FACTS ABOUT MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE KENYA
Facts about Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya: Masai Mara National reserve is one of the most visited destinations in Kenya situated along the rift valley region of Kenya within Mara Eco system that comprise of Masai Mara national reserve, Mara Triangle and lots of other Conservation Area like Lemek, Olkinyei, Koiyaki, North Mara, Siana, Naikara, Maji Moto, Ol Chorro Oirowua and Ol Derkesi. Masai Mara National Reserve is most covered by savanna grassland with acacia tree and is drained by 3 rivers including River Mara, River Talek, and River Sand.

Masai Mara National reserve cover a landscape of about 1,510 square kilometers which makes an extension of the Greater Eco-system of Mara-Serengeti that as well comprise of Serengeti national park located south of Masai Mara and other parks in the Northern part of Tanzania.
Masai Mara national reserve obtained its name as a result of the Masi people that have occupied and lived in this land for several hundred years. The reserve has 2 rainy seasons including the season that runs from April to May when the reserve receives heavy rains and from November to December which is a short rainy season.
The eastern park of Masa Mara National Reserve is under the management of Narok County council whereas the Mara triangle and western part of Masai Mara is managed by Mara Conservancy and finally the areas around the Reserve which are occupied by the local Masai people are under the management of the local leaders that are elected by the local community members.
About Masai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara National Reserve started as a small wildlife sanctuary covering a land area of about 520 Square Kilometers of Mara Triangle in 1961 and later on expanded to 1,821 Square Kilometers towards East and was declared a game reserve which later on became a recognized National Game Reserve in 1974 and part of its and was returned back to locals leaving the reserve with 1,510 square kilometers.

Let’s talk about the Masai people,
Masai people are one of the famous group that thrill in Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania who still believe in their ancient beliefs and practices just like the Karamojong people in Northern part of Uganda the pearl of Africa. Masai people are mostly cattle keepers. At one point, the Masai People believed that all cattle belong to them and this used to create lots of problems as the Masai People always tried to fight their neighbors to raid cows from them.
About tourism in Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya,
Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most visited National Reserve in Kenya and entire East Africa region. Masai Mara National Reserve is a home to all the big 5 games including Lions, Rhinos, Elephants, Leopards, and Buffaloes and many other small mammals like the Wildebeests, Zebras, Duikers, Gazelles, Giraffes, Cheetahs, jackals and many more without forgetting plenty of birdlife with over 470 species of birds such as Crowned cranes, vultures, Marabou storks, secretary birds, Pygmy falcon, ostriches, Long-crested eagles, hornbills and many more.
With the above attractions in the Reserve, Game drive is the major tourist activity enjoyed with in Masai Mara National Reserve. Masai Mara is however more fascinating during the annual Wildebeest migration that involves in millions of Wildebeests, thousands of Zebras, Elands, and other mammals that join the Wildebeests during the migration escorted by lots of cats like Lions, Cheetahs and many more as the skies are filled with birds.
This annual great migration of wildebeests starts in Serengeti national park in Tanzania to Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya that sees a great experience of a battle as these animals try to cross over the crocodile infested Mara River. This migrations is usually seen throughout the months of July, August, September and October when the entire reserve is filled with tourists.
To access Masai Mara National Reserve, a fee of $80 per person is paid by all Foreign Nonresidents adults, $70 for Foreign Residents adults and $40 for children aged between 3-18 years while the children below 3 years are allowed in Masai Mara national reserve free of charge. For the case of East Africa tourists, the entrance fees is very low and is charged in Kenyan shillings.

A Kenya safari to Masi Mara national reserve can easily be combined with an adventure to encounter with Mountain Gorillas either in Uganda the pearl of Africa or Rwanda the land of a thousand hills.
Getting to Masai Mara National Reserve,
Masai Mara National Reserve can be accessed both by road and by air.
By road transport, tourists are in position to set off from Nairobi Kenya and embark on a 5-6 hours’ drive to Masai Mara national reserve. This offers tourists an opportunity to enjoy a stopover at Narok town situated about 2 hours’ drive from Nairobi. The journey as well enable tourists to enjoy another fascinating stopover at the rift valley escarpment viewing point.
By Air, there are various airstrips some owned by the lodges. Air Kenya and Safari link offer domestic flights to Masai Mara National Reserve.