Visiting Masai Mara from Nairobi is a very interesting and overwhelming experience as travelers get to travel to the famous reserve from the capital of Kenya. Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the famous tourism destinations located in the south western part of Kenya and in the north western direction from Kenya’s capital city Nairobi.
Nairobi is the second largest city in Africa and is gifted by nature with a variety of attractions such as the Nairobi national park, Nairobi national museum, monuments, religious and historical sites. Means of transport used in Nairobi include road transport, rail transport and air transport.
Therefore tourists visiting Masai Mara from Nairobi can choose to self-drive to get to the park. Other means of transport in Nairobi include matatus, buses, trains, taxis and cycling.
Some of the public transport means from Nairobi to the reserve include Easy coach which offers drives to Narok. Tourists can proceed to get a matatu from Narok to Sekenani gate where you can proceed into the reserve to see the different attractions in the reserve.
One thing you need to note while visiting Masai Mara from Nairobi is that, driving from Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve takes about 6 to 7 hours. The drive through Narok town from Nairobi on the way to Masai Mara National Reserve is filled with amazing scenery such as the suburbs of Nairobi and the great rift valley escarpment.
Tourists can view the rift valley escarpment from Maai Mahiu where they can also visit craft shops and also have stopovers for lunch at any of the restaurants in the Maai Mahiu township before proceeding to the Masai Mara National Reserve.
While visiting Masia Mara from Nairobi, the Masai villages that are found on the way to the Masai Mara National Reserve give the tourists a chance to experience the Masai way of life such as their traditional dress code, Masai beaded jewelry, watching traditional dance performances, visiting the traditional homesteads called “manyattas” among other activities.
The Masai livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats can also be seen grazing in the fields along on the way to Masai Mara National Reserve.
The Masai Mara National Reserve is located along the border of Tanzania and Kenya and is known for the wildebeest migration as well as having numerous wildlife species such as big numbers of predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs.
Other wildlife species which can be seen in the Masai Mara National Reserve include rhinos, buffalos, elephants, warthogs, giraffes, waterbucks, wildebeests, reedbucks, kudus, zebras among others.
On arrival at the Masai Mara National Reserve, tourists are expected to proceed with the necessary entrance procedures which include providing identification and showing the proof of payment for entry fees at the gates of the reserve such as Talek gate, Sekenani gate, Musiara gate, Oloololo gate, Oloolaimutia gate.
Activities which tourists can engage in as they explore the Masai Mara National Reserve include game drives, nature walks, community visits, horseback riding, hot air balloon safaris.
Game drives in Masai Mara National Reserve take place at different times of day and they include morning and evening game drives. Game viewing during morning game drives are very rewarding since the wildlife species are very active at this time of day compared to the evening game drives.
Tourists also engage in nature walks which involve exploring the different attractions in the reserve on foot. These nature walks are carried out in the company of a ranger for security of the tourists as they pay specific attention to minor details in the reserve such as the plant species.
Visiting Masai Mara from Nairobi
Visiting Masai Mara from Nairobi
Accommodation facilities are also available for tourists visiting the Masai Mara National Reserve and they are categorized into luxury accommodations, midrange accommodation and budget accommodation. Campsites are also available for tourists visiting this reserve.
Another option of accessing the Masai Mara National Reserve is flying from Wilson airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to any of the airstrips within the reserve such as Mara Serena airstrip, kichwa tembo airstrip, Ol kiombo airstrip among others which offer domestic and charter flights to this destination.
Tourists can choose the means of accessing the Masai Mara National Reserve from Nairobi for an amazing safari experience at the reserve.