The Maasai Mara, Africa's Crown Jewel
Author: Sean Oling

Kenya is not renowned as the land of safari for nothing. Apart
from breathtaking scenery, miles of scorching white sandy
beaches, welcoming people, numerous game parks and reserves and
wildlife, there is the Maasai Mara. They say you haven't been on
safari till you've been to the Mara.

The Mara is arguably Africa's crown jewel in terms of wildlife.
The Maasai word `Mara' means `spotted' in English perhaps
referring to the countless wild animals that dot this gently
undulating 1510km² of grasslands. Maasai Mara is endowed with an
extraordinary density of animals including the Big Five (lions,
leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros) and an array of plains
game. The Maasai Mara lies about 270 km from Nairobi and takes
about 5 hours by road if you fancy seeing the beautiful Kenyan
countryside on your way to Maasai Mara.

Flights that take about 40-45 minutes are also available. Birds
are featured in plenty, for those in love with the winged
wonders. Over 450 species of birds including 50 species of birds
of prey have been recorded in the Mara.

They include Vulture, Widow bird, Secretary bird, Crowned
crane, Red-billed Oxpecker, Ostrich, long-crested Eagle, Pygmy
falcon, Scale francolin, hornbill, African goshawk, Fiscal hike,
Yellow-throated long claw, Marabou, White-backed vulture, and
Prowl plovers. These birds can be seen perched and chirping away
on groves of acacia and thorn trees that interrupt the
grass-carpeted landscape. All these animals can be viewed by
taking game drives into the wilderness of the Maasai Mara.

However, this extravagance of fauna, this plethora of flora,
this expansive blue African sky and the untouched untamed
landscape, all dwarf the unparalleled sensation of the
relentless march of the wildebeest. The great wildebeest
migration is a wildlife marvel beyond comparison. Witnessing
this marvellous play of nature is an awe inspiring experience.
More than 500,000 wildebeest and 200,000 Zebra accompanied by
other herbivores migrate far south from the plains of the
Serengeti to the Maasai Mara for the luscious pastures
occasioned by the long rains of April and May. But the trek is
punishing because the migrating herds attract the attention of a
voracious horde of predators, especially hyenas and lions. The
predators single out the lame and sick animals for easy prey.

Another natural barrier in the form of the chocolate Mara River
fraught with ravenous crocodiles and frolicking hippos await the
galloping herd of animals. When the migrating herds pick a spot
to cross the river, more die by drowning or between the jaws of
the sneaky crocodiles, while attempting to cross the churning
waters of the Mara River. Once the Mara pastures have been
exhausted, the herds head back to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro
plains where fresh rain has nourished the grasslands. Numerous
other animals reside in the Maasai Mara like Impala, the are
nocturnal bat-eared fox, the Roan antelope, the Thomson's and
Grant's gazelle, Topi, Zebra, Giraffes, Coke's hartebeest,
Hyena, Cheetah, Wild dog,  Jackal, Hippo, Kongoni, Eland,
Monkeys and Ostrich  .

The panoramic landscape of the Maasai Mara is also captured in
various films like "Out of Africa" and its wildlife in
documentaries like the BBC Television show Big Cat Diary.
Another thing you must do is take the early morning Maasai Mara
balloon Safari and softly glide in the endless azure African
sky. The feeling of floating in the skies with hordes of wild
game marauding in the plains below is just beyond description.
The sight of giraffe heads bobbing among the trees and the chill
of the wind whispering around the balloon will be forever
engraved in your memory. After the exhilarating sashay in the
heavens a glass of champagne is served for those who love to
toast. Then a sumptuous freshly prepared breakfast is served in
the bush in the middle of nowhere. Oh you will wish that your
life was such a continuous luxurious adventure, especially when
you get back to the concrete jungle (city) or your work place.

If you fancy a trip that also explores the culture of the
locals of the Mara, the Maasai, guided tours can be arranged. It
will be interesting to learn how these ancient peoples and their
livestock have adapted to coexisting peacefully with wildlife
and the savannah. Tents can be made available and tourists can
spend a night in the homesteads of the Maasai to the sound of
hyenas laughing and lions roaring.

There is a wide range of accommodation available in the Mara.
The resorts in the Maasai Mara revolutionise the meaning of
luxury by the way they pamper and spoil their clients. Both
local and five star cuisines are served accompanied with drinks.
Some of the Resorts are the Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, Maasai
Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Saruni Camp, and Mara Safari Club
Hotel. Do not forget to carry a pair of good quality binoculars,
get the necessary immigration jabs and take anti malarial
medicine. A visit to the Maasai Mara is an experience of a
lifetime that you will never forget.


About The Author: Sean Oling is editor of authoritysitecentre.
You can find more information about about masai mara safari,
kenya wildlife safari, as well as hotels and lodge bookings, on
the website: http://authoritysitecentre.com