Kenya's Maasai Mara - the one place to visit

by benisse
(Kenya)

Maasai Mara is a large reserve lcoated in the south-western side of Kenya, and is effectively the northern continuation of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Named for the Maasai tribespeople (the traditional inhabitants of the area) and the Mara River which divides it, it is famous for its exceptional population of game and the annual migration of the wildebeest every July and August, a migration so immense it is called the Great Migration.

Hotel and lodge bookings in the Maasai Mara game reserve have gone up ahead of the high peak season expected in three weeks time. The Mara triangle alone had achieved full bookings of 4,000 guests daily.

Some of the sought after facilities are the Kichwa Tembo, Mpata and Mara Serena hotels.

But the climax of the season comes around September when the spectacular mass migration of the wildebeest is expected to begin.

Masai Mara was last year declared one of the Seven Wonders of the world in a poll by the ABC Television’s Good Morning America.

70,000 tourists visited the Masai Mara last year and we expect the number to go up this year. All hotels within the triangle are currently fully booked.

The animals cross over from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Mara due to improved grass cover.

At the same time, management at the Masai Mara National Game Reserve has asked hotels and lodges to beef up security around the park ahead of the increased tourist visits.

This will ensure the safety of the visitors, said Brian.