Masaai Mara Express

The Mara Game Reserve, as it was originally known, an area of some 1,812 sq Km (700 sq Miles), was establish din 1961. It's Southern boundary is contiguous with Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, and it is divided into two sections. The inner reserve has been developed on the lines of a National Park, no intrusion or Human settlement have been allowed, while the outer remains and undeveloped area where local Masai are permitted to pasture their cattle but which is otherwise undisturbed. The reserve extends from the edge of the Loita hills in the East to the Mara triangle and the base of the Siria escarpment in the West. The inner section, with it's network of roads specially constructed for Game watching, embraces the area around the Keekorok Lodge and Westwards to the Mara River. Everything in the Mara is Big. It is a country of breathtaking vistas, a panorama of vast rolling plains and rounded hills, of intermittent groves of acacia woodlands and thickets of scrub. The whole is bisected by the Mara river and it's tributaries which are margined by luxuriant riverene forests. And in every direction, there are seemingly endless herds of game animals. Mara possesses the largest population of Lions to be found in Kenya, it boasts large herds of Topi and a small population of Roan antelope, animals not found in many Kenya parks or reserves. Elephants are fairly common and a traveler may sometimes be held up by 'Elephants on the road'. The numerous large beasts to be found here include; Buffalo, Black Rhino, hippopotamus, Leopard, Cheetah, Zebra, Coke's Hartebeest, White Bearded Gnu, Warthog and Thompsons and Grants Gazelle. The Bird life is as profuse as the mammalian fauna. Orange-Buff Pel's fishing Owls, Bustards, Crested Guinea Fowl, Hornbills, secretary Birds and at least 53 species of bird's of prey. Accommodation is provided at the Mara Serena Lodge, sited on high ground in the west of the Park overlooking the Mara river and two luxury campsites sited on the Eastern bank of the Mara river near the old Mara bridge and the Governors camp. From the Lodge it possible to see the Hippos at play from the viewing platform, arguably the best place in Kenya.