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An Introductions of Masai Mara And Serengeti
Ecosystems
Undeterred Perilous
Crossing the crocodile infested rivers. Many wildebeest loose their
lives
The
Wildebeest migration takes place in an extremely rich contiguous
and self sustaining Masai Mara Serengeti Ecosystem. The self
sustainability has earned it label of the only
"true ecosystem" on earth.
The
Masai (Maasai) Mara magic is attributed to its panorama.
From the vantage of rounded hills, the large expanses grassy
plains teaming with herds of animals resemble a canvas painting. The
overwhelming population and the rich species presentation is
mesmerizing.
"The
Masai
(Maasai) Mara ecosystem has one of the richest assemblages of
wildlife in the world and supports about 237 herbivores per km2
, making it one of the most productive natural terrestrial
ecosystems" On other hand
Serengeti National
Park is the best place to see predators in actions. The predator
population is over 10,000 individuals. 8000 0f these are spotted
hyenas and 3000 lions whose males famed for their black manes.
The
Wildebeest Migration in Maasai
(Masai) Mara /Serengeti
wildebeest migration is
not about
wildebeests migrating
per se but rather its
influence on the movement patterns of the other animals
including human beings. The migration comprise of the never
ending milling of over 2.5 million wild animals composed of a about
1.7 million wildebeests, and 800,000 common Zebras and gazelle,
followed closely by their predators-lions, hyenas, leopards,
jackals. Hovering in the skies are thousands
of vultures, the super predators. Patient in nature, they survey the
migrating herds descending on the dead carcasses reducing them to
skeletons in a matter of seconds. The hazardous crossing of crocodile invested Mara and Grumeti
rivers is magical wonder of nature attracting thousands of
human beings. This survival of the fittest spectacle has been
described at the "seventh wonder of the modern world".
Strategic sighting of the migrating herds tend to influence the
setting up of tourism facilities. The best time to witness migration
in Masai Mara National Park Kenya,
is between July to September.
The
Wildebeest Migration
Safaris 2012 in Masai Mara and
Serengeti National
Parks
Several
wildebeest migration safaris are organized in both
Maasai
(Masai) Mara and
Serengeti
National Parks. The duration
of the safari depends on various factors but mostly on time and
budget but also the flexibility of the guest. The all drive
11 days Masai Mara Serengeti Migration Safari commences from
Nairobi and returns to the same via
Maasai Mara,
Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara, and
Amboseli. The
8 days fly drive Wildebeest Migration Safari Masai Mara National
Park (Mara Explorer 8 days) is a luxury option. Guests fly
from Nairobi Wilson to Masai Mara and return to the same. The
4 days
3 Nights Migration safari combines
Masai Mara, Lake
Nakuru National Park and Lake Naivasha. The
6 days Best of
Tanzania Safari focuses on wildebeest migration in
Serengeti National
Park. The best time to witness migration in Masai Mara National Park Kenya,
is between July to September.
Serengeti National
Park is best visited between March
and May.
Mara
Explorer Wildebeest Migration Safari Masai Mara
National Park 8 days
Day1 Arrival
Nairobi and overnight/
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta airport in the late afternoon and transfer
to your hotel. Overnight Nairobi Serena/ Panari Hotel BB.
Day 02/ Fly
Nairobi-Masai Mara
Before
breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to Wilson to catch
your flight to Maasai Mara. On arrival, your private driver guide
will meet you and drive you to the lodge. Have a game drive
en-route to the lodge. Keekorok Lodge is located in the Sekanani
area of Mara Reserve. Have an evening game drive. Overnight
Keekorok Lodge FB.
Flights From
Nairobi to Masai Mara are operated from Wilson Airport
Game drives
As you have a
private car all for your own use, you go for game drives anytime you
desire.
Keekorok Lodge
The lodge build in
1962 has en-suite rooms with private balconies facing the park. A
300m covered walkway connects the lodge to the sundowner bar.
Traditional dances available in the evenings. Electricity is
available for 24 hours in 220-240V. The lodge has internet
connection, gift shop and a swimming pool. Lunch boxes available for
guests taking full day game drives. Dress code is informal. The
lodge is highly rated in
http://www.tripadvisor.com
Maasai Mara:
Masai Mara and
Serengeti form a contiguous ecosystem, the playground of the annual
wildebeest migration, the greatest and most spectacular mammal
migration on earth. Supporting over 273 herbivores per square
kilometer, the Mara boasts of one of the richest assemblage of
wildlife in the world. Besides herbivores, the Mara has a large
representative of predators-lions, hyenas, cheetahs, leopards. There
are no dull moments in Masai Mara. Nature is always at play. Days
are eventful and scenes keep on changing as nature wonderfully
unfolds before your eyes. It is a one in a lifetime too many. At
one station it’s a lionesses hunting-the stealth stalking, the
adrenalin chase, and the eventual capture or disappearance of the
prey. In the far corner is a pair of ostriches walking the plains
oblivious of the happenings around. And in the same breath you
notice a pair of cheetahs perched on a rock surveying the plains.
Bird watching is superb with 450 species recorded. The Marsh lions
featured in BBC Big Cats Diary series are found in the Musiara
Swamp, in the Musiara sector of the park. The best time to visit
Masai Mara is of course during the annual wildebeest migration
Jul-September.
Day03-Day4 2012 Masai Mara
Days
spent in Masai Mara with morning, mid morning and afternoon game
drives. Early morning game drives provide the best chance to witness
predators hunting. In the mid morning, the scene changes as the
often disturbed plain game settle to feed. Feeding times are
venerable and animals take caution by maintaining a all round
sentry-feeding individuals facing outwards from the centre. In the
afternoons most of the animals will take a siesta under the shade.
Of course all herds will leave several individuals standing to scout
for approaching predators. Occasionary a lone gazelle will be
giving birth at high noon when it is too hot for predators to
bother.
All meals and
overnight Mara Keekorok Lodge FB
Day05/ 2012
Masai Mara Serena
Breakfast at Keekorok lodge (Sekenani sector) and game drive
westwards across the Mara River to the Mara Triangle. The Mara
Triangle (520Km sq) was the original reserve before addition of the
other sectors (Sekanani and Musiara) in 1992. Reach Mara Serena in
the mid morning, check in, have lunch and proceed for the game drive
within the Mara Triangle area. Return to the lodge for dinner.
Mara Serena Lodge
Located in the Mara
Triangle sector, the lodge architectural design in the style of
Masai Manyatta blends well with the local surrounding. The lodge is
perched on a hill affording guests panoramic views of the
surrounding reserve. Each room is luxuriously furnished with
spacious sitting area and private balconies. Sundowners and bush
dinners can be organized at extra cost. The lodge has a swimming
pool with a sundeck, 24 Hrs in-call doctor, gift shop, central
dinning and bar, Dstv in public areas(not in guest rooms), Wifi
internet. The Mara Serena is highly rated in
http://www.tripadvisor.com
Day6/ 2012
Marsh Lions of Musiara
Breakfast and take
pick your picnic lunch boxes. Drive to Musiara sector (256Km Sq),
the haunting ground the Marsh lions made famous by the BBC Big Cats
Series. Masai Mara supports one of the highest densities of lions
in the world. Drive around the marshes in search of the formidable
beasts and other occupants. Lions are most active at night. Their
roar can be herd 8km away and an adult can consume 30kgs of meet in
a single sitting. Other predators you come across include cheetah,
leopard, and hyena. Hyenas are reputed to have the strongest jaw in
the wild Notice the migration crossing corridors with crocodile.
Return to the lodge for dinner.
Days7/8
2012
Days spent in Masai
Mara. One afternoon visit Maasai manyattas.
The other afternoon we can organize a
sundowner or bush dinner at extra cost. Otherwise game drives
are available in the morning, afternoons and evenings. All meals
at Mara Serena Lodge.
Day09/
2012
Early
morning game drive and return to your lodge for breakfast. Transfer
to the airstrip to catch your flight to Wilson. On arrival at the
Wilson, transfer Jomo Kenyatta Airport to catch your flight to
Kigali. Overnight Laico Umubano/ Kigali Serena HB.
Balloon Safaris
2012
These depart
everyday at 06:00 and take approximately one hour. They are
available at extra cost of USD 475 pp (Subject to confirmation of
price)
End of Safari
Price person person
for 2 pax
USD 3680.00
PPx2=7360.00 Valid between January and May. Other
periods please ask for the price
Included
-
Accommodation
on full board basis.
-
All park fees
-
All government
taxes
-
Transfers on
arrival and departure.
-
Use of stretch
Safari Landcruiser 4x4.
-
Use of
certified driver guide in Maasai Mara.
-
Wilson airport
transfers.
-
Air fare
NBO_MARA_NBO
-
Mineral water
during the tour
-
Airport
transfers on arrival and departure
-
Use of
qualified tour guide during the tour
-
AAR evacuation
cover
Not included
-
All items of
purely personal nature
-
Travel
insurance. During tour guests are only covered inside the car.
-
Air fares
-
Tips and
gratuities.
-
Entry fees to
Giraffe Manor, Karen Blixen and any other attractions during the
city tour.
More About the Wildebeest
December to March
The herds spread out over
wide area covering Plains of Eastern Serengeti stretching all the
way to Western Ngorongoro and Masawa Game Sanctuary. It is the
calving season of wildebeests and the plains of Seronera all the way
to Western Ngorongoro are teaming with vast herds of wildebeest
(about 1.7M) with their calves. The wildebeest are always on
the move and not even calving will disturb this rhythm. Upon
delivery, within minutes, they young calf can stand and walk with
the herd. In a few days, it can outrun any predator. The
best places to stay at this time are Kusini Camp and Ndutu Lodge.
Wildebeest
herds covering the whole plain like a carpet. From the sky, it
looks like a ceaseless flow of a mighty river.
Between
April
and May
The calves matures and are readying
for migration. The migrating herds are leaving Eastern
Serengeti and slowly approaching Central
Serengeti (Serenora).
Between May and June the herds enter the western corridor of
Serengeti
called Grumetti. By Mid June they start crossing Grumeti River
along the Northern Corridor towards Maasai Mara.
In July the herds cross the Mara River into Maasai (Masai)
Mara, where mating takes place. Between August And
September the herds are settled in Masai Mara. By the end
of September, the succulent grass in Mara is diminishing and the
wildebeest migration heads eastwards crossing into Northern
Serengeti in October and part of November. By December, the
herds have are past central Serengeti headed to western plain of
Ngorongoro, Masawa game sanctuary and Ndutu areas.
Accommodation In Maasai (Masai) Mara National Reserve:
Maasai Mara has the largest number of lodges and tented camps in any
park of East Africa.
Lodges in Maasai
(Masai) Mara
Tented Camps
and Camping in
Maasai (Masai) Mara
These
luxury tented camps in Mara offer highest degree of comfort.
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