As to scenery, the 1,800 sq kilometres of this veteran reserve offer the classic mix of African imagery; miles of lion-gold grasslands, shoals of lilac-misted hills, a meandering river, acres of thorn-bush and mile upon mile of undulating wilderness.

The Miracle of the Migration of the Wildebeest
Known as the ‘greatest show on earth’ the annual migration of up to one and a half million animals between the dry plains of Tanzania and the lush grasslands of Kenya (and back again) has featured as an annual event on Earth’s calendar for the past two million years. And it’s still as extraordinary, enlightening and exciting an event as ever.

Taking place around the months of August and September the migration is a spectacle, both comic and tragic, that features the epic journey of vast herds of wildebeest between the grasslands of Kenya and Tanzania - flanked by a carnival of other herbivores and stalked by a ruthless pack of predators. As a vivid portrayal of the violence of the concept, ‘survival of the fittest’, this is a spectacle, not always for the faint-hearted, that goes beyond memorable and into momentous.

The Masai Mara, its landscape and its people
The Mara is a beautiful but sensitive environment that can survive only if properly respected. Well-watered by the Mara River, enjoying abundant vegetation, wildlife and rainfall, its ecology would appear, at first sight, to be relatively resilient. It also appears to have withstood the erosive effects of huge numbers of visiting tourists extraordinarily well. There are signs, however, that the delicate balance between tourist numbers and wildlife populations cannot be properly maintained for much longer as evidenced by the reduction in the protective vegetation cover and the emergence of a series of dust bowls.

Meanwhile, the Reserve is host to 95 species of mammals, amphibians and other reptiles and 485 species of birds. During the dry season (July to October) it also hosts a major concentration of migratory herbivores including about 250,000 zebra and 1.3 million wildebeest. Amongst the list of easy-to-view species are: gazelle, elephant, topi, buffalo, lion (Kenya’s largest population), black rhino, hippo, hyena, giraffe, leopard and mongoose.

The People of the Masai Mara
As its name would suggest the Masai Mara is the home of the fabled Maasai peoples. Often strikingly tall and slender, swathed in brilliant red cloth ‘Shukas’, hung about with beads and metal jewellery, the young men (Moran) favour long, plaited, ochre-daubed hairstyles and have a formidable reputation for glamour, prowess and ferocity. Traditionally the Maasai live off the milk and blood of their beloved cattle and believe that all the world’s cattle are theirs by God-given right. Their nomadic and pastoral lifestyle, though historically based on the pursuit of the migratory wildlife, is slowly changing thanks to a combination of education, Maasai MPs, votes, favourable new laws, projects, jobs and cash.

How to Get There
The Masai Mara is 170 miles from Nairobi but because much of the road is not in optimum condition, the journey can take 6-7 hours. For this reason the majority of visitors elect to take one of the daily flights from Nairobi which deliver the passengers direct to the Mara Serena Safari Lodge via its own landing strip.

What to Wear/Carry with you
When on safari we suggest that you travel light, dress comfortably (in lightweight cottons in muted colours) and carry a light jacket. Also imperative are; sunglasses, sunhat, sunscreen, insect repellent, camera, film, binoculars and a guide book covering your area of interest (flora/fauna/birds etc).

			Distances from other African Serena properties View distances between Mara Serena Safari Lodge and the other African Serena properties, as well as driving and flight duration.