Magical African Adventure

South Western Kenya is the heartland of the Maasai. The Maasai are astrongly independent people who still value tradition and ritual as anintegral part of their everyday lives. They regard themselves not justas residents of this area but that they are as much a part of the lifeof the land as the land is part of their lives.

Traditionally, the Maasai rarely hunt and livingalongside wildlife in harmony is an important part of their beliefs.Lions and Wildebeest play as important a role in their cultural beliefsas their own herds of cattle. This unique co-existence of man andwildlife makes this Maasai land one of the world?s most uniquewilderness regions.

At the heart of these lands is the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, widelyconsidered to be Africa?s greatest wildlife reserve. The Mara comprises200 sq miles of open plains, woodlands and riverine forest. Contiguouswith the plains of the Serengeti, the Mara is home to a breathtakingarray of life. The vast grassland plains are scattered with herds of Zebra, Giraffe, Gazelle, and Topi.

The Acacia forests abound with Bird life and Monkeys.Elephants and Buffalo wallow in the wide Musiara Swamp. The Mara andTalek rivers are brimming with Hippos and Crocodiles. Each year theMara plays host to the world?s greatest natural spectacle, the GreatWildebeest Migration from the Serengeti.

From July to October, the promise of rain and freshlife giving grass in the north brings more than 1.3 million Wildebeesttogether into a single massive herd. They pour across the border intothe Mara, making a spectacular entrance in a surging column of lifethat stretches from horizon to horizon.

At the Mara River they mass together on the banks before finallyplunging forward through the raging waters, creating a frenzy as theyfight against swift currents and waiting crocodiles. The wildebeestbring new life to the Mara, not just through their cycle ofregeneration of the grasslands, but for the predators who follow theherds.

The Mara has been called the Kingdom of Lions and these regal andpowerful hunters dominate these grasslands. Cheetah are also a commonsight in the Mara, as are Hyena and smaller predators such as Jackals.The Mara is an awesome natural wonder, a place where Maasai warriorsshare the plains with hunting lions, a place of mighty herds andtimeless cycles of life, death and regeneration.

The Mara is probably the best serviced of all Kenyan Parks and Reserveswith a wide range of Accommodation for any budget. The Reserve is apopular attraction with Safari operators. The reserve is ideal for gamedrives, and some lodges and camps offer walks and balloon safaris.

Wildlife moves freely in and out of the reserve, and throughneighbouring Maasai lands. Outside the boundaries of the reserve thereare many other small camps and lodges, some of which offer walking,horse riding and other safari options. The Loita Hills and the NgurumanEscarpment, both considered sacred to the Maasai, offer high foresttrekking opportunities for the adventurous traveller.