Masai Mara National Reserve locally known as The Mara, is a large national game reserve in Narok, Kenya, named in honour of the Maasai people. It is a well-known game reserve and one of the most famous and important wildlife conservation and wilderness areas in Africa. It is a wildlife destination famous for its exceptional populations of lion, African leopard, cheetah and African elephant and it also hosts the Great Migration, which is one of the “Seven Wonders of the World.”
The Masai Mara is administered by the Narok County government, whilst the park is managed by the Narok County Council. The current park fees are $100 for each non-resident adult per day in Low season (Jan-June) and $200 in high season (July-Dec). . The total area under conservation in the Mara ecosystem amounts to almost 1,510 km2 bounded by the Serengeti Park to the south, which allows the migration to move freely as they follow the fresh grass and the rains in the ecosystem. The Sandy River, Talek River and Mara River are the major rivers in the Masai Mara.
Discovering the whole Masai Mara means that your days are varied. Visitors come to the Masai Mara to witness lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and a wide variety of other species in their natural habitats. The majestic big cats of the Mara continue to epitomise that which is Africa. Equally the Masai Mara is well known for its huge variety of birds, Kenya has about 1800 species of birds. With wildlife coming under increasing pressure from loss of habitat, the Masai Mara remains an enclave for all of the big game that Africa is so famous for.
Freeman Safaris have operated in the Masai Mara for over 40 years and our guides know the area like it is their back yard. Film crews and the world’s most famous photographers visit the Masai Mara year after year as it offers so much, time after time. A typical day will start before sunrise as we look to see what the big cats have been up to during the night. After a few hours enjoying the rising sun and warming savannah, we break for morning chai under a tree or by a river. Our experienced guides will make you a cup of tea or coffee along with something to eat, then we head back out looking for interesting sightings.
We return to camp around noon to allow us to have lunch and freshen up from the heat of the day. This also allows you to rest and catch up with photography. We head out as the heat starts to dissipate on an afternoon game drive at 3 or 3:30.
Returning to Freeman Manyatta at last light you will have made the most of every moment in search of exciting wildlife viewing. Every single day in the Masai Mara can be so rewarding, with so much on offer and to see. It is difficult to give a day by day account, as it depends entirely on the game that crosses our path and what your focus is. However, we will have been tracking events as we keep in touch with other guides and camps, we will have an extremely good idea of what’s where. We will be ready to make the most of the following day. After enjoyable drinks and somas around the fire and a 3 course meal we retire to bed, rest and start the adventure all over again the following morning.
Planning when to come
There are Many Good Times to Visit Kenya. Kenya is close to the equator. There are 12 hours of daylight all year round. Temperatures are similar throughout the year at 25-28 degrees Celsius in the day and 10-13 degrees Celsius at night and slightly warmer in the arid northern areas. Freeman Safaris operate all year round. The main consideration for most is to avoid the rainy seasons but as we can explain this is not a no go period at all. Some of our clients come during these times for good reason such as the game is more active during the cooler days. The Masai Mara in particular is quite different through it’s annual cycle, some months will suit you better than others depending on what is important to you.
You may want to see ‘The Great Migration’ and river crossings; or come when the long grasses provide unique savannah landscapes; perhaps observe the migratory birds from September through to late March. As there is no clear month that can be called birthing months, cats anytime with lions usually the best months are January, February and March after the migration. The plains game like tommies and impala can give birth throughout the year, whilst the topis tend to give birth late September or late March, there is no set first rule, any season is good to watch the young play.
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