Masai Mara - Experience the greatest wildlife show and migration in Africa

This trip is specially curated to feature among the most attractive Kenya’s parks and reserves. Starting from Amboseli National Park known for its great view of Mt. Kilimanjaro and large herds of elephants, to Nakuru National Park one of the greatest ornithological sites in the world and a great rhino sanctuary in Kenya, to the Masai Mara Game Reserve the arena to one of greatest spectacle on earth, the great migration.

The world’s greatest show‚ set on stage in the Masai Mara great migration.  The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving some 1,300,000 wildebeest, 500,000 Thomson's gazelles, 97,000 Topi, 18,000 elands, and 200,000 zebras. These migrants are followed along their annual, circular route by predators such as leopard, cheetah and most notably lions and hyena.

Wildebeest (also known Gnu) at the background and zebra migration in Masai Mara. Photo credit to Wikipedia contributor Key45

Let us experience it first hand as seen on National Geographic.  The adventure of the lifetime.  This happens every year between July to October, the animals will migrate from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara in search of food and water.  However, for the animals to get to Masai Mara, they will have to cross the dangerous Mara River. That is filled with hundreds of crocodiles and fat pods of hippo waiting for them.  The dramatic contrast between life and death to be witnessed during the Great Migration. 

The Beginning of the Great Migration. Photo by James H licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

The Great Migration - Wildebeests crossing the dangerous Mara River. Photo by James H licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0 

Despite comprising only 0.01% of Africa’s total landmass, more than 40% of Africa’s larger mammals can be found here in Masai Mara.
Large numbers of migrating wildebeest, after having crossed the river Mara from Serengeti to the Mara

We will visit a Masai Mara village, the Maasai tribe is a unique tribe and well-known for its high jump dance.

High jump dance to impress the girls

Sunrise at Masai Mara

There are many national game viewing parks in Kenya that one must visit when in the country. Our itinerary covers those that are strongly recommended and well known.
Some of the big mammals found in Amboseli National Park, Masai Mara National Park, and Lake Naivasha area

Amboseli National Park provides the classic Hollywood image of Africa. It is one of the best wildlife-viewing experiences in the world with 400 species of birds including water birds, pelicans, kingfishers, crakes, hammerkops, and 47 types of raptors.

Grey Crowned Crane and Superb Starling in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. Photo credit to Atul Nulkar @ flickr.com

Set in rolling savannah scenery it is dwarfed by the presence of the pink-tinged, snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro which, at 5,896 meters, is the tallest mountain on the African continent and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Set against this amazing and magnificent backdrop roam vast herds of elephant accompanied by the lions, buffalos, cheetahs, giraffes, baboons, gazelles, hippos, and wildebeest.  

Amboseli National Park is famous for being the best place in the world to get close to free-ranging elephants, with Mt Kilimanjaro in the background. Photo credits to amboseli.com

Discover Lake Nakuru National Park 

Lake Nakuru National Park is one of Kenya’s two Premium Parks, and is a bird lover’s paradise. The park has a reputation as an ornithologists’ delight with more than 400 species of bird found here. It also boasts a huge variety of animals, including leopard which is often found snoozing on the branches of the magnificent yellow-barked acacias, lion, buffalo, hippo, waterbuck, warthog, baboon, the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe only found in this park in Kenya, southern white rhinos and the rare eastern black rhino is protected and guarded here too.

Rothschild's is one of the most endangered distinct populations of giraffe, with 1671 individuals estimated in the wild in 2016. Photo credit: By The Lilac Breasted Roller from Sullivan's Island, United States @ Wikimedia Commons 

 Black Rhino at Lake Nakuru. Photo credit to Bernard DUPONT @ flickr.com

We may have a chance to be up close and near the wild animals (no predators) by walking at Crescent Island Game Park which is located on Lake Naivasha, It is one of the most beautiful parks in Kenya and is Lake Naivasha’s best kept secret. You have the opportunity to see zebras, giraffes, hippos, buffalo and a wide variety of birdlife as we walk through the park.

Some of the wild animals in Lake Naivasha

Zebras at Crescent Island. Photo credit to Son of Groucho @ flickr.com

 
Hippos at Lake Naivasha Photo credit to Николай Максимович, source https://www.panoramio.com/photo/47575131

Cormorants on Lake Naivasha. Photo credit to McKay Savage @ flickr.com 

Great Rift Valley

Mount Longonot. Photo credit to Valerius Tygart @ Wikimedia Commons

Flamingo in Lake Elmenteita Joanne Goldby @ flickr.com

Below are some pictures of the mid-range (semi-luxury) accommodation for reference only. The actual accommodation may not be exactly the same hotel, it is depending on when the trip is confirmed but it would be of a similar standard.