Masai Mara National Reserve

South Africa is well known for the many exciting national parks and reserves but one that stands out is the Masai Mara National Reserve. Located in Kenya, this national reserve is without question one of the most popular and spectacular in the country. As you drive through, you will be blown away by the rolling grasslands where an abundance of wild game live. In fact, the box office hit, “Out of Africa” had parts of the film shot right there on the reserve.

The Masai Mara National Reserve borders Tanzania. These two countries then share the magnificent Serengeti plains where wildlife is free to roam in search of food, all while in their natural inhabitant. With such diversity and concentration of wild game, if you visit the national reserve during migration time, you will be awestruck. Seriously, the movement of mass buffalo, rhino, lion, elephant, and leopard moving from one location to another is an experience of a lifetime.

Because of the popularity of this reserve, the lions are actually accustomed to vehicles, having grown up around them. Because of this, you get the rare treat of watching them up close and often, feeding on their latest kill. In addition to the king of the jungle, you will also see cheetah. However, the reserve is filled with all types of animals to include the spotted hyena, zebra, hippo, giraffe, eland, black-backed jackal, and the wildebeest.

Considered a major ecosystem, the Masai Mara National Reserve is known around the world for the spectacular experiences of watching literally over one million wildebeest and thousands of wild zebra as they crossover the Mara River sometime in late July or early August. Unfortunately, this migration is for the fittest of the fit, meaning that weaker animals are often trampled and die while others drown, with experts estimating thousands die each year. However, while sad to humans, we need to understand and respect that this is a natural course of life, as the crocodiles feed off the dead animals, also thriving.

Then in the month of October, the animals have all fed at which time the wildebeest and zebra return. Historians tell us that this area has been traced to some 2,000 years ago. At that time, Neolithic man left telltale signs such as pottery and arrowheads. Then around the 17th century, the Masai herdsmen moved in, living peacefully with all the wild animals since they were not hunters but pastoralists. These proud warriors are still seen in the area today, often performing traditional dance for tourists in the local lodges. Rather than Masai Mara having “national park” status, it is a reserve, meaning that the Masai people can bring their animals there to graze.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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