|
Masai Mara travel info The Masai Mara National Reserve is the most popular game reserve in Kenya. It was opened in 1974 and is managed by the nomadic, pastoralist Masai tribe, who arrived in the area by the middle of the 17th century. As of July, the vast herds of the Serengeti in Tanzania begin moving to the Masai Mara in the north, lured there by the rains and the fresh promise of green pastures. The crossing of the Mara River is as gruesome as it is fascinating. The animals begin to move South again by late October, in order to calve in the Sernegeti in January. This 1 672kmē reserve is one of Africa's premier wildlife destinations and boasts all the big game species. Besides the normal safari activities, it is also possible to go hot-air ballooning across the plains, one of the finest ways to see Africa's wildlife.
Seasons
The best time to catch the migration in the Mara is between August and October.
Wildlife
You should see: lion, hippo, crocodile, vulture, elephant, baboon, gazelle, giraffe, jackas, water buffalo, ostrich, topi, impala, Coke's hartebeest, buffalo, bushbaby, bushbuck, Colobus monkey, dik-dik, duiker, eland, Grant's Gazelle, Thomson's Gazelle, genet, gerenuk, hares, hartebeest, spotted hyaena, klipspringer, mongooses, vervet monkey, oribi, serval, steinbok, suni, warthog , waterbuck and 500 species of bird.
You may see: cheetah, leopard, black rhino, Roan antelope, African wild cat, civet, bat-eared fox , striped hyaena, hyrax, pangolin, bushpig, porcupine, ratel, reedbuck, aardvark, aardwolf
Precautions
Malaria area - minimize mosquito bites by wearing light, long sleeved clothing and using effective insect repellents (containing Diethyltoluamide DEET) on exposed skin. Sleep under treated mosquito netting or ensure that the doors and windows of your accommodation are screened against mosquitoes. Having a fan or air-conditioner on at night will further suppress mosquito activity. Currently, the three effective anti-malaria tablets are Mefloquine (Lariam or Mefliam), Doxycycline and Malarone (Malanil). It is still possible to contract malaria while on malaria prophylaxis. Note that Lariam may present serious side-effects - please test before you depart.
back to Masai Mara top
|
