About the Masai Mara National Reserve

Managed by local councils, not the government

The Masai Mara National Reserve was established in 1961. It is situated some 168km (105 miles) south of the equator. Bordering on its southern edge are the mighty Serengeti plains of Tanzania (map).

The entire reserve is 1,530km² in size, with the inner, core reserve covering 320km². The entrance gates marking the inner reserve mark the start of the Masai Mara which contains no human settlements within its boundaries.

The Oloololo Escarpment to the west rises 300m above the plains and forms the boundary with the TransMara district. The escarpment was formed by the Mara river which itself is the scene for the spectacular crossing of thousands of wildebeests and zebra on their annual migration from the Serengeti Plains.

A Reserve, not a National Park
The Masai Mara is a reserve rather than a national park because it is managed by the local councils of Narok and TransMara. The councils receive income from the gate fees and royalties paid by the tourist lodges and camps.

Although the revenues are meant to benefit the Masaais who have lived here for centuries, many locals tell you they have not seen any such rewards from the global popularity of the area, and the income brought in by foreign tourists.

However, some Maasais do make a good living from visiting the tourist lodges and camps, by performing traditional shows and/or selling local handicrafts.

Animal inventory
In the Reserve you can typically see the following types of wildlife:

Elephants Lions Coke's hartebeest Black rhino Masai giraffe Buffalo Grant's gazelle Topi Cheetah Leopards Bush duiker Spotted hyena Oribi Impala Thomson's gazelle Baboon Wildebeest Eland Kirk's dik dik Waterbuck Hunting dog Hyrax Black jackal Vervet monkey Crocodile Warthog Common zebra Hippopotamus