Who owns Masai Mara?

Who owns Masai Mara?  The Narok County Council, to which park fees are paid, has jurisdiction over the Maasai Mara National Reserve since it was declared a National Reserve in 1974. With a conservative estimate of about 6 million animals, the greatest terrestrial wildlife agglomeration in the world resides in the Serengeti-Mara habitat, which includes the Maasai Mara. The ecosystem spans over 8,000 km². The Ololaimutiek, Talek, Sekenani, Sand River, Musiara, Oloololo, and Mara Bridge are the park’s entrances. OI Kiombo, Kichwa Tembo, Ngerende, Siana, Keekorok, Musiara, Mara North, and Mara Serena are the landing sites for scheduled flights from various Kenya safari tour destinations Kenya. Additionally, there are numerous private airstrips where charter planes can touch down. The area is traversed by the Mara, Talak, and Sand rivers, as well as by a number of their tributaries, springs, and hippo pools.

Group ranches and conservancies encircle the area, acting as a buffer zone for its wildlife. Olare Orok, Ol Kinyei, Mara North, Maji Moto Olarro, Naboisho, and Ol Chorro Oirouwa are the main conservancies. They are privately run, collect park fees, and start their own conservation and community development initiatives. The Mara Conservancy is a private, non-profit company that oversees the Mara Triangle, which is located west of the reserve.

The Maasai people Mara is named after the Maasai tribe, a nomadic Nilotic group renowned for their exceptional fighting skills. For the Maasai, cattle are a symbol of wealth and are used for food, dowries, fines, and sacrifices. The Maasai go through a series of rites of passage, ceremonies, and celebrations during their life, which elevate them from the status of warrior to that of elder, which is highly esteemed. The Maasai word “mara” (meaning mottled) refers to the plains of the savannah that are dotted by riverine forests, mountain ranges, and natural springs. This region’s naturally diverse environment, which is peppered with numerous ecotones, provides the variety of food sources required to support the abundance of animal, bird, reptile, plant, and insect species.

The Great Migration, Africa’s most stunning wildlife spectacle, is arguably the reason that people know the Maasai Mara the most. In June, July, and August, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, along with zebra, Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelles, impala, eland, topi, and nomadic carnivores, rush north into the Mara, only to reappear in the Serengeti National Park in September and October. Photographers are treated to displays of furious attacks by crocodiles in rivers and lions on grasslands.

Camps in Maasai Mara National Reserve

Matira Bush Camp

In the centre of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, close to the intersection of the Mara and Talek Rivers, sits Matira Bush Camp. This welcoming camp is a true bush camp, set in a copse on a pretty creek lined with water lilies. Established by famous wildlife photographer Antony Tira and Swiss conservationist Monika Braun, the camp is a unique fusion of Maasai hospitality and international administration. There are singles, doubles, and triples available in the 13 en suite tents. Via stone pathways that wind through the trees, the tents are connected and ornamented with vibrant rugs, eye-catching lamps, and Maasai blankets. The lounge tent features a fully stocked bar and is embellished with photos of nature. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided buffet style in the dining tent or by the stream.

In the Maasai Mara National Reserve, game drives are conducted. Picnics are available upon request. It is possible to organise game drives, sundowners, bush breakfasts and bush dinners, as well as cultural excursions to Maasai settlements. It is possible to hire a specially selected group of Maasai guides to lead photographers and filmmakers. The camp was built without using any cement or cutting down any trees. It also uses solar electricity with a backup generator, disposes of waste in an environmentally friendly manner, and runs two water purification facilities.

Amazing Mara Camp

A classic kenya safari camp on the banks of the Talek River is called Amazing Mara Camp. This mobile camp offers views of the Maasai Mara National Reserve across the river, making it a sanctuary for wildlife and birds. There are seven en suite tents available, both double and twin. Each tent has a place for dressing with a clothes rail, bright rugs, and fabrics with African prints. They have safari showers in their bathrooms and chairs on their verandas that overlook the river. The mess tent features a fully equipped bar as well as couches and armchairs covered in regional textiles. Meals can be provided in the mess tent, outside on the riverbank, or on the veranda of the visitors.

The chef is glad to make menus that accommodate all dietary needs and uses fresh ingredients from the area to create delicious dishes. The camp is easily accessible by car from the main migrant crossing locations. Bird watching, bush walks, and day and night wildlife drives are among the kenya safari tour activities. There are bush breakfasts and dinners available, as well as sundowners in the wilderness. The camp features 24-hour solar electricity and is environmentally friendly.

Zebra plains Camp

Zebra Plains Camp, as its name implies, offers views across the Maasai Mara’s plains, which are teeming with wildlife. Alfred Korir, a qualified safari guide with 12 years of experience as a camp manager and guide, owns and runs the camp. Alfred has worked in South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya. He also has South African and Kenyan guiding credentials. The en suite tents have four-poster beds, colourful rugs, baggage racks, reading tables, and stylish lighting. They can be configured as singles, doubles, or triples as needed. They have fantastic views and safari chairs on their verandas. Six people can sleep in the family tent. There are two lounges, the main one having a bar next to it, and both are decorated with cosy, vibrant couches and armchairs.

Meals are served on the wooden deck, in the covered outdoor dining area, or in the main dining room. After supper, the campfire is a great spot to enjoy a Sundowner or other beverage. Kenya safari tour activities here include nature walks to get up close and personal with the animals and spot smaller species, wildlife drives with the Maasai guide team, and cultural trips to neighbouring Maasai villages. Sundowners in the wilderness and photography safaris can also be scheduled. Balloon safaris can be had at an additional fee.

Hammerkop Migration Camp

Hammerkop Migration Camp is situated on a bend in the Mara River, offering a stunning view of the renowned river and the wildlife that visits it for hydration. As the name implies, the camp is in a prime location to watch the yearly big migration that takes place during the months when the wildebeest and other animals visit Kenya.The seven en suite tents have views of the river, braided rugs, exquisite lights, and sturdy wooden furnishings. Cosy couches, lovely carpets, hand-carved eating tables and chairs, and books about the Maasai Mara’s fauna and flora fill the mess tent. Game drives safaris in the Maasai Mara National Reserve are among the Kenya safari activities in the camp. During cultural tours to Maasai settlements, one can discover more about their customs, way of life, and the beading they use to beautify their goods which are also for sale.

One of the optional extras is a balloon ride. Hammerkop Migration Camp supports several community-oriented initiatives. Schools, a scholarship programme, and other neighbourhood initiatives are among them. The campuses solar-powered lights and other eco-friendly technologies in an effort to reduce its environmental impact. Under the own a tree initiative, there is also a tree planting programme