Game Drive in Masai mara

A game drive in Masai Mara National Park is an incredible wildlife safari experience. While on a game drive in Masai Mara national park, you will witness some of the most iconic and diverse wildlife in Africa.

About Masai Mara

Masai Mara National Park covers an area of 1,510 square km and is located in the southwestern part of Kenya it is part of the larger Serengeti ecosystem, known for its vast savannah plains and an abundance of wildlife. A game drive in Masai Mara national park is an excursion using a four-wheel vehicle into the wildness. To see a variety of wild animals in their natural habitat. Game drive in Masai Mara national park takes 2- 3 hours a day per drive session. The morning game drive starts as early as 6:30 am – 9 am, the afternoon game drive session starts at 3:30 pm- 6:30 pm. Some tourists may choose a full-day game drive that starts from 10:00 am- 4:00 pm. The full-day game drive starts after breakfast and lunch are packed for you and you will enjoy it while in a spot arranged specifically for a lunch picnic. Lunch is served to you between 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm. Game drive in Masai Mara national park is famous for having the Big Five animals(lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinoceros) Masai Mara national park offers you a chance to see other different wild animals like cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, crocodiles and also antelopes of different species.  The park entrance fee for Masai Mara national park is charged per day per person. Non Residents adults pay 80 USD and Child of 3 years to 18 years pays 45 USD. The Resident adult pays 70 USD and the child pays 40 USD. Children below 3 years whether citizen or non-citizen is not charged.   Game drives in Masai Mara national park are done in open-sided and open-roof safari vehicles. This kind of safari vehicle gives you an excellent view of the wildlife and you are also able to take nice pictures. The game drive is conducted by an experienced safari guide with an armed game ranger to protect you from any danger while in the wild. 

Best time for Game Drive in Masai Mara national park.

Any time you choose to have a game drive is a perfect time however, the morning hours and late afternoon hours are great for game drive activity since it is when the animals are more active. Both early in the morning and late in the afternoon, the temperature is cool which makes you comfortable for you and also the animals.  While on a game drive in Masai Mara national park, if you are lucky you will witness the Great Migration. When you visit Masai Mara national park from July to October, you might be able to witness the Great wildebeest Migration which usually involves millions of wildebeests, Burchell’s zebras, over 3000 lions, hyenas, leopards, gazelles, and many more which move in search for greener grazing lands. 

Best Time to Go to Masai Mara National Park

The best time to go to Masai Mara national park is during the cool dry season. This is the time when the grass is low and seeing animals is so easy without any difficulty. The dry season is the best time to visit Masai Mara and also makes flora less due to the low rainfall received. This situation makes the animals move around a lot, making it easy for people on the game drive to allocate the animals with less difficulty. During this season the number of mosquitoes is low too. During the wet season, it is not advisable to go for a game drive since the roads tend to be slippery. 

Bird watching in Masai Mara National Park

Masai Mara National Park is a haven for all birdwatchers and bird lovers since the park has more than 500 bird species that are recorded which include eagles, vultures, storks, Circaetus cinerascens, Jackson’s widowbird, red-throated tit, grey-crested helmet- shrike, corncrake, lesser kestrel, pond – heron, Anhinga rufa, Trigonoceps occipitalis and many more.  While on a bird-watching adventure, you will be able to spot water birds and including; giant kingfishers, tiny pygmy kingfishers, and many more. You need to carry binoculars for easy spotting and following up of birds in flight in the sky. Bird watching involves standing or sitting for long hours, so you need to wear comfortable clothes.  You should wear nature-friendly colors that won’t scare away the birds or get the attention of wild animals. You can wear clothes in colors like black, brown, and grey. The best time to do bird watching in Masai Mara National Park is from November through April. This is the time when different bird species migrate from European and North African countries.  

cultural tour in Masai Mara

After Bird Watching in Masai Mara national park, you can decide to go for a Cultural encounter where you will interact with the Maasai people. The Maasai people are known for their vibrant culture and their traditional way of life. They are proud nomadic pastoralists who have existed around wild animals, a lesson of harmonious living. The Maasai people live in huts that are built by their wives in their compound named Manyatta. The headman tells you how important their cattle are like they get milk out of cows, blood, and meat as well. The headman shows you around the handicrafts they made for sale where you can bargain.     Remember, while on a game drive, it’s crucial to respect the wildlife and follow the rules and guidelines set by the park and your safari guide to ensure the safety and conservation of the animals and their natural habitat. Please note that specific details and arrangements for game drives may vary depending on the kind of tour operator you choose. Always book with a reputable and responsible safari company. You can book with Jewel Safaris Uganda to have a memorable and ethical experience in Masai Mara National Park.