Masai Mara National Reserve located in south west Kenya is a vast scenic expanse of gently rolling African savannah plains measuring 1510 square kilometers in area and bordering the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the south. Masai Mara is a unique wildlife conservation haven, famous for its spectacular natural diversity of wildlife and happens to be a premier Kenya Safari location in East Africa, offering visitors many reasons to visit this animal paradise. Large numbers of Lions, Cheetah, Elephant, Rhino, African Buffalo, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Zebra and many more animals are found in the park in their natural habitat, unconfined and free to roam the vast wilderness stretching for miles on end.
It is no surprise then that tourists from the world over travel here not least because the reserve has been voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Regarding the origin of the name, the word ‘Masai’ comes from the Maasai tribe, nomadic inhabitants of the area and the word ‘Mara’ is their word for ‘spotted’, referring to the ubiquitous flat topped acacia trees, shrubs and bushes that dot the landscape across most of the reserve.
There are several exciting activities one can enjoy in Masai Mara. The most thrilling of these has to be the Hot Air Balloon safari, taken at the break of dawn and ending with a leisurely ‘Champagne Bush Breakfast’. This is a truly unique adventure activity and the Mara provides the perfect backdrop for the amazing balloon excursion. The flight lasts for about an hour as you glide gracefully over the African savannah watching the magnificent wildlife below. The pilots are highly experienced and the activity boasts of an exceptional safety record. Another popular experience is visiting a traditional tribal Maasai village which allows visitors a fascinating insight into the unique way of life of the famous Maasai, a nomadic warrior tribe found in Kenya and parts of East Africa. There are also nature walks, bush meals and sundowners as some of the other popular things to do in Masai Mara as a tourist visiting this reserve.
Reading up on the Masai Mara, finding out what you might encounter, and exploring your accommodation options… we’ve done most of the work for you and created this site to help you find all the answers to any questions you may have. To top it off, we’ve brought together a top-notch collection of Masai Mara safari lodges and camps for you to choose from. Naturally, we’re only an e-mail or message away if you need a little extra help planning your safari.
