MASAI MARA ECOSYSTEM

In 1974, Masai Mara National Reserve was established, setting the ground for today’s beautiful array of wildlife. Step into a time machine and go back 30 million years to see how Masai Mara appeared. You’ll arrive in a thickly forested area filled with trees, but over a long period of time, grazing mammals have turned the forests into the Savannah grasslands we see today. Amidst fields of golden grass, there are several varieties of umbrella acacia trees dotting the landscape, with Savannah vegetation characterized by thorny trees and shrubs.
The Masai Mara ecosystem hosts one of the most spectacular wildlife scenes referred to as the Great Migration, which is one adventure you shouldn’t miss. It collects a variety of herbivores like zebras, impalas, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles, eland, topi, and also hosts hoofed animals. Altogether, over a million animals make a yearly clockwise circle within the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, and in a single game drive, you can have multiple sightings of individual animals. For example, you can spot elephant herds that gather in shady spots and water places during the day. These pachyderms find mud irresistible. Black rhinos are rare sightings. Lions are common, but they are difficult to spot as they spend most of their time sleeping in the long grass where they den, so sightings of them are only guaranteed with a local tracker. They can easily be spotted in the early hours of the morning and late in the evening.
Although there are many leopards in Masai Mara, they are extremely difficult to spot. The most exciting thing about them is that you only get to see a leopard when it wants you to see it, mainly found under the light of a full moon. Cheetahs are able to hunt down their prey because they are nighttime hunters, so spotting them during the day might be a bit hard because they tend to be resting. A silhouette of a giraffe beside an acacia tree is a classic image of Masai Mara. Giraffes are easily seen due to their height, but they are leading endangered mostly by predators. Hippos appear to be the most dangerous species in Masai Mara, but they are unlikely to attack as long as you stay out of their way. Zebra herds are also spotted, especially during the migration season. You stand a chance of having a glimpse of the largest number of bird species in Masai Mara, especially from October to February. During these months, birds from Europe, Russia, and North Africa come to Masai Mara, escaping from winter and other natural factors. You will not only see migratory birds like European swallows but also fascinating resident birds like ostriches and scavengers like vultures, which play a big role in cleaning the Masai Mara reserve by feeding on rotting carcasses, especially during migrating months.
Don’t miss the view of the life-giving Mara River that meanders alongside Siria Escarpment while bisecting the Masai Mara National Reserve to the plains of Serengeti, draining its water into Lake Victoria in Tanzania. The Mara River is infested with crocodiles, which can go for months without a meal, lying in wait for the right moment, which is the Great Migration. They wait for animals to plunge into the cool waters, and that’s when they get something to feed on.
People in Masai Mara are known as the Maasai, and they are mainly nomadic pastoralists due to the semi-arid climate in Masai Mara. The weather in Masai Mara is unique as it stays cool all year round, although sometimes it becomes hot. The interior of the Jeep under a scorching sun can get quite hot when it is stationary. The good landscape of Masai Mara favored the construction of roads and airstrips like Keekorok Airstrip, Serena Airstrip, Musiara Airstrip, Kichwa Tembo, Siana Conservancy, Ol Kiombo Airstrip, and Ngerende Airstrip to offer you more comfortable and luxurious means of transportation.
Coming from a long journey or trip, beautiful and pleasant accommodations await you at reasonable prices. You can sleep like a princess and eat like a king in a well-organized kingdom. For instance, Ashnil Mara Camp, Muthu Keekorok, Fig Tree Camp, Mara River Lodge, Mara Serena Safari Lodge, and Royal Mara Safari Lodge provide you with a respectful, desirable, and calm shelter for resting while in Masai Mara.
So if you want to visit a place where you breathe air that is full of life, Masai Mara is the right place for you