This Kenyan national park is one of the places in the world to see lions, leopards, and cheetahs in the wild.
When it comes to making plans for a safari in Africa, TikTok can agree on one thing: Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve should be on your itinerary.
“The Land of Cats” is reputed to be one of the most productive places on the continent to see lions, leopards and cheetahs in the wild; It is one of the main filming locations for the live-action film The Lion King.
The Masai Mara’s location in the Great Rift Valley gives you a starting point in terms of wildlife diversity compared to other reserves. Its 900 kilometers of lush savannah are home to nearly 90 other species of mammals, and safari enthusiasts have a good chance of spotting them all. of Africa’s ‘Big Five’ (lions, leopards, elephants, African buffaloes and elusive black rhinos), as well as members of the lesser-known (but equally valuable) so-called ‘Ugly Five’, adding hyenas and wild boars. If you stop at the site in late summer, you may even be able to witness the wonderful migration of more than 2 million wildebeests, zebras, and other herbivores crossing the Mara River from the nearby Serengeti Desert.
Last February, I spent 10 days visiting Kenya’s national parks and game reserves on an itinerary organized through EF Ultimate Break, a Gen Z and millennial agency. After a week of glamping in the bush in dusty, sparsely vegetated parks across Kenya, the Masai Mara was relatively lush and my safari jeep was constantly bumping into families of elephants, giraffes, and lions.
If you’re soon going on safari in Kenya or browsing TikTok for long-term inspiration, here’s what’s worth doing in Masai Mara and how to spend 3 days in the reserve.
After a 20-plus hour vacation from Chicago, I stretched my legs at one of Nairobi’s most popular attractions. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Orphans Project is home to baby elephants and rhinos that lately can’t live in the wild for some reason, and it’s as cute as you’d expect. There was a collective “ah” as the smaller baby black rhino stumbled out to meet the crowd, and we were led to all the baby elephants as they awkwardly ran to the keepers to retrieve their bottles of milk. .
The experience was more crowded and touristy than I expected, but I enjoyed learning the history of each baby animal, seeing their personalities, and petting them. You can also sponsor one of the baby elephants or rhinos until they can return. into the wild.
After spending time with the animals, hop on your safari jeep for a five-hour drive to the Masai Mara. I stayed at the PrideInn Mara Camp, which had tents and glamping cabins a short walk from the park and Talek Lake, but there are plenty of hotels around the perimeter of the Masai Mara (including older hotels like a JW Marriott Masai Mara if you sleep in a tent without air conditioning). It’s your environment. )
The most productive thing about the PrideInn Mara Camp (and others in the surrounding area) is the presence of the Maasai tribe, who greeted us with a classic singing and dancing. There were also a number of warriors who worked at the hotel and accompanied us. to and from our rooms if you are late at night.
The park is huge, so flying over the savannah to see the scenery and animals from above is an effective and bucket-worthy way to start your safari experience.
We had to get up at 4am to head to the hot air balloon launch site, but I soon stopped complaining about the early call time as we were in the hot air balloon and the sun was rising over the Masai Mara.
We were going to enjoy the bird’s eye view of the Mara River (including a rare sighting of a baby hippo splashing in it), observe a circle of giraffe relatives grazing from above, and get to the tip of vultures in the trees. . . We then enjoyed an English-style brunch with unlimited mimosas in the middle of the bush and then returned to the camp for a nap.
In the early afternoon we set off on our second safari and stayed until nightfall. After spending almost two weeks in Kenya, I learned that it was worth doing two safaris a day: one in the morning at dawn and one at dusk, just before the predators. Start hunting: to get a more complete picture of how animals act in their natural habitat.
Depending on the time of day, I can also see other lion personalities. When I went in the morning, the lions were not the predators I expected. Instead, the pride was almost playful, with a young male lion with a dandelion mane. cuddling her father and female lionesses and hugging them in the sun. The only clue to their agility and quick reflexes was the way they temporarily shifted back and forth and how alert they seemed at all times, with their heads suddenly sticking out above the ground. grass as they lazily slept a nap in the sun moments before. . .
Another day, as the sun was setting, I saw an organization of lionesses dozing and slightly camouflaged in the tall grass and beginning to move very naturally. They headed toward a herd of grazing wildebeests, their eyes glued to their next meal. I would have met those other personalities if I hadn’t noticed them in action.
After taking part in a sunrise safari, take an afternoon excursion to the Maasai tribe village. Dressed in iconic bright red robes, the warriors greeted us at the front of their village. They showed us some of their songs and held a 10-minute celebration. songs and dances we were encouraged to participate in, which included mimicking the roar of lions, shaking our shoulders, and competing to see who could jump the highest.
We were then divided into teams to make a stop at the relatives’ cabins and learn about their pastoral lifestyle. Many Maasai have taken up tourism and are employed by hotels and other hotel companies in the area, but they are one of the few tribes whose members still practice their classic way of life.
After the tour, we were going to buy beautiful beads, carved wood products, and other souvenirs of the tribe. I bought a blue bracelet, beaded choker, and wooden coasters painted with safari animals to take home.
Finally, I returned to Chicago relaxed, inspired, and completely able to enjoy the air conditioning in my apartment. I gained a deep appreciation for my closeness to wildlife, my glamping adventure in the woods (yes, even for the crickets and lizards in my tent).
Going on safari has replaced my life for many reasons. I was surprised to see a 3-day-old hippo hanging out with his mother and a herd of elephants running through the savannah. I was surprised to find that the lions and giraffes seemed to be slightly aware of our Jeep. .
The safari also taught me a lesson in patience. Unlike a zoo, you can’t control when and where to see cheetahs, hippos, or prides of lions, which ends up making it even more satisfying when you do.
It’s not a question of if, or when, I’ll return to the Masai Mara on a safari. And who knows, this time I’ll spend more than a few days exploring Kenya’s most famous game reserve.
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