Masai Mara, Kenya
Why Masai Mara?
Masai Mara, is one of the few places in Africa that gets you as close as possible to nature. Whether it is seeing big cats in close proximity, viewing endless plains of the savannah dotted with trees or experiencing a tribe's way of life - you get close and live in total rejuvenation here. This coupled with a comfortable, hygenic and luxurious camp provides a complete unwinding experience for travellers.
If you are a photographer (you probably have done reading on this place!) opportunities to frame wildlife are in abundance. This is the best place to hone your skills in photography and videography.
In summary, its a great way to unwind in the wild with a good mix of luxury, unprecedented access to wildlife and proximity to experiences you probably have never dreamt of that the wild can offer.
How to get there?
Port of entry - Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital of Kenya and the city you would land into. Being an international airport it is well connected. Many flights operate via the middle east (Dubai/Sharjah/Qatar) which is a convenient transit point to Africa in general. Of course the travel sectors vary entirely based on the country of origin so check for your best options.
NOTE: Make use of the Four Seasons Hotel in Nairobi (link below) which is right next to the airport for unwinding either on arrival or departure.
Nairobi to Masai Mara
There are 2 options to travel between Nairobi to Masai Mara.
1. Local Air travel
You can take a flight from Nairobi's Wilson Airport (airport specific to local flights) to Masai Mara. The overall flight time will be within an hour. Couple of things to note:
a. Check your baggage weights and ensure you can carry them on these smaller flights. In case you have a challenge then you can get your luggage sent by road to the camp in Mara as well.
b. Talk to your camp to select the nearest airstrip so you can book the right airstrip drop off point in Mara.
Some of the regular flying services are offered by AirKenya and SafariLink.
2. By Road
The most common option is to go by road from Nairobi to Mara. It takes roughly 5.5 hours by road. The roads are good but you can get caught by traffic especially near the Great Rift Valley where long trailers can be back to back and delay progress. Start early in the day so you can head to your camp around lunch time.
Seasons to Visit/Avoid
Visits to Mara can be classified into peak season and others - Peak season is when the Great Migration happens where millions of animals (Wildebeest/Topis/Zebras/Gazelles) migrated from Tanzania into Kenya. People flock to Mara to witness this event especially when the migrating herd cross the great Mara river. Lots of action happens during this time with the Nile crocodiles in the river and big cat predators on the land.
Avoid visiting between Apr-Jun as there are showers at that time. Mara is beautiful any season but if its the first time make most of it by visiting between July-Feb. Peak seasons between July-Sept are a little expensive. Off late the peak rates are applied in December as Mara has also become a year end getaway place too!
The below weather is of the Talek, the town closest to Masai Mara to give you an idea of the current weather.
Activities in Mara
There are 3 main activities one can engage when you are in Masai Mara
(1) Game Drives / Safaris - Of course the experience you come for!
(2) Ballon Safaris - A 1 hour ballon ride over the savanah! Finish in style with a bush breakfast too.
(3) Masai Village visit - Explore the dance and fire making traditions of the Masai tribe. Check out their homes and arts stores. It is an hour's engagement.
Other Places of Interest
Within Nairobi
Within Nairobi the following places are worth visiting (you can plan your time accordingly during arrival so you can finish this and then head to Mara).
Giraffe Center - An up close experience of feeding Giraffes is provided here. Kids and adults alike will love the time feeding them.
Sheldrick Trust for Elephants - You need to book this in advance as this is not for a walk in. You can see and experience orphaned elephants and calfs being fed. You also have an opportunity to adopt and pay for their meal.
Nairobi National Park - Witness wildlife within the city - there is also a walkway within the park.
If you are doing Nairobi National Park then don't look beyond 'WOW SAFARIS' to craft your game drives.
Enroute Mara
You can visit the following National Parks enroute to Mara. If you are interested in planning these please do get in touch for the best possible option in planning these visits.
When starting from Nairobi you can do a short detour to Lake Naivasha and then head to Mara. The African Fish Eagle is the highlight of this lake.
While driving back from Masai Mara you can drop in for a couple of nights at Lake Nakuru National Park. You get to see a lot of white and black rhinos here and a good birdlife.
Accommodation/Food
Based on your budget and interests to explore the wild, there are a wide range of options from boutique bush camps to expensive lodges. If you are interested in planning these please do get in touch via a session to discuss options suited to your needs.
Mara stays generally cater to most needs of their guests covering vegan, vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Based on camps you choose you may be served a curated 3 course meal (or) a buffett.
Guiding
One of the key differences in your Mara experience will be the output from the guides who take you for the game drive. Their knowledge, their connect with the other guides etc play a key role in what they get you to witness. I have worked with a wide range of guides who are knowledgeable Masai's, intent on providing the maximum that their land can offer in terms of sightings.
If you are interested in planning these please do get in touch via a session to discuss options suited to your needs.
Itinerary
Want to build an itinerary? Plan to visit more places, make it kid friendly, explore the night life in Nairobi? Please do get in touch with me via a 1-1 session and we can discuss your requirements at length.
I would love to provide as much information as you need along with some of my other artefacts (planners/check lists etc) to make your fully informed for an experience of a lifetime.
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