Make memories in the Masai Mara, Kenya
The Masai Mara National Reserve, located in Kenya’s far southwest in the Great Rift Valley, is the East African country’s showpiece: a massive wilderness with plentiful big game, beautiful vistas, and the site of one of the world’s most epic wildlife migrations.
The Masai Mara is named in honor of the Maasai people, the ancestral inhabitants of the area, who practice their timeless and traditional ways here to this day. The reserve and nearby private/community conservation areas boast views of undulating golden plains dotted with acacia trees. The dramatic Oloololo plateau rises to the west of the reserve which is bisected by two main rivers – the Talek and the Mara – and the varied ecosystems support a great diversity of wildlife. This is the classic Out of Africa setting depicted in many movies and documentaries, and the impression of vastness is truly breathtaking.
The Mara is renowned for delivering exceptional big cat (lion, leopard and cheetah) sightings and superb wildlife watching year-round, with sightings of four of the Big Five virtually guaranteed, making it an ideal first-time safari destination.
Between August and October, the famed wildebeest migration surges into the Masai Mara from Tanzania’s Serengeti. Seeing the daily spectacle of the Great Migration unfold — massive, boisterous herds traversing the plains with single-minded determination, animals launching themselves into the hazardous Mara River, daring hunts staged by big cats lying in wake – is one of the most exciting wildlife adventures to be had.
The appeal of the Great Migration definitely draws the crowds, and you’ll have more of the area to yourself if you travel during the quieter months of the year, also known as ‘the green season’ or ‘secret season’. The first rains transform the landscape into an emerald carpet, bringing a riot of colorful flowers and birds and offering the sights and sounds of dramatic afternoon storms crackling over the open grasslands. Between November and April, migratory birds arrive, and baby animals are born in droves throughout the wetter months of the year.
Little Governors Camp, Masai Mara
Where to stay:
Guests staying at Governors’ Camp are hosted by Maasai who provide a wealth of information on the traditional medicinal uses of plants and Maasai culture and folklore. Guests can also stretch their legs on a walking safari, accompanied by Maasai scouts, for a unique perspective of this ecosystem. The camp offers safari romance with impeccable décor and antique furniture in tented suites that open out into the wilderness.
Little Governors Camp, Masai Mara