Today is dedicated to shared game viewing on the open plains of the world famous Masai Mara. Two game drives a day are provided by most safari lodges - one in the morning and another in the afternoon.
We set off early, when game viewing conditions are at their best, to view the abundant wildlife of this region. Return to the lodge to rest in the heat of the day, before setting off again in the late afternoon for another game drive.
Nestled within the enormous Great Rift Valley, the Masai Mara is famous for its many prides of lions, packs of hyena and other predators - as well as huge herds of wildebeest, which number over one million, zebra and giraffe. All the Big Five can be seen here, as well as numerous other species including the Thomson's gazelle, topi, kongoni, impala, roan antelope and hippo. The nocturnal bat-eared fox, rarely found elsewhere in Kenya, also inhabits this park as well as the endangered cheetah and black rhino.
Bird watching is also excellent with over 450 different species. These include the Marabou stork, Secretary bird, Crowned crane, Ostrich, Brown snake eagle, Black-chested snake eagle, Bateleur, Martial eagle, African paradise flycatcher, Red-fronted & White-headed barbet, Black-faced go-away bird, Woodland kingfisher, Violet-backed starling, Black cuckoo-shrike and various species of larks, cisticolas, vultures, hornbills and so much more.
Note: If your lodge is situated in a private conservancy, you will need to pay an extra $200 pp if you want a game drive that enters the Masai Mara National Reserve. As wildlife ranges freely between the surrounding conservancies and the national park, without any fences to restrict their movement, this is only necessary during the migration season and should be booked in advance to avoid disappointment.