THE MAASAI MARA

With an area of about a tenth the size of the Serengeti, the rich grasslands of the Mara are home to a host of animals including the migratory wildebeest who make their way from Tanzania's Serengeti during the dry season. This is dubbed the Greatest Show on Earth - and the migration can be witnessed in the Mara between August and November, depending on the rainy season.

The Great Migration is what draws thousands of people each year, to witness the herds of wildebeest make their journey into the Maasai Mara, home to many tributaries of the vast Mara and Talek Rivers. From the end of August through to November the migratory herds graze in the lush greener plains of the Mara. From early December the herds return to Serengeti to begin the calving season (February-March) and the cycle begins again.
Apart from the migration, the Mara has a host of other interesting wildlife including the big cats - lions, leopards and cheetah made famous by the Big Cat Diary and the infamous Mara River, where hundreds of wildebeest perish at the jaws of huge crocodiles. Other predators like hyenas and jackals can also be found lurking near water sources and the river.
The Maasai Mara has over 450 recorded species of birds including the aptly named Go-away bird, secretary bird common ostrich and a variety of starlings and eagles.
The Maasai Mara comprises an area of 1530 sq kms and is a 5-7 hour drive from Nairobi. The more comfortable way to travel would be to fly in light aircraft from the Nairobi Wilson airport.

ACCOMMODATIONS
There are many lodges and tented camps in and around the Maasai Mara. Among the most popular are:
Mara Sopa Lodge
Mara Serena Lodge
Mara Hippo Lodge
Fig Tree Camp
Mara Simba Lodge
Keekorok Lodge
Mara Intrepids Camp
Mara Saruni Camp
Kicheche Camp
Governors Camps
Elephant Pepper Camp
Kichwa Tembo Camp
Il Moran Camp
and many others.