<h3>The Land Where the Lion is No Longer King</h3>

Sound quite fascinating, could it be true? Recently the Great annual Wildebeest Migration across the Maasai Mara from the Serengeti Plains was decreared the seventh new wonder of the world. What did this mean to the Lions of the Maasai Mara, these regal and powerful hunters who have dominate the vast grasslands and attracted explorers and adventure seek to the Mara.

To answer this lets travel with you to Maasai Mara, arguably the world greatest wildlife reserve measuring some 1510sq Kms in the heartland of the Maasai, a strongly independent people who still value tradition and ritual as an integral part of their everyday lives. They regard themselves not just as residents of this area but that they are as much a part of the life of the land as the land is part of their lives.

In this small park the largest concentration of wildlife in the world is found.Reason? No one knows. The Mara comprises of open plains, woodlands and riverine forest. The vast grassland plains are scattered with herds of Zebra, Giraffe, Gazelle, and Topi. The Acacia forests abound with Birdlife and Monkeys. Elephants and Buffalo wallow in the wide Musiara Swamp. The Mara and Talek rivers are brimming with Hippos and Crocodiles.

But of interest now is that each year the Mara plays host to the world’s greatest natural spectacle, the Great Wildebeest Migration from the Serengeti. From July to October, the promise of rain and fresh life giving grass in the north brings more than 1.3 million Wildebeest together into a single massive herd.

They pour across the border into the Mara, making a spectacular entrance in a surging column of life that stretches from horizon to horizon. At the Mara River they mass together on the banks before finally plunging forward through the raging waters, creating frenzy as they fight against swift currents and waiting crocodiles.

This mighty army of 1.3million plus wildebeest is not deterred by the Lions that lay in wait nor the formidable Mara River with its swift current and crocodiles waiting to profit from a free feast. The wildebeest bring new life to the Mara, through their cycle of regeneration of the grasslands and also for the predators that follow them. This courageous animal which folks say God created when he was tired, giving it a head of donkey, a tail of a horse and legs of a gazelle has of now taken over the “kingship” from the Lion but for how long? Let’s visit the Mara from July-October.

Travel Tips:

Location: Southwest of Kenya
Distance: 300KMS from Nairobi

There are All Sort of Accommodation in Mara from Fix Star Lodges and Luxury Tented Camps, private’s homes to budget accommodation and Camping Sites. When traveling to the Mara travel light the weather is generally warm throughout the year.

If you are planning to take big game walking safaris carry some proper shoes not sandals. Book you travel to Mara through a Travel Agent, Majority are honest but been on the lookout for overcharges shop around in the Internet before you settle for any.

About the Author

I am David Kiarie, the Tours Manager at Beyond Kenya Safaris a Local Based Destination Travel Company. I have a vast knowledge of Kenya Tourism/Travel spanning 20 Years and a passion of wildlife and Nature.

Source: travel-rants