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Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

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The Maasai Mara National Reserve is a large game reserve in Kenya named in honor of the Maasai people (the ancestral inhabitants of the area). It is globally famous for its exceptional population of lions, leopards and cheetahs. The wildebeest are the dominant inhabitants of the Maasai Mara, and their numbers are estimated in the millions. Around July of each year, these ungainly animals migrate north from the Serengeti plains in search of fresh pasture, and return to the south around October. The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving some 1.300.000 wildebeest, 500.000 Thomson's gazelles, 97.000 Topi, 18.000 elands, and 200.000 zebras. These migrants are followed along their annual, circular route by hungry predators, most notably lions and hyena. When visiting the Maasai Mara you are likely to see the famous Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. More information here.

Sun rising above the wildlife

Hot air balloon safari early in the morning.

Lion

The lion is one of the five big cats. Some males exceeding 250 kg in weight it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger. Lions live for 10–14 years in the wild. Males seldom live longer than 10 years, as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity.

Hot air balloon safari in sunrise

Hot air balloon safari early in the morning above the wildlife and the magnificent landscapes.

Masai Giraffe

The Masai Giraffe is the largest subspecies of giraffe and the tallest land mammal.

Beautiful sunset in Maasai Mara

Hot air balloon safari in sunrise

Hot air balloon safari early in the morning above the wildlife and the magnificent landscapes.

Hot air balloon safari in sunrise

Hot air balloon safari early in the morning above the wildlife and the magnificent landscapes.

Hot air balloon safari

Hot air balloon safari early in the morning above the wildlife and the magnificent landscapes.

African elephants

One species of African elephant, the bush elephant, is the largest living terrestrial animal. Their large ears enable heat loss. Males stand 3.2–4.0 m tall at the shoulder and weigh 4–6000 kg

African elephant

African elephants may eat up to 450 kilograms (992 lb) of vegetation per day. African elephants are highly intelligent. They are amongst the world's most intelligent species.

African elephants i sunrise

Hot air ballon coming up.

Maasai Giraffe

The Masai Giraffe is the largest subspecies of giraffe and the tallest land mammal.

Masai Giraffe

Adult males usually reach around 5.5 m in heightalthough they have been recorded at reaching heights of up to approximately 6 mand females tend to be a bit shorter at around 55.5 m (1618 ft) tall.

Hippo

The hippopotamus, or hippo, are recognizable by their barrel-shaped torsos, enormous mouths and teeth, stubby legs and great size; adults average 1,500 kg. Despite its stocky shape and short legs it can easily outrun a human, being capable of reaching 30 km/h (19 mph) over short distances

Hippos

Hippos are very aggressive towards humans, whom they commonly attack whether in boats or on land with no apparent provocation. They are widely considered to be one of the most dangerous large animals in Africa.

Nile Crocodile

On average the Nile crocodile is between 4.1 to 5 metres, weighing around 410 kg. However, specimens measuring 6.1 metres in length and weighing 907 kg have been recorded.The Nile crocodile is an opportunistic apex predator and a very aggressive species of crocodile that is capable of taking almost any animal within its range.

Crocodile

Lions mating ritual

A lioness may mate with more than one male when she is in heat during a mating bout, which could last several days, the couple copulates twenty to forty times a day, often forgoing eating.

Lions mating ritual

Lions mating ritual

Mating lions

The couple copulates twenty to forty times a day, often forgoing eating

Mating lions

The mating behavior of lions is a painful process for the female. The penis is barbed and its withdrawal hurts the female who may twist around and attack the dismounting male.

Just after..

The average gestation period is around 110 days the female giving birth to a litter of one to four cubs in a secluded den (which may be a thicket, a reed-bed, a cave, or some other sheltered area) usually away from the rest of the pride

Hunting Lionesses

Lions resting at sunset

Cheetah

The cheetah can run faster than any other land animal— as fast as 112 to 120 km/h (70 to 75 mph) in short bursts covering distances up to 500 m (1,600 ft), and has the ability to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in three seconds.

Impala

The impala is a medium-sized African antelope. Only the males have the characteristic slender, lyre-shaped horns, which can grow to be 45–92 cm long.

Topi

Topis are a highly social and fast antelope species of the genus Damaliscus. The largest migration is in the Serengeti and Masai Mara where they join the wildebeests, zebras and gazelles. They are especially targeted by hyenas.

Zebra in Maasai Mara

Zebras are several species of African equids (horse family) united by their distinctive black and white striped coats. Their stripes come in different patterns, unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds.

Hyena

Hyenas or hyaenas are known for eating as much as 95% of the animals they kill, and for driving off leopards or lionesses from their kills. Despite their low diversity, hyenas are unique and vital components of most African ecosystems.

Mating Hyenas

The Great Migration

Over two million animals migrate from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the greener pastures of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya during July through to October.

Wildebeest - gnus - during the Great Migration

Wildebeest – also called gnus - in Maasai Mara during the Great Migration. During these migrations, wildebeest spend 10 months per year in the Serengeti National Park and two months in the Masai Mara. Numerous documentaries feature wildebeest crossing rivers, with many being eaten by crocodiles or drowning in the attempt.

African buffalo

Known within Africa as one of the “big five”, “The Black Death” or “widowmaker”, the African buffalo is widely regarded as a very dangerous animal, as it gores and kills over 200 people every year

Meeting a Maasai man

The Maasai are a Nilotic ethnic group of semi-nomadic people best known due to their residence near the many game parks of the African Great Lakes, and their distinctive customs and dress.

Bush breakfast in Maasai Mara

Exciting experience!

The circle of life…

Ostrich

The ostrich or common ostrich is either one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs, and can run at up to about 70 km/h, the fastest land speed of any bird.

 

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