Maasai Mara National Reserve
It is a destination that has been written about, filmed, dreamt about, and travelled to by visitors from across the planet.
Its untouched wilderness still has the power to make my heart beat faster, my eyes to open wider so that I can see more, my soul to feel revived every time I set foot there. There is nothing better than being in a true wilderness area and to be able to get back in touch with the beauty of the wild.
Kenya. A land with wilderness areas where beasts of various forms and sizes roam free and as they will. A land that encompasses vast open plains, to the mystical yellow-barked Acacia xanthophloea trees forests that hug the edges of lakes, to a myriad of swamps interspersed with sun-scorched earth that plays along to the massive elephant herds is timeless in its truest form, and so much more.
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
One such iconic area in Kenya is the illustrious Masai Mara National Park. This is a photographer’s haven as it is teaming with some of Africa’s most sough-after and quintessential wildlife and landscapes, such as an exceptional population of lions, leopards, cheetahs, and other powerful and stealthy predators, annual migrating herds of zebra, Thompson’s gazelle and wildebeest, the rest of the Big5 members, along with its abundance general game and exquisite birdlife.
It is no wonder that Masai Mara National Park is considered as Kenya’s best park and one of Africa’s highest wildlife density regions for predators.
© Marius Coetzee, Masai Mara, Kenya
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
The Masai Mara is a destination that always produces superb photographic opportunities throughout the year. It is more readily known and visited for the great wildebeest migration that occurs annually from around July to October, but that isn’t to say that other months shouldn’t be considered otherwise, as it may be just as rewarding.
With a temperate climate all year round, there is always a reason to visit this spectacular place as each season brings its own big players to the party.
November to February
The scenery is just spectacular as it bursts bright with the colour green. This bountiful nutrition heralds the Masai Mara calving season where antelope, wildebeest and zebra give birth. With so much easy prey around, it is a perfect time for predators to give birth and raise their own cubs and pups. This season has also been dubbed Big Cat season due to the many predator and prey interactions. All this combined makes for fantastic Masai Mara photographic opportunities.
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
In general, the Masai Mara has a very healthy population of predators, with predator and prey interaction happening frequently. For the birders out there, do not be concerned! Masai Mara National Park has a recorded number of 450 different bird species, with 57 of them being raptors. When you traverse the opens plains in your safari vehicle, some of the resident birds you can see are different species of vulture, including the African White-backed Vulture, Rüppell’s Vulture, the more elusive Egyptian vulture, and more. The Secretary Bird, dancing Crowned cranes, various Kingfishers, and hornbills are amongst many others also call this destination home.
The list really does go on and includes migratory birds that visit the Mara from September to April.
It is a plethora of beauty out there.
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
April to May
This period is when the great rains make their presence felt in the Mara. Brooding, dramatic skies mark the skyscape in striking colours of dark blues and grey. As it is the rainy season for the Mara, it does make traversing the area harder due to the clay black-cotton soil and the heavy rains. However, this heralds a wonderful period as it is the sign for the wildebeest and zebra herds in the Serengeti that it is time to start migrating towards the Masai Mara on their constant quest for greener and more nutritious pastures.
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
July to October
These months are recognised as when one of the Earth’s greatest natural spectacles can be witnessed and photographed. The Great Migration is a spectacular event that sees over 1.5 million wildebeests and thousands of zebra and gazelles traverse a continuous circular route from the Masai Mara to the Serengeti National Park.
The reason for this annual perseverance? It comes down to a never-ending pursuit for the finest grazing and watering grounds. It is a tale as old as time and has been (and still is) documented, sought-after, and witnessed by many travellers over the years.
The vast number of wildebeest needs to be seen and experienced for one to actually comprehend the enormity of this gathering. It is truly awe-inspiring. Watching a never-ending line of grunting wildebeest and nodding zebra making their way to a crossing point on the Mara River really does take your breath away. River crossings are a product of the Great migration, and can vary from fierce battles with monster crocodiles that indulge in the continuous influx of prey where potential predators wait on the crossing points to catch the dedicated and anxious wildebeest and zebra, to a crossing that looks calm and relatively easy.
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
Whatever the situation, this is a time of complete fear and tension within the massive herds as they understand the threatening danger that awaits them. Even climbing up the opposite river bank can be treacherous due to the ground becoming slippery and muddy and packed with fellow wildebeest and zebra.
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
The difference in the landscape between the beginning of the year to mid-year is the numbers of plains game. When you fly over the Mara early in the year, you can see dots of herds here and there. Come to the migration season, you can she dots of open land here and there.
It is more than incredible.
Having experienced both the Masai Mara migration season and Big Cats season, and I can confidently say that both times are as epic and spell-binding as the other. They offer very different experiences and photographic opportunities.
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
© Elliott Neep, Masai Mara, Kenya
Ah, the Masai Mara. It really is a destination that captures your heart and soul in its romantic, untouched and wild beauty.
Kenya; I will always look upon you in anticipation of when I will next be able to grace your many breath-taking and diverse wilderness areas.
Stay passionate,
Penny Robartes
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To join us in 2016 on a dedicated photographic safari with our professional wildlife Elliott Neep and nature photography leader, click on the button and we will take you there!
We look forward to having you join us as we capture the Masai Mara!
