Maasai Mara National Reserve’s vast plains and moving herds

Maasai Mara National Reserve in Narok, south-west Kenya, is a protected savannah where wildlife roams across an open landscape shared with the Serengeti.

Maasai Mara National Reserve in Narok County, south-west Kenya, is a protected savannah where wildlife moves across open plains that continue across the border into Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.contiguous with Serengeti National Park Established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1948 and upgraded to a national reserve in 1961, it anchors the Kenyan side of the wider Serengeti–Mara ecosystem.initially designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1948

Grassland reserve at the edge of the Great Rift Valley

Maasai Mara National Reserve lies in the Great Rift Valley region of south-western Kenya, with Narok as the main town serving the reserve.located in Narok, south-west Kenya The protected area covers about 1,510 km² (580 sq mi), mostly grassland and savannah with scattered trees breaking the horizon.covers about 1,510 km² Much of the reserve lies between roughly 1,500 m and 2,170 m above sea level, giving the plains a raised, highland character compared with coastal Kenya.raises 1,500–2,170 metres above sea level

The Mara River and its tributaries cut across the reserve, creating bands of denser vegetation alongside open grazing areas.Mara Triangle west of the Mara River To the west, the Siria Escarpment rises above the grasslands, while to the south the protected land meets the Tanzanian border and continues into Serengeti National Park as part of a shared grassland ecosystem.adjoins the Serengeti National Park along the Kenya-Tanzania border

Wildlife on an open savannah

Maasai Mara National Reserve is known for its dense concentrations of large mammals that use the open plains and riverine corridors.home to big five game animals Lions, leopards and cheetahs hunt across the grasslands, while African bush elephants and African buffalo follow grazing routes and water sources.populations of lions, leopards, cheetahs and African bush elephants Black rhinoceros survive in lower numbers, and plains species such as wildebeest and zebra move between the reserve and neighbouring conservancies as part of wider herd movements.wide range of other large mammals

Maasai Mara sits on one route of the annual wildebeest and zebra migrations that link with Serengeti across the border, forming what conservation bodies describe as a shared grassland ecosystem for migratory and resident species.part of the Greater Serengeti–Mara Ecosystem Away from the large herbivores, the reserve also supports numerous smaller mammals and an extensive birdlife, with raptors, ground-dwelling species and wetland birds using different parts of the landscape.

From sanctuary to national reserve

The protected history of Maasai Mara National Reserve reaches back to 1948, when the Mara Triangle west of the Mara River was first gazetted as a national game reserve under colonial administration.first established in 1948 In 1961 the protected area was expanded eastwards and formally designated as a larger game reserve under the County Council of Narok, forming the core of the modern reserve.expanded eastwards to about 1,831 km²

Legal notice 271 of 1974 recorded the status of Maasai Mara as a game reserve, and subsequent boundary adjustments brought the protected area to roughly 1,510 km², the figure used in recent management plans.established through legal notice 271 of 1974 Today the reserve is administered by the Narok County Government as a national reserve rather than a national park, with the main sector managed directly by the county and the Mara Triangle sector managed on its behalf by the Mara Conservancy.managed by the Narok County Government

Visiting Maasai Mara National Reserve: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Maasai Mara National Reserve lies in Narok County in south-west Kenya, and is reached overland from Nairobi or by air to airstrips that serve the reserve and nearby conservancies.
• The terrain consists mainly of open grassland with gentle undulations, interspersed with river valleys and occasional escarpments, so time on site involves extended periods on unpaved tracks and game-viewing routes.
• In wetter periods some sections of track can become soft underfoot or muddy, while river levels affect crossings, so organised vehicle access is the usual way of moving across the reserve.
• The official language is English and the currency is the Kenyan shilling.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Maasai Mara National Reserve

Where is Maasai Mara National Reserve?

Maasai Mara National Reserve is in Narok County in south-western Kenya, within the Great Rift Valley region and adjoining Serengeti National Park on the Tanzanian border.

What can visitors expect on a visit?

Visitors travel across open grassland and savannah by vehicle, with views of large mammals, birdlife and river corridors, and occasional escarpments rising above the plains.

What makes Maasai Mara National Reserve distinctive?

The reserve combines highland savannah scenery, concentrations of large mammals and a protected history that links the Kenyan side of the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem with neighbouring conservancies and Tanzanian grasslands.