MASAI MARA – WHAT TO DO?

Masai Mara, known as the ‘Mecca of Wildlife’ has the largest congregation of mammals in the world moving in the endless savannah unfolding one of the magnificent sights nature has to offer. The wildlife in Masai Mara is considered one of the finest collection of wild animals anywhere in the world, and with the wide variety of habitats, literally close to 90 species of mammals and more than 470 bird species have been recorded. Masai Mara and the surrounding Great Mara ecosystem is home to a rich diverse collection of wildlife which tourists from all over the world come to see during an African safari. Mara is famous for its ‘Big Five’, the Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Leopard and Cape Buffalo, and also well known are the ‘Big Nine’ which include the Cheetah, Giraffe, Zebra, and Hippo. During a safari, you are bound to see scores of giraffes, jackals, hippopotamus, crocodiles, baboons, hyenas and cheetahs. You will also find Thompson’s gazelles, Grant’s gazelles, topis, impalas, waterbucks, reedbucks, and a variety of herbivores peacefully grazing. The popular birds we see are the Rollers, African Fish Eagle, African Darter, Abdim’s Stork, Black-Winged Kite, Fisher’s Sparrow Lark, Grey headed Kingfisher, Kori Bustard, Lapped faced Vulture, Southern Ground Hornbill, Striped Kingfisher, and Vulturine Guinea fowl. On a lucky day, we might end up seeing all the Big Five as this has happened to our guests many a times. It is pure ecstasy and excitement and that experience is unimaginable. Lots to do in Masai Mara Magicarpet Wildlife Travels Ltd. has included the most interesting activities during their safaris. We are committed and dedicated to providing you the finest African safari experience and to make this happen, we have designed adventure-filled, comfortable, and affordable safari packages which give a wholesome safari experience of the Mara and surrounding game parks. We guarantee to show you the best views of the savannah grasslands and wildlife of Mara during our meticulously planned safaris. There is a great opportunity to involve in a number of activities while in the Mara and they include the following.

GAME DRIVES

So what is a game drive during an African safari that is mentioned in your itinerary? Well, the meaning of a safari game drive is an adventure excursion by vehicle into the wildlife area. As we know, Masai Mara has the greatest population of wild animals and the game drives take you into their zone to give you the most adventure-filled thrilling game view. You will definitely come in very close encounter with a variety of wild animals. The savannah grasslands give ample opportunity to get close and far-off view of the animals and it is the best time for photography to capture the wildlife. The advantage of seeing Mara with us is that you will be with the most experienced, zealous, and knowledgeable safari guides. We track the chase and kill and let you watch it with your own eyes. The guaranteed animals to be seen during the game drive are cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, zebras, hyenas, crocodiles, gazelles, wildebeests, and many more animals. HOT AIR BALLOON SAFARI Hot air balloon safari is one of the must-do activities in your tour. It gives a bird’s-eye view of the Mara and this close to two hours trip is magical. You will spend about two hours silently floating over the savannah in a hot air balloon and it is surely going to fill you with loads of pleasant unforgettable memories. The view from the hot air balloon is spectacular as it gives a bird’s-eye view of the beautiful sunrise, wild animals, grasslands, forests, and scrublands. The balloon takes off from the launching areas during the wee hours of the morning. You then float in the sky slowly, drifting through the wind, overlooking the plains, just in time to experience a breathtaking sunrise and catch a view of the reserve. At the end of the balloon ride, you are served a continental breakfast under a shady tree out in the open savannah with the herbivores grazing around. This whole experience will be a life time remembrance and you will regret if you dint do it. THE GREAT MIGRATION The ‘Great Migration’ is the greatest wildlife live show on the earth. Each year, almost two million wildebeest and a few thousand Zebras migrate from Tanzania's Serengeti to the south of Kenya's Masai Mara in search of lush grazing grounds and water. This treacherous odyssey is dictated by the seasons and where the rains are, the wildebeest are not far behind. This great spectacle of nature is an iconic safari option for avid travelers, nature lovers and those who want a little more from their African experience. The wildebeest migration is one of the ‘Seven New Wonders of the World’ and also known as ‘The World Cup of Wildlife’. It is simply incredible and magical and nowhere in the world is there a movement of animals as immense as the wildebeest migration. These animals cross the Mara River where crocodiles will prey on them and this is one of the highlights as the animals try to cross the Mara River alive. And while in the grasslands, they will be stalked, hunted, and pulled down by the carnivores. The lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and lesser predators await the annual coming of the migration with eager anticipation as that’s lot of food for them. To witness this spectacular event which happens between July and October, you will need to book our Masai Mara Migration package very early as there is a great demand and the accommodations fill up very early.

MASAI VILLAGE VISIT

You’ve seen pictures of the Kenyan people adorned with the bright and brilliant red, blue and purple patterns of the shukas they wear. The men with their spears, tall and proud and the women bejeweled with bright beaded earrings and scarves. These are the some of the oldest inhabitants of East Africa, the Masai people. A highlight of your safari vacation would be to visit these Masai people. The Masai are very happy and eager to welcome visitors to view up close their culture and lifestyle. For hundreds of years, the Masai have roamed these lands of Kenya and Tanzania, living a free, nomadic lifestyle. Their traditional lands now comprise much of Kenya’s national parks. Their spirit is the greatest and daring as they have been living amidst the wild animals for years. During the Masai village visit, you will get to experience the tribes singing and dancing and yes, you can join in too! The Masai are known for their rhythmic call and response singing and their most widely known dance is the adumu or ‘jumping dance’. Standing in muted contrast to the colourful villagers, you see the browns and grays of the Masai’s houses, called bomas. You can peek inside to experience a very different lifestyle. They build the protective fencing around the village to keep lions and other predators away from the livestock. Believe me this visit will be an experience and you will be awestruck to see how simple they live and how happy they are!

WALKING SAFARIS

Imagine walking in the forest with our guides and seeing the fauna and flora around! Our walking safaris enable you to leave your vehicle behind and take a walk with one of our experienced and qualified naturalists for the thrill of the bush. Down on the same level as the animals, you will experience the untamed beauty of the Mara. Our guide provides a wealth of information on the traditional medicinal uses of plants and Masai folklore. Whilst out on a walking safari, you can catch the scents and sounds of the wild Africa and uncover a hidden, fascinating world of plants, tracks and insects. You cannot miss to get the closest possible view of animals to make up for what you might have missed on the safari drive. Of course this is a protected walk in safe areas.

BIRDING SAFARIS

Bird walking is an adventurous safari that involves observing and studying different species of birds in their natural habitat. If you are into birding, you will surely enjoy this and our guide will show you how to recognize and name bird species by sight, sound and habitat. The atmosphere at the safari offers a great opportunity to view the birds in their natural habitat, and since theses safaris are during mornings, the lighting provides good photographic opportunities, in case you love to shoot!