Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of the significant popular tourism highlights in Kenya, it’s situated in South-western Kenya along the Great Rift Valley area in Norok county Kenya close to Serengeti national park of Tanzania all around Mara Region/ Maasai Mara region.
The great wildebeest migration safari takes place every year and is the biggest animal migration in the world, makes the Maasai Culture one of the last unexplored cultures on the planet. Walking safaris, bird watching, big game, and hot air balloon safaris.
One of the main draws of Masai Mara is the Ol Kinyei Conservancy, which is situated in the middle of the reserve and houses the larger Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. With a vast array of attractions ranging from the majestic migration along the Mara River to the rolling Kopjes, it’s the largest conservancy in Mara.
The Mara triangle is another not to be missed since it hosts the Mara river where the wildebeests cross from Serengeti to Mara and from Mara to Serengeti. The number of Wildebeests and Zebra that participate in the Great Migration vary annually, but it’s estimated that herd sizes can reach 1.5 million wildebeest, not to mention just under a million zebras, topi and eland. Waves of zebras arrive first, mowing through the tall, coarse grass stems that shot up during the rains, and exposing the green leafy grasses preferred by the wildebeests following behind them.
They have to cross the Mara and Talek rivers each year though the routes change. When they reach the river banks, the herds stall hesitantly, knowing very well that crocodiles lie in the waters waiting. While there is safety in numbers, the herd will be thinned as thousands are eaten, crushed or drowned in the crossings. Those that do make it to the other side still remain uncertain since lions wait in ambush, with scavengers such as hyenas and jackals eyeing good pickings. There are also cheetahs hiding out in the short grass plains, and leopards silently waiting in the treetops.
While on stage, you will see predators killing while others struggle for survival especially in the early morning, late afternoon and during the shelter of night. Nothing can prepare you for this raw display of nature. The hairs on the back of your neck stand at attention and an emotional mix of awe and sympathy takes hold. Most of the times the prey is caught unawares and other times, the struggle to survive is fierce and even inspiring. But when death does take hold in the wild, it is anything but a pretty sight.
By early June a gentle wind ripples through the tall golden savanna grass, and the only animals easily visible are the slow-moving elephant herds, giraffes, or a lone antelope chewing away its meal in quietness. A stillness sits across the savannah and the lions of the plains lie in the shade of the acacias, waiting in anticipation.
To witness hundreds of thousands of animals crossing the Maasai Mara, as far as your eye can see, is a wildlife phenomenon with no parallel on Earth. Imagine close-up shots of thousands of wildebeest and zebra clattering over the plains, followed by predators and photographers won’t find a greater thrill. If you’re making a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa to see the Great Migration Kenya, you must do it right to avoid missing out.
July to October is the Best Time to visit Kenya for migration safaris and is when most river crossings take place. During these months, herds are making their way between Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara so this is when you’ll have the best chance of seeing a river crossing. It’s not an easy crossing for these animals to make, as they face threats from crocodiles, lions, and poachers.
Spend the whole day out with a packed lunch to avoid missing any of the action and be sure to have your cameras ready to capture an incredible river crossing. In these private conservancies, you can experience the herds of antelope without the crowds typically found in the public Maasai Mara National Reserve.