Into the Savanna (Maasai Mara, Kenya)

A zebra takes its stripes wherever it goes.

Maasai Proverb

Pictures cannot describe my absolute awe of this place. The vastness and tranquility, irrespective of rain or clear skies, is humbling, out of this world. When I first planned this long-awaited trip, I honestly thought it was going to be like a more sophisticated trip to a zoo (and I’m not really into zoos). I was wrong, in a big way. Whether you see the “Big Five” or not, your mere presence itself is an experience. It is as though you, as a human being, are connecting to your actual origin: nature, Mother Earth. Forget about human conquests, everyday stress, the history of civilization, for here you are a witness to the simple, raw, and fundamental theater of life.

Welcome to the Maasai Mara National Park, Kenya!

Itinerary

• I flew with a small charter flight into Maasai Mara from Diani Beach (Southeastern Kenya), landing into a small landing strip in the middle of the national park.
• Then, I stayed for two nights at one of the many isolated lodges/camping sites around the park (mine was a lodge complex called Mara Serena (website: https://www.serenahotels.com/mara). Meals were included throughout.
• There are 2 guided tours throughout the day, one early morning and one in the afternoon/evening. Each tour takes a few hours and we were basically in the lookout for the “Big Five” (lion, rhinoceros, leopard, elephant, and the African buffalo), although the savanna has a multitude of other animals.
• At the end of the stay, I flew out of the same landing strip to Nairobi’s Wilson airport (a local airport in Nairobi for charter flights into the Maasai Mara). Transportation to and from the landing strip was organized by the lodge

 

A FEW TIPS

• Be mindful of the timing of your trip! I flew in January which is shoulder (off) season for tourists, and thus it was not crowded and was able to enjoy it more (plus it was cheaper). However, June and July are the months when the renowned massive migration of the wildebeest happens, but it will be inundated with tourists and hotter (but dryer) weather. Even with some periods of rain, I was able to see the Big Five with no problems!
• Book early and do your research! There are several types of lodging in the Maasai Mara, from a simple tent in the jungle to a luxurious house. I personally opted for a local agent that I knew from a friend, and they were great! Their name was Blue Lotus Travel and Tours Ltd (website: https://www.bluelotus.co.tz/)
• Make sure you take the necessary vaccinations and medications prior to traveling there (especially against yellow fever and malaria). There are many local travel clinics in your city that offer those. Make sure to carry the yellow vaccination certificate for yellow fever and other vaccines with you as they might ask you for that in customs.
• On the same note, make sure you visit your primary care doctor and take some necessary medications with you (anti-nausea/diarrhea, motion sickness, fever, antibiotics…etc).
• Don’t forget mosquito repellants! Also, most beds in Kenya have nettings over them but do double check before reserving any accommodation!
• Since you are in the middle of the jungle (quite literally), make sure you pick a place where meals are provided.
• Maasai Mara is an extension of the Serengeti in Tanzania, a much bigger park. I opted for the one in Kenya (greater Tanzania will be another trip), but you can check the other side in Tanzania as well. I have been told they are the same on both sides, so it is just a matter of convenience and cost.

Stay tuned for my blog posts for the other places in East Africa I went to as well! Hakuna Matata!

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