The National Reserve is situated in Rift Valley Province, Narok and Transmara Districts. The site adjoins the Serengeti National Park along the Kenya-Tanzania border, and is considered part of the same ecosystem.

The word “Masai” comes from the ‘Masai tribe’, nomadic inhabitants of the area and the word “Mara” is their word for ‘spotted’, referring to the ubiquitous flat topped acacia trees, shrubs and bushes that dot the landscape across most of the reserve.

The Masai speak the Maa language (ɔl Maa), a member of the Nilotic language family that is related to the Dinka, Kalenjin and Nuer languages. Except for some elders living in rural areas, most Maasai people speak the official languages of Kenya and Tanzania, Swahili and English.

The Masai Mara features a stunning kaleidoscope of wild and rugged landscapes, warm and welcoming people and an exciting array of creatures – big and small. World famous for hosting the epic Great Migration, the Masai Mara welcomes 1.5 million wildebeests onto its sprawling savannahs each July through October.

Mara has the largest number of savannah species in the world it has over, 650,000 gazelle, 62,000 buffalo, 64,100 impala, 61,200 Topi, 7,500 hartebeest, 7,100 giraffe, 3,000 eland and 4,000 elephant (Mara Research Station Report). There are particularly large numbers of Lion (Panthera leo) and Spotted Hyaena (Crocuta crocuta), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and populations of the threatened black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and African hunting dog (Lycaon pictus) As well as uncounted antelope, hippo, warthog, bush pig and giant forest hog (Lamphey and Reid 2004).

More than 500 bird species are known to occur, including 12 species of Cisticola and 53 birds of prey. Grassland birds are especially well represented.

The Masai Mara National Reserve and conservancies are brimming with life and offer safari travellers a wide variety of activities to choose from. Whether you take to the skies for a high-flying hot-air balloon adventure at sunrise or hit the road for a 4×4 safari, you’re sure to leave the Masai Mara with unforgettable experiences and lifelong memories.