will do so for decades to come!