10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Masai Mara

The Masai Mara National Reserve is one of Africa’s most studied and photographed ecosystems, yet many of its core facts are often misunderstood or oversimplified. Below are ten verified, factual insights about the Masai Mara.

1. The Masai Mara Covers 1,510 km²

The Masai Mara National Reserve spans approximately 1,510 square kilometres in south-western Kenya, forming the northern extension of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.

Source:https://community-wildlife.org/wildlife-conservation/

2. The Name “Mara” Means “Spotted”

The word Mara comes from the Maa language of the Maasai people and means “spotted”... referring to the scattered trees and shrubs across the savannah when viewed from above.

Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maasai_Mara

3. There Are Six Main Entry Gates

The Masai Mara National Reserve is accessed through six official gates:

• Sekenani

• Talek

• Musiara

• Oloololo

• Ololaimutia

• Sand River

Source:https://www.masaimara.travel/names-timings-entry-gates.php

4. Kenya Has Over 50 Tribes The Maasai Are Indigenous to the Mara

Kenya is home to 50+ recognised tribes. The Maasai are the indigenous people of the Masai Mara region, with an estimated population of around 900,000 across Kenya and northern Tanzania.

5. The Mara Supports Over 95 Mammal Species

The ecosystem supports:

• 95+ mammal species

• 470+ recorded bird species

It is one of the most predator-dense regions in Africa, particularly for lions, cheetahs, and leopards.

6. Over 1.3 Million Wildebeest Migrate Through the Mara

During the Great Migration (typically July–October):

• ~1.3–1.5 million wildebeest

• 400,000+ zebras

• 200,000+ gazelles

cross into the Masai Mara from the Serengeti.

7. Black Rhinos Are Critically Endangered in the Mara

The Masai Mara is home to approximately 35 black rhinos, making them one of the reserve’s rarest and most protected animals. Poaching remains a serious conservation threat.

Source:https://community-wildlife.org/wildlife-conservation/

8. The Mountain Bongo Does Not Live in the Masai Mara

The mountain bongo, one of Africa’s rarest antelope species, is not found in the Masai Mara. It inhabits dense montane forests elsewhere in Kenya and Tanzania, not open savannah ecosystems.

KenyaSource:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bongo_(antelope)

9. Most Wildlife Lives Outside the Reserve

More than 60% of wildlife in the greater Mara ecosystem lives outside the national reserve in community-owned conservancies, highlighting the importance of local land stewardship.

10. The Masai Mara Was Gazetted in 1948

The area was first designated as a wildlife reserve in 1948 and later became a national reserve in 1961, governed by Narok County.

Source:https://www.bestsafaris.com

📍 Masai Mara at a Glance

• Country: Kenya

• County: Narok

• Coordinates: 1°29′24″ S, 35°08′38″ E

• Area: 1,510 km²

• Ecosystem: Serengeti–Mara

• Altitude: 1,500–2,170 m above sea level

• Indigenous people: Maasai

• Established: 1948 (gazetted), 1961 (national reserve)

Masai Mara Safaris - https://www.benaroberts.com/masai-mara-safari