Masai Mara Game Reserve - “Complete Wilderness”
The Masai Mara National Reserve covers some 1530km² in south-western Kenya. It is the northern-most section of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, covering some 25,000 km². It is bounded by the Serengeti Park to the south, the Siria escarpment to the west and Maasai pastoral ranches to the north, east and west. Rainfall in the reserve increases markedly along a south-east-north-west varies in space and time. Major rivers found in the reserve are the Sand, Talek and Mara.
The terrain of the reserve is primarily open grassland, with seasonal riverlets. In the south-east region are clumps of the distinctive acacia tree. The western border is the Esoit Oloololo Escarpment of the Rift Valley, and wildlife tends to be most concentrated here, as the swampy ground means that access to water is always good and tourist disruption is minimal.
There is no shortage of animals to view on Safari in the Mara. In June, large numbers of Wildebeest, oblivious to the political boundary between Tanzania and Kenya, wander up from the Serengeti, a Game Reserve in Tanzania through the Masai Mara a Game Reserve in Kenya in search for grass to eat on their great migration northwards. The wildebeest are nomads, constantly roaming in search of the sweetest grass nourished by recent rainfall. From October they begin their journey southwards to Serengeti where the cycle begins.
The "Big Five" are found in the Masai Mara, although the population of black rhinoceros is severely threatened, with a population of only 37 recorded in 2000. Hippopotami are found in large groups in the Masai Mara and Talek rivers. Cheetahs are also found, although their numbers have also decreased steeply due to tourist disruption of their daytime hunting. The plains between the Mara River and the Esoit Oloololo Escarpment are probably the best area for game viewing especially for the lion and cheetah.
As in the Serengeti, the wildebeest are the dominant inhabitants of the Masai Mara, and their numbers are estimated in the millions. Around July of each year these ungainly animals migrate in a vast ensemble north from the Serengeti plains in search of fresh pasture, and return to the south around October.
The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving an immensity of herbivores some 1,300,000 wildebeests, 360,000 Thomson's gazelles, and 191,000 zebras. These numerous migrants are followed along their annual, circular route by a block of hungry predators, most notably lions and hyena.
Other wild animals also found in the reserve are antelopes, hartebeests, Thomson's and Grant's gazelles, impalas, topis, zebra, Masai giraffe, the nocturnal bat-eared fox, Roan antelope, spotted hyena, dik dik the smallest antelope in the world. Additionally, over 450 species of birdlife have been identified in the park, including vultures, marabou storks, secretary birds, hornbills, crowned cranes, ostriches, long-crested Eagles, and African pygmy-falcons.
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