Home > Masai Mara
The Maasai Mara (also spelt Masai Mara) is a large park reserve in south-western Kenya, and is effectively the northern continuation of the Serengeti game reserve in Tanzania. Named for the Maasai tribespeople (the traditional inhabitants of the area) and the Mara River which divides it, it is famous for its exceptional population of game and the annual migration of the wildebeest every September and October. With an area of 320 kmē the Mara is not the largest game park in Kenya, but it is probably the most famous. The entire area of the park is nestled within the enormous Great Rift Valley that extends from the Mediterranean Sea to South Africa. The terrain of the reserve is primarily open grassland, with clusters of the distinctive acacia tree in the south-east region. The western border is the Esoit Oloololo Escarpment of the Rift Valley, and wildlife tends to be most concentrated here, as the swampy ground means that access to water is always good and tourist disruption is minimal. The easternmost border is 224 km from Nairobi, and hence it is the eastern regions which are most visited by tourists.
The Maasai Mara is perhaps most famous for its lions which are found in large numbers. All other members of the Big FiveThe phrase Big Five Game was coined by white hunters and refers to the five large mammals that were originally most sought in Africa. The term is still used in most tourist and wildlife guides that discuss African wildlife. The collection consists of the are to be found in the Mara, although the population of black rhinoCeratotherium simum Dicerorhinus sumatrensis Diceros bicornis Rhinoceros unicornis ''R. sondaicus A rhinoceros is any of five surviving species of odd-toed ungulate in the family Rhinocerotidae . All five are native to Africa or Asia. Rhinoceros is also o is severely threatened, with a population of only 37 recorded in 2000This page is about the year 2000. See 2000 AD for the UK comic book, Number 2000 for other uses. 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar), and also the International Year for a Culture of Peace''. Events Y2K passes without the seri. HippopotamiThe Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius is a large, plant-eating African mammal, one of only two living and three (or four) recently extinct species in the family Hippopotamidae. Hippopotamuses ('hippopotami' is also accepted as a plural form by the OED), are found in large groups in the Mara and Talek Rivers. CheetahThe Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus is an atypical member of the cat family ( Felidae) that hunts by speed rather than by stealth or pack tactics. It is the fastest of all terrestrial animals and can reach speeds of over 110 k m/ h (70 mph) in short bursts. are also to be found, although their numbers are also threatened, chiefly due to tourist disruption of their day-time hunting.
Like in the Serengeti, the wildebeest are the dominant inhabitant of the Maasai Mara, and their numbers are estimated in the millions. Around July of each year these ungainly animals migrate in a vast ensemble north from the Serengeti plains in search of fresh pasture, and return to the south around October. Numerous other antelopeThis article deals with the African herbivorous mammal. For other uses, see Antelope (disambiguation The antelope are a group of herbivorous African animals of the family Bovidae, distinguished by a pair of hollow horns on their heads. There are many diff can be found, including Thomson's and Grant's gazelleA gazelle is an antelope of the genus Gazella''. Gazelles are known as swift animals; they can reach speeds of up to 100 km/hour, and maintain speeds of 50 km/h for a long time. Gazelles are mostly found in the grasslands and savannas of Africa, but also, impalaAn Impala Aepyceros melampus Greek aipos "high" ceros "horn" + melas "black" pous "foot") is a medium-sized African antelope, weighing about 50 kg. Reddish-brown in colour with lighter flanks, it has a white under-belly. The male has lyre shaped horns., topi and Coke's hartebeest. Large herds of zebra are found through the reserve. The plains are also home to the distinctive Maasai giraffe as well as the common giraffe. The Maasai Mara is a major research centre for the spotted hyena. Additionally, over 450 species of birdlife have been identified in the park.
The Maasai Mara is administered by the Kenyan Government, and contains a number of anti-poaching units that are stationed well away from the regions frequented by tourists. Game parks are a major source of hard currency for Kenya, and entry fees for non-Kenyans was a steep US$27 in 2000. There are a number of lodges and tented camps for tourists inside the reserve's borders.
