Travel Africa – Visit The Maasi Mara

Located within the Rift Valley province at the south western part of Kenya and cutting through the northern end of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, Maasai Mara is a game reserve, with a sprawling 1,510 square kilometers of green woodland and rolling hills irrigated by the Talek and Mara rivers.

The Serengeti Wildlife

Maasai Mara is the perfect travel destination to get a better look at the Big Five; namely, the lion, the leopard, the rhinoceros, the african elephant and the cape buffalo. However, be warned, these animals are wild. The cape buffalo for instance, is known to cause the most deaths. To avoid any unfortunate incidents, listen to your tour guide, keep a respectful distance, and don’t do anything to catch their attention.

Maasai Mara has abundant wildlife like impalas, giraffes, spotted hyenas, topis, bat-eared foxes, hartebeests, antelopes, and so on. It’s also famous for its yearly “Great Migration”. This Great Migration covers prolific numbers of wildebeests, zebras and thomson’s gazelles coming from the plains of Serengeti

In addition to that, the game reserve presents a good place for birding. It is rife with all sorts of avian species, among which are the hornbills, the secretary birds, the vultures, the ostriches, the marabou storks, the crowned cranes, the African pygmy falcons and the long-crested eagles.

Balloon Safaris

Those who want to get an aerial view of the plains can go on a balloon safari (usually early in the morning). Board a colourful hot air balloon, enjoy the crisp African air, and get an eyeful of creation. It’s a truly wonderful experience that will change the way you see Africa and its animal inhabitants. Amateur and professional photographers can make the most of the whole activity by taking as many aerial shots as they want.

It’s truly a fabulous way to soak in the scenery. Imagine going there during the Great Migration and see huge herds of wildebeests, gazelles and zebras crossing over from Serengeti. This part of your travel will enrich your life in ways you can’t even begin to know. Balloon safaris normally last for about an hour and, depending on what travel agency or tour group you pick, could include a luxurious breakfast picnic in the package.

Bird Watching

Avid bird watchers can go on a Bird Watching Safari. There over 53 known bird species in the reserve. Have your guide lead you to these creatures’ natural habitat. Enjoy seeing the various bird populations in a non-intrusive manner. Catalogue each species, take pictures, make sketches and recount the day’s events over an aromatic cup of Kenyan coffee. Bird watching in Maasai Mara really makes going to Kenya worth the trip.

From bird watching, to wildlife safaris, to scenic vistas observed from a hot air balloon, Maasai Mara has all the major ingredients to make your holiday to Kenya memorable.