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Off the Beaten Path in Masai Mara Game Reserve
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Masai Mara Game Reserve Hotels

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Masai Mara Game Reserve Off the Beaten Path


"NEED SUN-BLOCK!"
by safardreams
Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Masai Mara Game Reserve attractions, posted by real travelers and locals.
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Masai Mara Game Reserve Off the Beaten PathTips 1 - 10 of 52  
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Hippos and Crocs at the Mara River
  • Tip Rating:
    • Homanded
  • By Homanded on November 20, 2006
  • Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by Homanded
    • Masai Mara Game Reserve Off the Beaten Path
    by Homanded, 4 more photos
    This is the infamous Mara River - the place where each year, millions of Wildebeest, Zebras, Impalas and countless other hoofed animals make their perilous crossings on the way to the "greener pastures" between Tanzania and the Kenya Plains.

    Knowing nature's course, which has been unchanging throughout milleneum, hungry crocodiles await the creatures which are driven by hunger and the need to survive.
    It is also the best place in Kenya to see the Hippo - Africa's most dangerous animal.

    Each year countless people are attacked by Hippos who have either wondered out of the water to their grazing grounds (they're hervibores) and an unsuspecting tourist or even guide has gotten between the huge beast and the river.
    For this reason, the Mara River lookout is always patrolled by National Park officers, complete with very menacing looking guns and only they can escort you to and around the river.

    For the best vantage points, go down to the river's edge (again, with a guide who is knowlegeable in knowing where the hippos lie) and around the naturally worn crossings to the top of the hill.
    The sight of these magnificent animals all lazily basking in the sun or just under the water's surface was one of our favorites.

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    Mara River
  • Tip Rating:
    • grets
  • By grets on January 7, 2005
  • Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by grets
    • Mara River - Masai Mara Game Reserve
    Mara River
    by grets
    Masai Mara reserve is named for the tribe that inhabits this area, and the river that dissects it - Mara River. The river is the lifeblood of the reserve and attracts much game, hippo and crocodile.

    Running close to the Tanzanian border, it was quite a trek for us to reach this point.

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    Look-out Hill
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    • grets
  • By grets on January 7, 2005
  • Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by grets
    • Thomson's Gazelle and zebra on Look-out Hill - Masai Mara Game Reserve
    Thomson's Gazelle and zebra on
    Look-out Hill
    by grets
    More or less in the centre of the reserve, you will find Look-out Hill. It is worth making the journey here, for the sheer concentration of plains game found here. Everywhere you look there are various gazelles, zebra and others. They favour this area as it is elevated, so that they can see for miles around and spot any predators approaching. Many of the films from Masai Mara are shot here.

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    Hippo pool
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    • grets
  • By grets on January 7, 2005
  • Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by grets
    • Hippo pool - Masai Mara Game Reserve
    Hippo pool
    by grets
    Way down on the Tanzanian border, is the New Mara Bridge Hippo Pool, where hundreds of these docile, but aggressive animals laze in the midday sun. Groans and grunts can be heard quite some distance away, as you walk with a ranger along the opposite bank for a closer view of the numerous animals along the river.

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    Sekenani Gate
  • Tip Rating:
    • grets
  • By grets on January 13, 2005
  • Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by grets
    • Sekenani Gate - Masai Mara Game Reserve
    Sekenani Gate
    by grets
    Siana Springs Camp was about half an hour's drive from the Sekenani Gate - entry into the Masai Mara. The camp was located in what is known as the Dispersal Area, although not part of the Mara proper, there are no fences to seperate the animals from the reserve and the dispersal area. One day we found a herd of giraffe right outside the camp gates, and sometime we'd encounter large herds of animals on the way to the reserve gate.

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    Migration crossing
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    • grets
  • By grets on January 7, 2005
  • Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by grets
    • Migration crossing point - Masai Mara Game Reserve
    Migration crossing point
    by grets
    Also near the Tanzanian border is the place where the enormous herds of wildebeest cross the Mara River. Up to 1.5 million animals will cross at this point, many falling prey to the crocodiles that lurk in the river, or will fall and injure themselves from the bank.

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    Entry to the reserve
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    • grets
  • By grets on January 13, 2005
  • Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by grets
    • Talek Gate - Masai Mara Game Reserve
    Talek Gate
    by grets
    There are six gates into the Masai Mar reserve, Oloololo in the north, Musiara Gate in the northeast, Talek gate in the east, Sekenani Gate a little further south on the eastern border, Ololamutiek Gate on the woutheastern stretch and Sand River Gate which takes you into Tanzania on the western border of the Mara.

    Entry to the park is US$30 per person per day. You do not have to pay for the day you are leaving even if you do go for a drive in the morning, only those days which you are spending the night in or near the reserve.

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    MY LAST LION!
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    • safardreams
  • By safardreams on April 23, 2003
  • Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by safardreams

    • "LION #42"
    by safardreams
    We had a thing for counting LIONS in the MARA! The 5 days I was there at the end of my 2001 safari. This guy was #42!!!!! Thought that was good. We couldn't get to him. He took off anyway. Thats ok, he still looked BIG!
    Just about time to drive back to DREAM CAMP!!
    10/2001

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    Narok - Last stop for gas
  • Tip Rating:
    • BorneoGrrl
  • Updated By BorneoGrrl on July 4, 2006
  • Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by BorneoGrrl
    • Narok town - Masai Mara Game Reserve
    Narok town
    by BorneoGrrl
    Before you reach the Masai Mara Game Reserve (about 100km) you will arrive in Narok. Here, you can go out for a short walk, refuel your tummy and more importantly, refuel your vehicle for your journey to the Masai Mara because it is the last place for gas

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    PRICEY HOT-AIR!
  • Tip Rating:
    • safardreams
  • Updated By safardreams on January 23, 2003
  • Masai Mara Game Reserve Page by safardreams
    • UP, UP AND-AWAY! - Masai Mara Game Reserve
    UP, UP AND-AWAY!
    by safardreams
    For about $400.00 you can take a ride above
    the PLAINS! Depends on the wind! 1 HOUR or 2 HOURS! If the wind takes you over to
    TANZANIA too fast. You have to land! If I had
    the extra cash I would do it. But, then I think I
    could spend another 2 days here instead!
    9/2002

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    More Masai Mara Game Reserve Tips
    Overview
         		Hotels and Accommodations
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    Things To Do
    Tips: 186 - Photos: 320    		Nightlife
    Tips: 20 - Photos: 22
    Transportation
    Tips: 30 - Photos: 39    		Restaurants
    Tips: 25 - Photos: 29
    Shopping
    Tips: 6 - Photos: 9    		Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 52 - Photos: 65
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 11 - Photos: 18    		Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 38 - Photos: 40
    Local Customs
    Tips: 14 - Photos: 17    		Packing Lists
    Tips: 15 - Photos: 14
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 18 - Photos: 18    		General Tips
    Tips: 56 - Photos: 115
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