Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of the major parks in Kenya. This is an area of preserved savannah wilderness on the south-western side of Kenya. Masai Mara borders the Serengeti along the Tanzanian border. Masai Mara animals include lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, and hippos.
Coming to the Masai Mara?
Wake up to the sights and sounds of one of the world’s premier wildlife destinations. The Mara appeal is gentle. It gives you time to explore its riches. Understands that its size is daunting but will make it worth visiting every inch of the reserve. It offers endless plains, spectacular views and a whole lot of flora and fauna.
The expansive Mara reserve boasts close to 100 animals and over 500 recorded species of birds, one of the largest concentrations of animals in the continent. The Mara gives an all year show of nature’s enchanting cycle of birth, growth, survival and eventual death.
You can see the Masai Mara Animals while on a game drive or while on the spectacular hot-air Masai Mara balloons. Walking safaris are also available for those who are looking for a more personal experience in the world. While this is not allowed in the reserve, the conservancies and ranches offer these guided safaris.
Below is a list of animals in the Masai Mara;
African lions live in groups called pride. There can be from 3 to 20 lions in a pride. A pride contains many females and their young, and a few males. Male lions are the heads of pride. The male lions guard the pride and protect their territory. The lionesses (females) take the lead when it comes to hunting down the prey. From time to time the Males will assist with a hunt. The Lion is one of the animals that can be seen in the Masai Mara.
The Cheetah is the fastest mammal on earth, able to reach speeds of up to 112 km/h which they can keep up for a few hundred meters. While on safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara, several guests have had very close encounters with these animals. The cheetahs live in grasslands and savannas of Kenya and Tanzanian. You are likely too see cheetahs in twos.
African elephants are the world’s largest land animals. Weighing up to (6.6 tons) the African elephant is an animal to behold. Watch the African elephant use its trunk an extension of the upper lip and nose to communicate, feed and handle objects. There has been an increase in the number of Elephants in the Masai Mara which is a good thing for future generations.
Zebras are native to Africa and are related to donkeys and horses. They have distinctive brown or black patterns on their coats. You may be interested to learn that this design comes from the fact that they have black skin under their white coats. In the Masai Mara, Zebras are favorite prey for lions and other big cats, however, a kick from a Zebra can kill a lion.
The hippopotamus is a large, water-loving animal that is native to Africa. In the Masai Mara, the hippos rule the river banks and are in constant fights with the crocodiles. They are the third-largest land mammal. For this reason, hippos eat a lot (vegetation) around 80 pounds each day.
Wildebeest, otherwise known as gnus, are African antelopes that are quite large. They are related to sheep, goats, and cattle. They have bushy beards, manes, and curved horns. When they gather in a group, it is known as a herd. The common wildebeest is between 260 and 595 pounds and is considered to be the largest type of antelope. They are herbivores and eat mainly grass and leaves. In the Masai Mara, these animals are well known for their migratory behavior.
The Thomsons Gazelle is a gorgeous, graceful type of antelope. The gazelles have ringed and curved horns and light body frames that make them agile at running and jumping to get away from predators. They are in the same family as cattle, sheep, and goats. The Thomsons Gazelle is considered to be one of the smaller species, weighing between 26 and 165 pounds. They are herbivores, mostly eating leaves, shoots, and grass. In the Masai Mara, these animals are cheetahs’ favorite prey.
Crocodiles are reptiles that are found in many regions throughout the world. There are 13 different species, all of which are different sizes. They can lay between 10 to 60 eggs at a time, and do not mature until they are at least 4 years old. These animals can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. In the Masai, Mara Crocodile is known to prey on herbivores coming to the river to drink water.
Baboons are a type of old-world monkey, with the oldest known fossil being over 2 million years old. The sizes of baboons vary widely between the 5 species and can be as small as 30 lbs or as large as 80 lbs. There are 5 major species of baboons, and they live and travel in groups called “troops”. Baboons in the Masai Mara eat a lot and they are not very picky. Don’t play with them, they are known to attack if they think you have food.
The Rhinoceros (Rhino) is the largest land mammal besides the elephant. Two of the five species are African, known as the black and white rhinoceroses. All members of the two species have two horns.
They use their horns during mating and fighting, as well as when defending themselves from lions and other predators.
This animal is a herbivore, eating foliage from bushes and trees, as well as grazing on grass.
The list of Masai Mara Animals just covers a hand full of animals found in the Masai Mara. Book your Masai Mara safari for a chance to see the Masai Mara Animals above and more.
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