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Visiting Masai Mara was like being inside a National Geographic show. Everything about Masai Mara from where we stayed to what we experienced while there, was nothing short of magical.
Day 1: Wildebeest for Miles
We arrived at Ashnil Mara Camp (amazing place!) just in time for lunch. Our tent was filled with real beds (and canopies) along with a beautiful bathroom. It was more like a true hotel room than we had seen thus far. After a hearty, home-cooked meal and some time to relax under the acacia trees, we set out on our first evening game drive in Masai Mara.
Masai Mara in Swahili stands for “spotted grassland” on account of the termite mounds and trees looking like spots from a distance. However, when I heard “termite mound”, I was imagining something only a bit larger than an ant hill. Rather, it is very large (perhaps 3-5 feet in height). Topi love to stand on it to pose and get a look at the land beyond.
Within minutes, we spotted a black-chested snake eagle, a Nubian vulture, giraffe and an ostrich. We also saw a baby zebra (brown stripes), as well as zebra and wildebeest crossing a river. Hippos and baboons were in the river as well. We also managed to spot a spotted hyena (no pun intended!). As you can see, we saw a variety of animals in just a few hours on our Masai Mara safari.
We headed back to Ashnil camp after our safari. There, we explored the camp, ate an amazing dinner and relaxed while watching the Mara River right outside the dinner area.
Day 2: Animal Encounters
We woke before sunrise for a morning game drive. We saw a cheetah with her cubs, young giraffes playing and practicing fighting. They used their necks as a weapon which was quite difficult to explain! We also saw a large pride of lions with full bellies indicating a recent kill. Additionally, we saw an extremely large herd of wildebeest migrating from the southern Serengeti to Masai Mara. The Wildebeest Migration typically occurs July to October and we were so lucky to have witnessed it firsthand. The wildebeest migrate approximately 1000 km (just over 600 miles). Consequently, many do not survive. Unfortunately, we saw evidence of that as well (several carcasses).
We were able to see the hills of the Serengeti, Tanzania in the distance. We also saw the border sign between Kenya and Tanzania. At one point, we were driving on a road that was technically considered to be part of Tanzania while in Masai Mara.
We headed back to camp for lunch. After a bit of break where we relaxed around camp, we headed to the Mara River. We met a park ranger who guided us down the path along the Mara river. We saw crocodiles and zebras along the riverside as well as hippopotamus lounging in the river. In the afternoon, we headed back on safari and saw many of the same animals mentioned above, including lions and a dwarf mongoose.
Day 3: The Best Day of our Trip
Sadly, today was the day we left Ashnil Camp. Our plan was to have a morning safari on the way out of Masai Mara, on the way to the Nairobi airport. While driving around the area, we got word of Wildebeest and other wildlife crossing the Mara River. Our driver quickly put our vehicle in the perfect spot along the river to witness this miracle.
I call it a miracle because it truly is like anything I have ever experienced. Miles of Wildebeest, forming a line of sorts, were all trying to cross the Mara River. While crossing, crocodiles were waiting in the water to pick off the wildebeest that were unable to make it across the river.
Imagine a roaring river with a strong current and very steep cliffs that they had to ascend to get to the other side. Many made it but sadly many did not. I was able to get video but pictures just didn’t do it any justice.
Two days was just enough to fall in love with the Masai Mara—but not nearly enough to see it all. If you’re thinking about a Kenyan safari, Masai Mara should absolutely be on your list.
Let me know in the comments—have you ever done a safari? Or is it on your dream list? Or are you sick of reading about safaris? Either way, come check out my post on spending a few days in Mombasa, Kenya!
