The
Masai Mara National Reserve is one
of the few places where you can
actually encounter a haven for
viewing a congregation of all sorts
of animals in a five mile radius.
A
pride of lions can be spotted ready
to make a run for a kill, a cheetah
and its cub taking a nap on a rock,
a pair of ostriches walking the open
stretches of the savannah or a
gazelle giving birth.
The Mara is an extension of the
Serengeti National park of Tanzania,
and is
cushioned by the Loita Hills
in the east, Itong Hills in the
North and Siria escarpment in the
west. you will also get to see
Kilimanjaro snow peaks, a lovely
sight. Game viewing is excellent
year round. Game includes: elephant,
Black Rhino, buffalo, plains zebra,
roan antelope in small numbers,
white-bearded gnu, Oribi, warthog,
Thomson's and Grant's gazelle,
hartebeest and the big cats; the
rivers are home to hippo and
crocodiles.
The best thing the Mara has to offer
is the wildebeest migration. This
sensational display starts during
the month of July when the
wildebeest start moving north from
the Serengeti. An 1.5 million
animals partake in this migration.
The wildebeests move north in search
of the lush vegetation during the
long rains. The wildebeests crossing
the Mara river is comical yet sad.
The long rains flood the rivers, and
yet the wildebeests senselessly
force their way upstream, and this
causes many deaths and injuries.
But that is natures way of dealing
with it all; the wildebeests fresh
death bring lions, vultures, jackals
and hyenas who complete the food
chain part of the migration.
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