Maasai Mara Budget Safari

Safari summary

Dream of Africa and chances are you dream of Maasai Mara. The Maasai Mara, a sprawling savannah in southwestern Kenya, is not just a wildlife sanctuary but a testament to the intricate interplay between nature and culture. Its name evokes images of endless grasslands dotted with acacia trees, where some of Africa's most iconic wildlife roam freely. Maasai Mara is also home to the Maasai people, whose rich traditions and deep connection to the land add layers of meaning to this vast ecosystem.
It is the home to Africa’ Big Five species, as well as an abundance of other wildlife, including wildebeest, cheetah, hyena, giraffe and many more. It borders the Serengeti National Park Tanzania. The “Big Five," symbolize the apex predators that dominate these lands. Lions, with their majestic manes and powerful presence, roam the savannah, embodying both grace and ferocity. Leopards, elusive and solitary, navigate the acacia trees with stealth and precision. Elephants, the gentle giants, traverse the Mara River in search of water and sustenance, their familial bonds and intricate social structures reflecting the complex dynamics of life in the wild. Buffalos, resilient and formidable, graze in large herds, while rhinoceroses, endangered and awe-inspiring, are a poignant reminder of the conservation challenges faced in protecting these majestic creatures.
Often described as nature’s greatest spectacles, the great migration is one of Africa’s dramatic stories. This occurs every year between July and October where more than 1.5 million wildebeests, zebras, gazelles and elands move mysteriously from the Serengeti in Tanzania to Maasai Mara in Kenya in search of grass and water. The Mara River, with its treacherous currents and lurking predators, becomes a pivotal point in their journey, where dramatic crossings test their endurance and instincts. The migration not only showcases the resilience of these animals but also underscores the Mara's role as a critical habitat and migration corridor for countless species. This mass movement is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

From the western Serengeti the herds head north, following the rains (or their effects) into Kenya and the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. On their trek the wildebeests’ path is cut several times by rivers: in the Serengeti by the Mbalangeti and the Grumeti, and in Kenya by the Mara. For most of the year these rivers are relatively placid, but they can become violent torrents in response to rainfall in their catchment areas, and then they present major obstacles to the progress of the wildebeest.

Wildebeest arrive at the Mara River in their tens of thousands, and gather waiting to cross. For days their numbers can be building up and anticipation grows but many times, for no apparent reason, they turn and wander away from the water’s edge.

Eventually the wildebeest will choose a crossing point, something that can vary from year to year and cannot be predicted with any accuracy. Once on the grasslands of the Maasai Mara, the wildebeest spend several months feeding and fattening once more, taking advantage of the scattered distribution of green pastures and isolated rainstorms.

A remarkable feature of their wanderings is their ability to repeatedly find areas of good grazing, no matter how far apart.

The physiology of the wildebeest is such that it has been designed by evolution to travel large distances very quickly and economically, apparently requiring no more energy to run a certain distance than to trudge along at walking pace. Every facet of its life and behavior is designed to save time – wildebeest even mate on the move, and newborns are, as we have seen, up and running in minutes.

While the wildebeest are drawn into migrating by the needs of their stomachs, the fact that they’re constantly on the move has the added benefit that they outmarch large numbers of predators. The predators are unable to follow the moving herds very far, for many are territorial and can neither abandon their territories nor invade those of others. Moreover, the young of most predators are highly dependent upon their mothers, who can’t move very far from them.

The Mara is not only famed due to wildebeest’s migration but also to unique sightings such as Tira, Tano Bora and the iconic Scarface.

Nicknamed after the driver guide that spotted the stunning dark-skinned zebra with black spotted polka dots, Tira was such an eye – catching sight. Tira’s black spots are due to pseudomelanism - a rare genetic mutation in the stripes pattern.

Tano Bora (the 5 musketeers or the 5 brothers) which means ‘Magnificent Five’ is a coalition of five male cheetahs that have claimed Mara as their stomping ground and have become popular for their incredible take downs of huge prey and their hunting prowess. Tano Bora have challenged so many assumptions about typical cheetah behaviour. Typically, once reaching a

About this tour

	Tour type	Set-date, set-itinerary, group
	Main focus	Game drives
	Activity level	Easy activity
	Best months	All months
	Countries	Kenya
	Parks	Masai Mara

Fine details

Safari highlights

• Bird watching—with professional guide
• Cultural visits—orphanages, markets, schools
• Photography safari—with professional guide

What’s included?

• Accommodation
• Meals
• Park fees

What’s not included?

• Alcoholic beverages
• All drinks
• Hot air balloons
• Internal flights
• International flights
• Laundry
• Premium alcoholic beverages
• Private vehicle and driver
• Spa treatments
• Tips and gratuities
• Visas