Masai Mara holidays

Masai Mara Safari and Masai Holiday

The Masai Mara is part of the Serengeti game reserve which lies to the north of the Kenya Tanzania border. It is most famous for its wildebeest and zebra migrations but many areas offer spectacular game viewing all year round. If you plan a safari in the Masai Mara carefully and choose to stay in a combination of camps you will maximise your chance of a pure Masai safari experience. The Masai Mara is named after the Maasai people, who are the traditional inhabitants of the area. ‘Mara’ is Maasai for ‘spotted’ which aptly describes the circles of trees, savanna and cloud shadows that mark the area. Many people choose to take a safari in the Masai Mara because all members of the ‘Big Five’ can be found here, that is: lion, leopard, African elephant, African buffalo and Black Rhinoceros.

Masai Mara safaris also offer the opportunity to see Hippos and Nile crocodiles in large groups in the Mara and Talek rivers. You can also hope to see hyenas, cheetahs, jackals, gazelles, impalas, giraffes and bat-eared foxes whilst on a Masai safari. When planning your Masai holiday it is worth noting that the excellent weather is ideal for going on safari. It’s warm and mild without being too scorching and it rarely gets cold. The character of the landscape, however, changes dramatically with the seasons so, whatever time of the year you choose to take your Masai safari holiday, you will be treated to wonderful views. Some of the most popular things to do on a Masai safari holiday include: watching the Wildebeest Migration, floating above the Mara in a hot air balloon, meet the Maasai people and take a trip to Lake Victoria, Africa’ s biggest lake. Factoring these experiences into your Masai Mara safari can really help make the holiday unforgettable.

The Masai Mara is a very popular travel destination and you may choose to take a luxury Masai safari as a once-in-a-lifetime trip. There are some lodges which offer top comfort and outstanding views. There is also a great selection of high-end safaris as Kenya is home to the original luxury safari. If you choose a luxury Masai safari you will benefit from awesome itineraries and outstanding service. Whichever part of the reserve you visit on your safari in the Masai Mara, you’re sure to see an amazing number of animals. Many Masai Mara safaris involve seeing a pride of lions on a hunt which is a sight that’s seldom witnessed in other parts of Africa.

Want to know more about the Masai Mara before going on holiday?

Find out more about the Masai Mara by reading these Masai articles.

"Naturally the Masai Mara has become popular with tourists. In some areas too popular. Wouldn't it be wonderful to experience the Mara as if you were one of the only visitors?" Read about Justin's Masai Mara experience in this Masai Mara article.

"Tourism can be a force for positive change in the developing world, but all too often the negative impacts on communities far outweigh the positive. Yet if community tourism enterprises can be linked into the formal supply chain in a responsible way, the benefits can be truly life transforming. A case in point is Tribal Voice Communication’s groundbreaking Maasai Villages Initiative in Kenya. This initiative has reversed over 30 years of exploitation of the Maasai villages’ tourism enterprises in Kenya (cultural manyattas) by the industry’s driver guides." Read more about the Masai Mara in this Masai Mara article.

"It was nearly six years ago that when I was asked what my ideal job would be and I replied ‘I’d love to work for the BBC on Big Cat Diary’... there I was, six years later in the Masai Mara watching a cheetah stalking a Thompson’s gazelle." Read about this Masai Mara safari from someone who has been. Read this Masai Mara safari article.