7 Things to do in Masai Mara National Reserve are Game Drives, Balloon Safaris, Horse back safaris. These 7 Things to do in Masai Mara National Reserve are exceptional to do by all travelers on safari in Kenya as they explore the vast Masai Mara National Reserve located a few kilometers off the busy city of Nairobi.
Masai mara is a vast, magnificent and game-filled landscape in Kenya that has been frequented and made famous by intrepid explorers, royal families, A-list celebrities, wildlife photographers and award-winning filmmakers. It features prominently on wanderlust travelers’ wish lists and if you haven’t witnessed it yourself, then now is the time.
Activities in Masai Mara national reserve range from unique Game drives where one can see or view the African Big 5. Masai Mara national Reserve is one of the most unique parks not only in Kenya but Africa at large where tourists enjoy a wide range of Activities in Masai Mara.
Must do Things in Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya
1. Game drives/ Game Viewing
Game drives are most common and popular activities in Masai Mara and in most of the African national parks and reserves, by definition it’s an adventure of the park through 4×4 open roof safari van or Land Cruiser enjoying the close view of the animals but observing the park regulations.
Morning game drive which starts at dawn to catch up with sun risers, observe the African sunrise, this is the most rewarding game drive since you will find all animals very active and fresh looking for food of the day in an open savannah grassland grassing, the cats are also in the ambush looking for the food of the day by hunting.
After the sun gets hot all animals go near river banks to quench their thirst and cool themselves while the cats go in hidden quite areas to relax and rest hence hard to see again.
Evening Game drive which usually starts from 4 pm till late at 6:30 pm, on this game drive we get the final catch up of the game while they are out of their hides getting their dinner and sun bathing especially the reptiles. Kobs and other animals that graze in groups will be assembling for their resting.
Night Game drives, this is strictly done under the guide and escort of well-trained game rangers and mostly an extra fee is put on it. It’s mostly enjoyed by film makers who want to see more of the nocturnal animals in the park, see the cats hunting at night and others.
Maasai Mara is one of the best destinations not only in Africa but in the world for excellent game viewing with more than 1000’s of animals to see. In the Migration season which takes place between July and October millions of animals assemble to the reserve as they cross the mara river from Serengeti for new fresh pastures and water. This is the period they come for breeding for the grazers attracting more predators especially the big cats since the prey is much available.
2. Nature walks
Gifted by nature, the reserve has more to explore during your stay around Maasai Mara and this can be done through the use of safari land cruisers or even walking. The reserve is being monitored and care taken by local community hence giving much opportunity to guests to have leisure walks both inside the park and around the local community.
Nature walks as one of the activities in Masai Mara is headed by the game ranger equipped with a gun using trails that are less used by predators enjoying close view of animals like Elephants, Giraffes, Antelope, Buffalos and other grazers around the park. This activity is much enjoyable and makes you active during the trip as you are involved in the activity, researchers mostly prefer this so that they can learn more and more about the different vegetation zoning of the reserve, behaviors of the animals, relationship between the locals and the park and others.
Walking safaris are one of the easy but most rewarding ways of experiencing Maasai Mara, walking on foot with locals putting on local sandals make out of car tires sharing a lot of excitements as you explore the best of the reserve looking for wildlife. You can reach as far as the Mara River witnessing the migration if you’re in the right season visit.
3. Balloon Safaris
The Hot air Balloon safaris is once in lifetime experience one can never forget, its starting sound and shakes can scare and at most guests are advised to sit down cover their eyes as the balloon starts lifting the basket on air slowly with high heart bits as you internally feel the motions when it’s leaving the grounds as your body feels crazy yet you have no control over it.
The safari starts early in the morning with a wakeup call for light breakfast and be driven to the starting point where you will meet the pilot for briefing then enter to the Balloon basket and then kick off as we raise higher approaching the sky’s the sun will also be rising, our floating will take us between 1 or 2 hours depending on the weather of the day as we enjoy the birds view of the undulating beautiful scenery of the great rift valley.
Our happiness will be beyond imaginations flying together with birds of the Maasai Mara exploring all deep corners of the reserve at tree top heights or below which gives clear panorama view an ideal angle for good photographic opportunities at an aerial point.
Upon landing a toast will be done with a glass of wine at the bush, heavy breakfast and finally certificates of success will be issued to all the crew on board. Be picked up by our driver guide who will add more game drives on ground to see more animals on another angle before we head back to our lodge for refreshments and lunch.
4. Cultural Tours
The Masaai culture is one of the greatest cultures one can feel in Africa with their own life styles, the pastoralists who rare more animals in mobile way have unique culture which cannot be seen anywhere in the world. This people have leaved near and around the reserve for more than one hundred years now with unchangeable traditions, norms and customs even if the guests from all corners of modern world frequently move with them, they have stickled on their traditions.
The Maasai community has around 50 traditional houses that surrounds the large crawls of cattle compacted with all traditions of the true Masaai life style. They have more community projects that helps them to benefit from tourism and making them leave in good sustainable life with clean environment.
Cultural safaris or community visit to the Masaai community forms one of the most active and lively Activities in Masai Mara one should not miss while at Maasai Mara from their dancing stanzas of Jumping up and down to the iconic way of milking their indigenous cows, how to get fresh blood from an animal, cooking, making their local houses with mud and many more active activities.
5. Horseback Safaris
It gives you an open way of exploring the best of the landscape passing through other animals with an animal no off truck only enjoying the fresh breeze of nature. During the migration the experience is beyond as you’re escorted by well-trained game ranger one enjoys more as you go close and close to the animals even touching on their backs.
6. Seeing the Wildebeest Migration
These wonderful moments of excitements are always much memorable if one sees by his or her self than reading or looking at the documentaries, the act starts between July and October and during that time millions of animals cross to Maasai mara from Serengeti for breeding purposes and looking for green fresh pastures then after they migrate back hence the action is twice every year but within that range of July and October sometimes early November depending on the rains since they follow the rainy season patterns
During this time, you need to book your trip very early in order to secure nearby lodge which is good around the area so that you will have enough time to enjoy the world cup of nature which is played by millions of wildebeest and 1000’s of zebras versing few but large crocodiles and the lions along the mara River. The score is always not high since all the players are experienced mostly its 1 or 2 to zero depending on the lack of the season.
The action invites wide range of predators not only around the river but the sole Activities in Masai Mara during this period is wildebeest migration as they come to welcome their visitors as well as neighbors to the home land of Maasai Mara your role is to come early and leave late in the evening as you come with everything to keep you lively for the day.
7. Sundowners and Bush breakfast/dinner
This activity is best recommendable for honeymooner who visit the park. Your hotel or lodge is the one in charge of arranging this romantic dinning in the middle of the savannah with meals and drinks. There is nothing stunning better than watching the beautiful sunset in the wilderness and in the arms of your partner.
In conclusion
Planning a visit to one of the top visited safari destinations in the world not other than the Masai Mara National Reserve. Visiting Maasai Mara can be combined with other African safari destination like Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, Amboseli National Park in Kenya, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania among others.