History of Masai Mara National Reserve: Masai Mara National Reserve was originally established in 1961 and at the time it consisted to have only 520 square kilometers ‘’which included the Mara Triangle’’. Then, later on the amount of land covered in the sanctuary expanded and in 1974 the area turned into a National Reserve. A portion of the land was given to the local communities and currently the Mara ecosystem comprised of 1,510 square kilometers. The Maasai people have always relied on their land to protect their cattle and to provide their families. Thanks to the establishment of the reserve through protecting the area for the conservation of wildlife and wilderness and the area designates of conservancies – the fact is that, the Maasai people are able to maintain their way of living and improve on their day today lives.
More so, the trans-Mara council county was formed in the western part of the reserve and the management was divided between the new council and the Narok county council.
In year 2001, the Mara conservancy take control of the management of the Mara triangle which is good in supporting large number of wildlife species and it also borders the Mara River where the wildebeest cross into the Masai Mara reserve from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park yearly.
The Mara Triangle also ranks as the largest part of the reserve and it is comprised of the scattered bushes and Kopjes a great site to watch lions as they prey grazing in the central plains and grassland.
Travelers can reach the Masai Mara reserve through different means of transportation; By road or air transport – visitors can drive from Nairobi to Narok and then proceed a drive to any of the gates of the reserve.
By air, visitors can fly to any of the airstrips in the reserve either on domestic flight or charter flights.
Wildlife species of Masai Mara National Reserve including; lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and other mammals such as cheetahs, wildebeest, gazelles, zebras, hyenas, giraffes, topis, gazelles, warthogs, eland, jackals, waterbucks, oribis, reedbucks many more.
Birdlife includes; Abdims stork, Rufous -bellied heron, Saddle-billed stork, Giant kingfisher, Schalow’s turaco, Southern ground hornbill, Yellow -throated sandgrouse, Yellow-mantled stork, Silverbird, Secretary bird, Southern ground hornbill, Trilling cisticola, Usambiro barbet, Swahili sparrow, Rufous -throated wryneck, mentioned but few.
Best time to visit the Masai Mara National Reserve; It’s during the dry season which starts from July to October and during this time of the year in Kenya -tourist can witness the great encounter of wildebeest migration event which ranks as the seven natural wonders of the world. What a great nation Kenya is! When it comes to wildlife safari adventure worldwide -go visit Kenya Safari Destination and be able to witness a wide diversity of wildlife species.
Masai Mara reserve experiences both rainy and dry seasons. In Kenya -rain seasons tend to occur in the months of November, December, March and May.
The Masai people are ancient migrants who live around the reserve -they have contributed to tourism and promoting conservation in the reserve. The biggest percentage of tourists who visits the Masai villages enjoy different cultural experience such as watching traditional dance performances, visiting the manyattas- are the traditional Masai houses, visit the local arts and craft many more other activities.
Activities done while on visit in Masai Mara National Reserve includes; Guided natural walks, Hot air balloon safaris, Bird watching, Cultural visit, Game drive, go for wildebeest migration events which happen from July till early October among others.
Visit the Masai Mara National Reserve and get a great chance to know all about the history of Masai Mara National Reserve, Masai people, different attractions as well as engaging in different activities in the reserve.
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