Facts about Masai Mara National Reserve will give you an insight to the amazing Masai Mara park in Kenya and all the most interesting bits of it. Masai Mara National Reserve is one of Kenya’s premium protected areas that attract almost half of the tourists to Kenya. No one can think of wildlife safari in Kenya and misses out Masai Mara National Reserve. The size of the park does not even portray a great wildlife experience that is found in the reserve. It’s managed by the local Masai people themselves not like other protected parks of Kenya that are managed by Kenya Wildlife Services.
The 8 Facts about Masai Mara National Reserve are the unique factors that make the reserve more popular tourism destinations. These are unique things that can be found or done at the reserve at the expense of other national parks.
The local Maasai people have warmly protected the reserve with no jealous hearts hence making all the animals very safe from poaching. The local communities are all enjoying the value of tourism. On 15th Sept every year the local Maasai people celebrate Masai Day. This is when the wildebeest migration starts their journey back to Serengeti hence the locals say goodbye to the wildebeest in a ceremonious way.
largest national reserve: The 8 Facts about Masai Mara National Reserve include one that it’s the largest national reserve in Narok County the most famous Masai town in Africa. The reserve was named in honour of the Maasai locals who are the ancestral inhabitants of the region. The name meant the description of the vegetation of the area which is dominated by open savannahs dotted with circles of the Acacia trees. Masai Mara was established in 1961 as a wildlife sanctuary covering just throw of the stone area before it was enlarged later after seeing the value of conservation by the locals.
The high concentration of predators: Among the 8 Facts about Masai Mara National Reserve is that the reserve is much famous for its high concentration of predators population especially Lions and Leopards. One is more sure of seeing in the shy leopards in their leopard’s trail. There has been a great documentary of rare black Leopards that was caught on Camera during night vision. The pictures of the black leopard went viral in many social and travel documentation. The leopards are mostly sited on top of the rocky kopjes in the reserve and on top of the fig trees. Masai mara national reserve has the most popular Leopard named Bella which is mostly sited along the Talek River. Bella is the only wild leopard that is habituated and used for film production. Masai Mara lions are in large pride that is led by the dominant male lion. It is only in Masai mara that the number of Lions grow rapidly. Other predators in Masai Mara National Reserve include Hyenas, cheetahs, Jackals, and many others. The Big Cat Diary was documented in Masai Mara national reserve that is one of the most popular predator documentaries in the world. This showed that the reserve had over 600 lions living around the ecosystem.
Big five: Masai Mara national reserve has all the 5 members of African big five which includes the lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and Rhinos. The population of the African big five has been increasing especially with the Elephant population. It is noted that Masai Mara is among the few reserves in Africa where the population of Elephants are increasing dramatically. The small size of the reserve has made it possible for the guests to view all the big five in minimal time possible. This has made the game drive at the park enjoyful throughout the year. Other wildlife in Masai Mara includes the hippos which are abundant in the hippo pool around the mighty Mara river where they share with large Crocodiles. This is the same river where the wildebeest migration occurs from. Giraffes, warthogs, Zebras, Gazelles, Elands, Topis, Cheetahs, hyenas, dik-dik and many more.
Wildebeest migration: The wildebeest migration is the largest animal migration on planet earth which happens annually between Kenya Masai Mara national reserve and Serengeti national park of Tanzania. Among the 8 Facts about Masai Mara National Reserve is also that it is one of the lucky reserves in the world to host millions of mobile wildebeest who move according to the rainfall patterns. The wildebeest migration reaches its climax when they cross the Mara River in July. Millions of wildebeest and other grazers like Zebras elands move together from Serengeti national park to Masai Mara national reserve. The great wildebeest migration starts from July and they return back from another corner in October back to Serengeti. The Migration is termed as survival for the fittest as the predators on both sides Serengeti and Masai mara are on alert while the large Nile Crocodiles at the crossing point kill more during the crossing. The wildebeest migration is one of the natural wonders of the world.
Bird species: Masai Mara National Reserve has a record of over 570 bird species with more than 50 bird species of Prey which includes: Eagles, vultures, storks, and many others. Birding can be done throughout the year, the bird list is long which includes: Kori bustard, secretary bird, Giant kingfisher, Schalow’s turaco, herons, Usambiro barbet, sooty chat, Southern Ground Hornbill, Magpie Shrike, spurfowl, ostriches, and others.
Maasai locals: Maasai tribe is among the few tribes in Africa whose culture has lasted for years without changes. Masai Mara national reserve is among the protected areas in Africa where the locals are jointly leaving together at peace. The presence of the local Maasai people around the park has not only protected the wildlife but diversified the tourism experience with wildlife alongside the cultural tours. The Maasai locals are among the famous tribes in Africa with unique cultures and traditional believes that excites the tourists.
Hyena research center: Another Fact about Masai Mara National Reserve is that the reserve serves as a Hyena research center. Masai Mara has the highest concentration of Hyenas in Kenya hence making it easy for the Kenya Wildlife Services to set up the Hyena research center at the reserve.
White Giraffes Family: Masai Mara National Reserve is a miracle tourism destination with more unique things happening at the reserve. Of resent their was unique newly born rare zebra which had black dots instead of strings. The park has more than four members of the unique white Giraffes which gave newborn white giraffes making the family of the unique white giraffes multiply.
8 Facts about Masai Mara National Reserve
Wildebeest Migration – 8 Facts about Masai Mara National Reserve