WHAT IS THE MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE ?
The Maasai Mara is one of the best-known reserves in the whole of Africa and is globally
renowned for its exceptional wildlife. Despite comprising only 0.01% of Africa’s total landmass,
more than 40% of Africa’s larger mammals can be found here. The National Reserve is one
component of the broader, bigger Masai Mara ecosystem, often called “the Masai Mara”. The Masai Mara is perhaps best known for the Great Migration, which takes place every year from late June to October/November. During these months the yellow savannah is dotted black by more than 1.5 million wildebeest, zebra, and antelopes that migrate from the Serengeti to the Mara in search of food and water. The Masai Mara lies in the Great Rift Valley, which is a fault line some 3,500 miles (5,600km) long stretching from Ethiopia’s Red Sea through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique. Here the valley is wide, and a towering escarpment can be seen in the distance. The varied wildlife species are at liberty to move outside the park into huge area of the conservancies. There can be as much wildlife roaming outside the park as inside. Many Maasai villages are located in the ‘dispersal areas’ and they have developed a synergetic relationship with the wildlife.
renowned for its exceptional wildlife. Despite comprising only 0.01% of Africa’s total landmass,
more than 40% of Africa’s larger mammals can be found here. The National Reserve is one
component of the broader, bigger Masai Mara ecosystem, often called “the Masai Mara”. The Masai Mara is perhaps best known for the Great Migration, which takes place every year from late June to October/November. During these months the yellow savannah is dotted black by more than 1.5 million wildebeest, zebra, and antelopes that migrate from the Serengeti to the Mara in search of food and water. The Masai Mara lies in the Great Rift Valley, which is a fault line some 3,500 miles (5,600km) long stretching from Ethiopia’s Red Sea through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique. Here the valley is wide, and a towering escarpment can be seen in the distance. The varied wildlife species are at liberty to move outside the park into huge area of the conservancies. There can be as much wildlife roaming outside the park as inside. Many Maasai villages are located in the ‘dispersal areas’ and they have developed a synergetic relationship with the wildlife.