Masai Mara National Park is the most famous reserve in Kenya. Features of the Masai Mara. Open left menu Masai Mara Accommodation in Masai Mara

home The landscape of the park is classic African savanna

, hills in the northeast, forests of African acacias in the floodplains of the main waterways - the Mara River, which gave the park its second name, translated meaning “variegated”, and the Talek River.

The park was founded in 1948 and named after the Aboriginal tribe living in this territory - the Maasai and the Mara River. There are three natural and climatic zones in the park: the savanna itself, the largest ecosystem of the park, rivers and adjacent lands, and the so-called bush - an area overgrown with bushes. In all zones, the climate in the Masai Mara is even and mostly warm, which has allowed the park to gain world fame most populated various types animals. More than eighty species of animals and almost 450 species of birds live here, including ostriches, the secretary bird and the crowned crane. And, of course, " Big Five

» Africa - elephant, lion, rhinoceros, leopard and buffalo. The savannah is home to herd animals - antelope, buffalo and zebra. Near the rivers, near the trees - giraffes, elephants, and in the rivers themselves - five-meter Nile crocodiles

and a large population of rare black hippos. The bushes are inhabited by rhinoceroses and pygmy antelopes. Predators live everywhere, but most often they can be found near rivers in the cool shade of acacias. The Masai Mara has the largest population of lions in all of Africa, including the very rare black-maned lions. Leos are the most interesting inhabitants

The popularity of the park among tourists was brought by the annual autumn migration of wildebeest, numbering from one and a half to two million individuals, which in huge herds follow the pastures to the north in dry July, and return back in October, with the onset of the rainy season. It is a magnificent sight - huge herds of animals moving in dense masses across the savannah. Zebras, elephants, gazelles, giraffes, buffaloes and other herbivores migrate along with antelopes. And in their tracks, predators relentlessly move: lions and hyenas, cheetahs and leopards, jackals and vultures. Crocodiles lie in wait for animals while wading rivers.

If you want to see predators, then there is simply no better time. They are lazy, have grown fat from easy prey and do not think about hiding from prying eyes. This whole action was called the Great African Migration.

The Masai Mara is a land of pristine African nature, virtually untouched by man, with a magnificent harmony of African tribes with wild animals and a real paradise for tourists.

The park offers you a large selection of camps to suit every taste and budget: from simple tents and African bungalows to luxury apartments. But Africa is Africa, and it has its own special rules: it is strictly forbidden to leave the hotel grounds and move around the park on foot. This can only be done in a car accompanied by a driver. To do this, there are a great variety of tours and excursions, various directions and lasting from one day to a real week-long safari. There are also special programs for children, including educational excursions.

It should be said that real safari with shooting of animals is prohibited here. An exception is made only for the indigenous population, for whom hunting is a means of survival. Tourists are only allowed to take photographs, fortunately this can be done with any camera, even a simple point-and-shoot camera, since animals come so close to the cars.

You can also climb the mountain at dawn hot-air balloon and from a bird's eye view, with a glass of champagne in hand, explore the vast expanses of Africa! And if you are lucky and the flight coincides with the Great Migration, you will be able to appreciate the grandiose show of Mother Nature.

The southern part of the park is inhabited by indigenous people who are semi-nomadic Maasai tribes. In national villages - maniattas - tourists can get acquainted with their life. The Maasai willingly pose for tourists, show their homes, and treat them to a traditional drink from cow's milk and blood, they will teach you how to shoot a bow, and if you are lucky, they will give it to you; They will show wonderful dances, how they make jewelry and make fire. Such hospitality is not entirely disinterested - they receive twenty percent of all park fees.

Beautiful photographs will remain as a memory of the good-natured natives.

The Maasai managed to preserve their culture and ancient customs. The most important thing for the Masai is the cow. Even the Maasai pay their wife's ransom in cows. The Maasai themselves say: no cow, no life. The richest one is the one who has more cows.

But civilization still interferes with the original life of the Maasai. You can already see a shepherd with a mobile phone.

Kenya's Maasai Mara National Park unique place. Here, both life and death are not subject to anything or anyone except the laws long established by nature.

National Park Masai Mara is the most popular nature reserve wildlife in Kenya. Its territory is an open grassy savannah, plains and small hills with sparse vegetation.

A park Masai Mara located in the southwest of Kenya and covers an area of ​​320 sq. km. It is also the northern extension of the Serengeti National Park (Tanzania).

The number and variety of wildlife found in the park is impressive. The reserve is famous for its large population of lions and annual migration animals known as the Great Migration. It is considered one of the most inexplicable natural phenomena in the world. On the banks of the Mara River you can see many other wild animals such as elephants, antelopes, giraffes, leopards and hyenas. Hippos and crocodiles gather in groups along the coast of the Mara and Talek rivers. You can also see a small population of endangered black rhinoceroses (there were only 37 of them in 2000) and cheetahs, whose numbers are low due to the increase in the flow of tourists and their disruption of the daytime hunting regime of predators.

The reserve is named after the Maasai tribe, the indigenous people of this land, and the Mara River, which flows through the park. The reserve is mainly inhabited by mammals. More than 450 species of various birds also nest here, but despite this, bird lovers may be left disappointed because they are difficult to spot right away. The Serengeti ecosystem is home to the most abundant and long-bearded antelope of the savannah and plains, known as the wildebeest. Their population reaches almost 2 million individuals.

Every year in July, these herbivores migrate north in huge herds from the Serengeti plains in search of green, fresh grass and return back in September. Their impressive passage through the southern plains near the Mara River is like a rushing, raging torrent. This annual Great Migration is recognized as one of the most amazing phenomena in nature.

In the reserve you can see numerous herds of Thompson's gazelle, Grant's gazelle, impala, topi and cogony. Large herds of zebras roam the lands of the park. The plains are home to two species of giraffes: the Masai and the reticulated. Also Masai Mara is large research center spotted hyena. The Mara River, which is the main waterway of the reserve, flows from north to southwest, crossing the territory of Tanzania to Lake Victoria, but not flowing into it. Dense trees grow along the banks of the river rainforests, in the thickets of which they live different types birds. During the Great Migration, truly dramatic events take place in these places. Here vital interests collide with mortal danger. Crocodiles that swarm the river, knocking down strong currents - all this awaits the migrating animals, which obey their natural instinct in trying to cross the river and reach the northern part Masai Mara.

The park is entirely located in the Great African Rift, the boundaries of which extend from Dead Sea in Jordan to Mozambique in southern Africa. The territory of the reserve is mainly open savannah with small groups separated standing trees acacias in its southeastern part. The eastern border of the park ends at the Great Rift of Africa at a place called The Esoit Oloololo escarpment. Lives in these places a large number of animals, since the swampy land provides access to water, and the flow of tourists is minimal due to its impassability. The easternmost point of the reserve's border is 224 km away. from Nairobi. This area is the most visited by tourists.

The Masai Mara African Reserve is one thing most popular places the hottest continent on Earth.

It was founded in 1948 in Kenya, near Tanzania. The well-known Serengeti Park is located nearby.

The reserve has a very interesting name, which arose due to the name of the tribe - the Maasai, who were the indigenous inhabitants of this area. The Mara River also played a big role in the name of the reserve; in translation its name means “spotted”.

The pearl of Kenya is the Maasai Mara reserve.

And although the inhabitants of Africa themselves consider this name strange, it is still easily explained: from above, the Mara River valley really seems motley due to the combination of several territories, namely savannas covered with grass, vegetation and swamps.

If you try to describe the Masai Mara in one word, then it all comes down to the concept of “migration”. Why migration? The thing is that every year, after the rains that fall on the territory of the Serengeti Park, crowds of herbivores descend. These herds walk along one paved path - to the south, through the Masai Mara reserve. Among the migrating animals are wildebeest and wildebeest.

But the reserve is famous not only for migrating animals; on its territory there are many inhabitants of the plains, which include rhinoceroses, giraffes, hares, buffaloes, jackals, and others animal world. Oddly enough, the giraffes that live here are considered endemic to the Masai Mara, since they are common only in this area.

On the banks you can find crocodiles, waterbucks and hippos. The entire “African Five” lives here, which includes lions, rhinoceroses, buffalos, leopards and elephants.

This area is famous for its birds; there are about five hundred species here! The most common are vultures and, which are distinguished by their sophistication and beauty.

There are also birds that for a long time are in cover and hiding, but if you have time and patience, you can wait until they show up, believe me, it’s worth it! There are flying foxes, falcons, cranes, and hornbills.

The most common tourist destination is traveling by jeep to the savannas. Since only caring people work on the territory of the reserve, the animals are not at all afraid of tourists, they can cross roads and approach cars without much fear or anxiety. Is this the dream of every nature lover?

The best time to visit the reserve is from April to September, although most tourists are seen here in summer period, since they all come on vacation and walk around, looking at the local attractions. If you want to live on the territory of the reserve, it will cost you about seventy dollars per day per person, not including food.

The reserve is located less than three hundred kilometers from the capital of Kenya, which can be reached by different routes. The most common is a flight, from which you can get to the reserve by car or bus, spending at least four hours on this journey. You can also use the flight service, which operates twice a day, and then you will have to spend less than an hour on the way.

Those people who love nature very much will be able to fully enjoy it and be alone with the beauty. You can go on a horseback riding tour, during which you will be able to observe many animals at arm's length. During excursions there is no need to be afraid of predators; they will not harm you, as they have long been accustomed to this type of event.

You can go on a hot air balloon flight - this is a truly unforgettable experience. From above, you will be able to see all the unique inhabitants of this beautiful corner of nature, and at the same time enjoy an exciting flight!

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• Location: Rift Valley, Kenya
• Official site: maratriangle.org
• Base: 1961
• Square: 1510 sq. km
• Height above sea level: 1650 m
• Managing organization: Trans-Mara and Narok County Councils
• Cost of safari in the park: 70 euros

The Masai Mara is perhaps one of the most famous reserves; in fact, it is a continuation of. The Masai Mara is famous for the wildebeest migration that passes through its territory every autumn. The park itself is named after the Maasai tribe and the Mara River, which flows through its territory. The Maasai tribe lives nearby, and 20% of the income from the reserve is allocated for its maintenance.

So, the fauna of the Masai Mara is cheetahs, hippos, wildebeests, giraffes, spotted hyenas and, of course, representatives of the Big Five. The latter traditionally includes five African animals that are considered the best trophies on a hunting safari: lion, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros and leopard.

Cheetahs and black rhinoceroses are endangered here, with too few of them left in African reserves and in the Masai Mara in particular. But there are more than 1.3 million wildebeest here! There are many marshes, impalas, Grant's and Thompson's gazelles, leopards, and zebras in Mara, and more than 450 species of birds have been recorded. Masai giraffes live here - an endemic species, the representatives of which you will not find in other areas. Separately, we should talk about lions, which also live here in large quantities. Since the 1980s, the Maasai Mara has been observing one pride (nicknamed “swamp”), which includes a record number of 29 individuals.

Tourists usually travel to August or September, when numerous antelopes migrate through the Maasai Mara and Serengeti parks. This area has a mild climate, although it can be hot during the day. What to wear on safari light clothes made from natural, breathable fabrics. If you are planning a trip in March-April or November, be aware: at this time the East African coast is prone to rain, which always falls at night or in the afternoon.

The Masai Mara Reserve has a well-developed tourism infrastructure. There are lodges and campsites, tent camps and comfortable hotels. And, of course, there are many tourist routes for safari, for which, in fact, tourists come here.

How to get to Masai Mara National Park?

Masai Mara is 267 km from. From there you can get to the park by bus or car, spending no more than 4 hours on the road. If you value time, consider flying to your destination and take advantage of local airlines that offer twice-daily flights.

The cost of a safari in the Masai Mara is 70 USD. per day. This includes accommodation, food and assistance. You should know that walking around the park is prohibited, and you can only travel here by car.

The Masai Mara Game Reserve is one of the most famous and visited protected areas in Africa. In terms of popularity among tourists, it can only compete with the Serengeti National Parks and the Kruger National Park. The Masai Mara Reserve was founded in 1948 and at that time covered an area of ​​only 520 km², but in 1961 its area was increased by this moment is 1510 km².

A Maasai hunter inspects the Mara River valley.

Geographically, the reserve is located in the southwest of Kenya in close proximity to the border with Tanzania and the Serengeti National Park. Together with the Serengeti National Park, the Maasai Mara Reserve forms unified system, within which populations of wild animals circulate. The reserve received its double name from the Maasai tribe, the indigenous inhabitants of this area, and the name of the Mara River, which translated means “spotted”. The strange name of the river is explained by the fact that its valley appears motley from above due to the combination of woody vegetation, grassy savannah and marshy areas.

The bed and valley of the Mara River from a bird's eye view.

The territory of the reserve is one huge, slightly hilly plain, crossed by two main water arteries reserve - the Mara and Talek rivers. By European standards, these rivers are small and shallow, but for arid africa they are a real oasis of life. The river beds are very winding and wind quite steeply across the plain. The banks are covered with narrow but dense strips of forest. Only in some places these stripes are interrupted by wet, swampy meadows and paths - these points are the places for crossing the river.

The lioness attacked the wildebeest and zebras crossing the river.

Migration is the only word that can convey the spirit of these lands. Every year, innumerable herds of herbivorous animals follow the rains, which alternately irrigate the northern and southern part the vast Serengeti valley. The movement of herds takes place from year to year along the same routes, and they run, of course, through the territory of the Masai Mara. During the assault on the banks of the Mara River, many wildebeest and zebras accumulate here. At first, the ungulates are afraid to enter the water because of the many crocodiles living there, but the pressure of the ever-increasing masses of animals makes itself felt and the crossing begins. Wildebeests and zebras make giant leaps, trying to minimize the distance covered by swimming, but crocodiles are on the alert. For them, this is the time of a real feast, in addition, other predators accumulate on the banks of the river - lions, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs. During the migration period from July to October, well-fed predators are easily accessible for observation. By the way, the populations of lions and hyenas in the Masai Mara reserve are among the largest on the continent, not to mention the ungulates. There are 1.3 million wildebeest alone here, and another 500,000 Thomson's gazelles, 200,000 zebras, 27,000 topi antelopes, 18,000 eland antelopes!

Neither the lioness nor her baby are afraid of visitors and willingly pose for the photographer.

But even these colossal populations are not the only wealth of the Masai Mara reserve. In addition to migratory species, there are also many sedentary inhabitants of the plains - giraffes, elephants, black rhinoceroses, African buffalos, leopards, cheetahs, jackals, Grant's gazelles, impala antelopes, dik-diks and hares. By the way, the giraffes living in the reserve belong to a special subspecies of Masai giraffes, which is found only here. In addition to crocodiles, the river banks were also occupied by herds of hippopotamuses and waterbucks. In the Masai Mara you can see all the species from the so-called “African Big Five” - elephant, rhinoceros, lion, leopard, buffalo. The rarest representative of the reserve is the rhinoceros, whose populations were undermined by poaching in the 70s.

The Masai subspecies of giraffe is distinguished by its rugged spots, similar to maple leaves.

The avifauna of the Masai Mara is also very rich - 460 species of birds live here! The most noticeable are ostriches, marabou, vultures, and secretary birds. If you are patient and watch from the shelter for a long time, you can see smaller, but no less interesting animals - hornbills, rollers, crowned cranes, falcons, flying foxes (one of the species of bats).

The marabou had a feast on the remains of the antelopes that had died in the confusion while crossing the river.

The reserve has a large scientific base. First of all, it is home to the world's largest center for the study of spotted hyenas, whose specialists work in close collaboration with employees of the University of Michigan. Also on the basis of the reserve, a large-scale program for the census and registration of lions is being carried out. Many nature films have been filmed here, including famous BBC series. The reserve is fully staffed by experienced rangers, so poaching has been completely eradicated from its territory.

A herd of wildebeest stretching to the horizon reluctantly gives way to tourists.

The Masai Mara has a well-developed tourism infrastructure. Although the status of the reserve as a whole does not provide for free visits by people, it does include territories with the status national park. That's where they are located tourist routes, lodges and campsites. Here you can find accommodation for every taste - from a comfortable hotel to a tent camp or an ethnic Manyatta village.

Hotel for tourists in the Masai Mara reserve.

The local Maasai tribe lives next to the reserve, 20% of the reserve's fees are transferred to support this people. Appearance and Maasai culture are unfamiliar to Europeans. The Maasai are very tall and lanky people, and they dress in traditional bright red clothes. They are an unusually friendly and open people who will willingly show you their customs, and their household items are readily bought by visitors as souvenirs.

The main type of tourism in the Masai Mara reserve is jeep trips to the savannah. Thanks to the careful protection of rangers, the animals are not at all afraid of people; they calmly cross roads, approach cars and behave completely naturally in your presence. Isn't this the dream of every nature lover!

In the Masai Mara, animals show neither fear nor aggression, to the delight of tourists rushing to take a rare photo.

However, jeep safaris are a standard service in all African protected areas. But in the Masai Mara there are also unique opportunities to get acquainted with the reserve. For example, a hot air balloon flight! This is not only exciting entertainment, but also an opportunity to take a bird's eye view of the reserve. Don't think that the distance from the land will prevent you from admiring the animals.