A couple of years ago the Masai Mara was voted the greatest Game Reserve in the world - 5 years in a row, and there is very good reason for it. It is one of the most productive wildlife areas in the world and game viewing is fantastic all year round.
The Masai Mara consists of two sections, The Greater Masai Mara and the Mara Triangle, only divided by the Mara River. There is no fence between the sections, only access points between the two in the form of two gates. This is done to manage the vehicle movement between the two Reserves and to keep control throughout the area.
The entire area is about 1500km squared, 510km squared being the Mara Triangle and the rest taking up the Greater Masai Mara. With the Mara Triangle being on the western section there is very limited access to that side of the river. When we look at the two reserves, the larger reserve, which is just as beautiful, takes up a large portion east of the Mara River. With that said though, it also allows for a higher concentration of vehicles in sightings.
Looking at the Mara Triangle, with limited access and fantastic control from the Mara Conservancy rangers, it is extremely well managed with regards to the number of vehicles in a sighting as well as managing crossing points in the high season.
As you can see in the image below, the Mara Triangle is on the left of the image. The border to the right is the Mara River in the middle of the image, the Oloololo Escarpment is the boundary to the North and to the South West, the border is the border with Tanzania and the Serengeti.
Some History about the Mara:
The Mara Triangle was declared a Game Reserve in 1948. The Triangle boarders are made up of the Oloololo Escarpment to the north, the Mara River to the east and the border to Tanzania and the Serengeti to the south and west. In 1961 the Greater Masai Mara National Park was included into the Mara Triangle. This created a massive piece of land all dedicated to wildlife and conservation of the area. Then, in 1984, the Area was divided into two, one being the Mara Triangle and the other being the Greater Masai Mara National Park.
The park was separated to run two different organizations to benefit the Mara and to make managing such a large area more efficient.
The Wild Eye Mara Camp
The Wild Eye Masai Mara product has been going since 2012, that is 10 years of experience in the Mara Triangle.
In 2018, Wild Eye was given a semi-permanent camp site to use for 5 months of the year. Our camp is situated on the banks of of the incredible Mara River and is in prime position for game viewing. The camp is situated on the southern parts of the Triangle with about a 10-15 minute drive to the most dramatic crossing points the Mara has to offer.
Our position means that there is plenty of time where it is only our vehicles in sightings. Our East African guides are amongst some of the best and over the past 10 years have each developed incredible local knowledge of crossings and wildlife behavior.
Imagine yourself sitting on the banks of the Mara River around a campfire, drink in hand and listening to the sounds of nature all around you. What could possibly be better.
Our camp is a non ecological camp, this means that outside of the season there is no evidence of our camp having been there. Over the past couple of years, we have been able to connect and establish a relationship with the Mara Conservancy by hosting a photographic workshop for the local rangers who work out in the field and are now able to and have the equipment to document anything they may see in the field, whether it be of an animal or whether it has to do with conservation.
One of the main reasons for our campsite being positioned where it is, is to prevent an impossible crossing point. Thousands of wildebeest used to cross where our camp is now and were unable cross the river, which meant that they would drown and wash down river.
Wild Eye also aided in putting in a borehole which provides the local community with fresh clean water and our conservation efforts in the Mara continue.
For other Frequently asked question or more of the Masai Mara explain, check out the following blog posts:
The Magic of the Mara - Migration not included
The Magic of the Mara - Great Migration Explained
The Magic of the Mara - Things to think about when traveling
I hope you all enjoyed learning a little more about the Masai Mara and if you have any further questions, please let me know in the comments below.
until next time,
Trevor
We good insight,and clear elaborate review.
Thank you so much Meikan, I really appreciate it.
Very good insight,and clear elaborate review.