The wind whistles in the thorn trees. On a solitary acacia a vulture ruffles its feathers. Above are endless skies to match the endless horizons. This must be the Masai Mara, home to the greatest animal show on earth.
Wildlife of the Masai Mara
The Masai Mara covers an area of 1,800 square kilometres and is probably one of the most famous reserves in Africa. It is certainly one of the most prolific in game. The fertile grasslands, dominated by russet oat grass, are rich feeding grounds and each year millions of wildebeest, thousands of zebra, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, eland and impala swarm into the area. Resident game, such as buffalo, topi and giraffe, join them. Predators are never far away. Lion ambush from the thickets, cheetah sit atop termite mounds and leopards skulk in the trees, waiting for dark.
The Mara River
The Mara River is the scene of the perilous crossing undertaken by hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra each year as part of the Great Migration. It is without doubt one of nature's most awe-inspiring sights.
Bisecting the plains, the Mara, Talek and Sand Rivers are flanked by riverine forest. Troops of olive baboons and vervet monkeys screech in the fig trees, green pigeons and casqued hornbills feed on the ripe fruit and elephant come to the water to drink. There are hippo pods and crocodiles, flickering eyes watching from muddy banks. At night, the clans of spotted hyena lope across the plains, their eerie howls lingering in the air.
Cheetah in the Masai Mara
Lion feasting on a wildebeest
Cheetah in the Masai Mara
Serval cat in the Masai Mara
Zebra in the Masai Mara