Must Do Things (Safari Activities) To see in Maasai Mara

Things to do in Masai Mara National Reserve encompasses a bucket list of Safari activities to do in this immense  & magnificent  game filled Kenya’s landscape, that has been made famous by intrepid travelers,  wildlife  film makers & photographers, celebrities. These 10 bucket list activities to do in Maasai Mara include: Game Viewing drives, Nature walks, Balloon Safaris, Bird-Watching, Cultural tours, Horseback Safaris, The great wildebeest migration, Hoarse Riding among others as detailed below

#Highlights Of Activities To Do In Masai Mara National Reserve

Discover Masai Mara on Game Viewing Drives

Explore the vast landscape of Masai Mara on a 4×4. Maasai Mara offers 3 kinds of game viewing drives to choose from. The first one being morning & Late evening game drives with lunch in the hotel, while the second one takes the entire day, with picnic lunch in the wilderness.

Morning game drives lets you catch up with the  early risers, as you will spot cats like leopards, lions among others looking for food by hunting in the Open Savannah grassland.

When the sun is hot in the afternoon, animals tend to gather near the waterholes to  cool off, allowing for best photography & filming.

Evening game drives which usually start at 4:00pm to 6:00pm, is when you encounter with game out of their hiding places to look for what to eat.

While night game drives are restricted under a guide who will escort you at an additional fee. This excites filmmakers who want to spot nocturnal animals in the Park, as well as seeing them hunt.

Maasai Mara National reserve is an all year round destination to visit, that doesn’t disappoint. It has numerous animals to look out for including the Big Five (Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Leopard), among other wild game like, Spotted hyenas, giraffes, Gazelles, Hippos, Hartebeests, Zebras, Antelopes, Crocodiles…

Experience the wide Savanna on foot

Although Masai Mara National Reserve is highly explored on a 4×4 safari jeep for game viewing drive, a guided Nature Walking safari  is also the best way to explore the pack for a once-in-a-lifetime memory.

Accompanied by an equipped game ranger, guests will be escorted to explore the endless horizons of the reserve, as they follow trails seldom used by predators, as they enjoy intimate views of animals like Elephants, Giraffes, Antelopes, Buffalos among other grazers within. This exciting nature walk helps naturalists learn more about the unique vegetation zones, Masai Mara National Reserve has to offer, between the locals & the park.

Walking on foot to explore Maasai mara is quite tiring, but offers a rewarding experience with a lot of excitement, especially when guests reach up the Mara River ground.

Soar Up High on a Hot Air Balloon Safari.

Rise up early before dawn,  for an awakening to soar up high in the sky above the mara plains, in a life changing hot air balloon experience. You will enjoy the serene rise of and the impressive bird’s eye view of a plethora of the animals beneath (and the Great Migration if you’re lucky). This ultimate experience wraps up with a memorable , cheerful champagne breakfast in the center of Masai Mara National Reserve.

Interact with the Maasai on a community visit

Spending the entire Day With The Maasai Tribe

A Masai Mara safari is incomplete without an awe-inspiring encounter with the Maasai culture. The Unique Maasai cultural experience draws you close and personal with the Maasai tribe. The Maasai people are so hospitable & kind hearted to share their life stories with their visitors. Guests are led by an experienced maasai guide into one humble mud and sticky manyattas (homesteads) where you will learn how to grind millet on a grinding stone, how to pray, make fire naturally using dung & wood, as well as learning new hunting techniques plus the jumping traditional dance. Don’t forget to buy some souvenirs from their Maasai Shop.

Take to the saddle on a horseback safari

Though it was used by explorers of old, sitting on the back of a hose and riding among wild game is another unique way of  exploring the open plains of Maasai mara National Reserve. Horse riding is majorly preferred by adventure naturalists who  prefer to view animals, while enjoying the fresh breeze nature has to offer.  Guests are guided by an experienced ranger, with whom they will find their way through  large herds of zebras, Giraffes and antelope groups

Witness the great Wildebeest Migration

The Great Wildebeest Migration is the best scenic spectacle  of the Natural world. This great wildebeest migration is a natural phenomenon that occurs every year, when over 1.5 million Wildebeests , alongside hundreds of thousands of Zebras, & Antelope groups loop withing the Serengeti-Maasai mara ecosystem in search for greener pastures plus water. The great migration includes danger during river crossing by crocodiles who take their stroll, cats grabbing the lazy and restless prey, while some animals drown and die while crossing. The world’s famous natural wonder is an ideal bucket list activity to do by any adventure traveler

Recreate your favourite scene from Out of Africa

Out of Africa, the epic film that made the entire world fall in love with Kenya recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. Avid film fanatics and romantics at heart can retrace the steps of Meryl Streep and Robert Redford and visit the exact locations of some of the movie’s most famous scenes.

Celebrate the sunset with Maasai warriors

Set an unforgettable moment with the Maasai Warriors at Oloololo escarpment overlooking the wide Mara plains and Serengeti from a distance. While the sun gently sets down the horizon, stand around a blazing, with a glass of wine, accompanied with a few snacks, and watch the interesting song and dance performances by the Maasai Warriors

Photograph lions in ‘Big Cat Diary’ territory

The Masai Mara protects the highest population of Lions in the World. No wonder Masai Mara is where the  world-famous nature documentary, Big Cat Diary is filmed. Therefore, you can head out with a skilled and an experienced ranger to look for a legendary Mara pride

Birding in Maasai Mara

Masai Mara hosts more 450 species of birds, 45 are birds of prey, and 45 species in the Open savannah. Bird Enthusiasts enjoy Maasai birds which arrive in beautiful colors which makes birding in the open plains of Masai Mara an all year round activity. Masai Mara has the highest bird record in Africa, which earned Kenya an award, as the only birding destination, where about 342 bird species can be spotted in within 24 hours. Nonetheless, Maasai Mara hosts the largest  bird-the Ostrich, which is known as the “Maasai Ostrich”.

Masai Mara shelters several migratory birds annually from October through February all year round, which includes swallow, tens, waders, then between June to July, Mara River Swamp is filled with weaver birds, & bishops as they come for breeding.

Besides, other birds to look out for, include Rosy throated long & Mgpie Shrike, Ostrich, Long tailed Cormorant, Little Bittern, Cattle Egret, Roufous-billied Heron, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Hamerkop, Marabou Stork, Yello Billed Stork, Hadeda Ibis, Sacred Ibis, Ruppels Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, African Fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Kori Bustard, Secretary bird, Sooty chat, Usambiro Barbet, among others.

The range of habitats support a big number of bird species in Maasai Mara, which  contributes to an ultimate birding experience.