Game Drives in Masai Mara National Reserve
Game drives in Masai Mara National Reserve are among the wildlife viewing activities which tourists engage in most when they visit the park. This activity involves driving through the open savannah plains of the reserve in search of the different wildlife species which can be seen roaming and grazing around the reserve.
Masai Mara national reserve is located in the south western part of Kenya and is known for the variety of wildlife and bird species. This national reserve is also known for the Maasai people who are inhabitants of the reserve.
Time for game drives
Masai Mara national reserve is known for its amazing wildlife viewing opportunity. There are a variety of wildlife species which can be seen in this reserve and they include the big five such as lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinos and leopards as well as a large concentration of predators.
Game drives take place at different times of day in the Masai Mara national reserve and they include morning game drives and evening game drives. Depending on different factors, a tourist is able to engage in either a morning or an evening game drive.
Tourists who have an interest in seeing a variety of wildlife species for which the Masai Mara national reserve is known to opt for morning game drives. During morning game drives, tourists are able to see the wildlife species since they are more active during this time of day.
A lesser number of wildlife species can be seen during the evening game drives in the Masai Mara. This is because, at this time of day, the animals take shelter from the sun and also get some rest. Tourists also enjoy watching the beautiful sunset as they drive around the reserve in search of the wildlife species.
Other wildlife species which can be seen in the Masai Mara national reserve include wildebeest, hartebeest, giraffes, zebras, hippos, antelopes, waterbucks, gazelles, bushbucks, duikers, dik-dik, baboons, vervet monkeys, warthogs among others.
Bird species can also be seen in the Masai Mara national reserve during game drives and they include ostriches, guinea fowls, turacos, hornbills, barbets, herons, finfoot, cisticola, kingfishers, yellow throated sand grouse among others.
Routes for game drives
Mara triangle offers the best wildlife viewing opportunities within the Masai Mara national reserve.
Outside the reserve, wildlife species can be seen in the conservancies which are owned by landowners.
Fees for game drives
Game viewing activities such as game drives are inclusive of the entry fees to Masai Mara national reserve which is 80 USD.
Best time for game drives
Wildlife viewing during game drives is an activity in the Masai Mara national reserve which can be carried out at any time of the year depending on different factors such as the time of day, equipment used to see the wildlife among others.
Game drives are best done when the grass in the reserve is short making it easier to spot the different wildlife species within the Masai Mara national reserve and this is during the months of June to October which is the dry season.
The rainy season which occurs during the months of March, April, November, and December do not favor game drives in the Masai Mara national reserve due to the difficulty in driving along with the different game driving tracks in the reserve.
Attractions that can be seen during game drives in Masai Mara national reserve include Oloololo escarpment or Siria escarpment, Ngama hills, Loita hills, the Musiara mush, Rhino Ridge, Paradise Plain, Leopard Gorge among others.
African lion couple and safari jeep
How to get to the reserve and entry gates
Masai Mara national reserve can be accessed through different means which include both road and air or flight.
By road, tourists can access the Masai Mara national reserve from the Nairobi via Narok route and then driving to any of the park entry gates which include Sekenani gate, Musiara gate, Talek gate, Oloololo gate, Oloolaimutiek gate.
Flights are also available for tourists visiting the Masai Mara national reserve from the different airports in Nairobi such as Wilson airport to any of the airstrips within the reserve such as kichwa Tembo airstrip, Mara Serena airstrip, Shikar airstrip, Ngerende airstrip, Musiara airstrip, Ol kiombo airstrip, keekorok airstrip, Sian springs airstrip among others.
Both domestic and charter flights are available for tourists visiting the Masai Mara national reserve using air means.
Visit the Masai Mara reserve for an experience of amazing game drives and explore the open plains in search of a variety of wildlife species.