HEAD TO HEAD: MASAI MARA VS SERENGETI
Wildlife encounters on a game drive inside these parks involves a bit of luck, however, an organized safari drive with a trusted tour operator improves your chances considerably. Both destinations are popular as real safari treats and they draw many parallels particularly since they make up one ecosystem; the Serengeti ecosystem.
How can you pick out the most suitable for you between the two, though? If you had the chance to visit just one of them, which one is perfect for a safari? Since it could get complicated to make a pick, below I have detailed each of their highlights to help you make a choice.
MASAI MARA
INTRODUCTION
The Mara in Kenya is famous on accountant of hosting the Great Wildebeest Migration, the seventh of the new wonders of the world. That being said, many curious tourists are drawn to witness this spectacular sight which commences from the Serengeti in Tanzania. Since Kenya and Tanzania lie next to each other – actually Masai Mara and Serengeti are just separated with an unfenced border – it makes it possible for the migrating animals to easily move around.
What is most exciting is when you catch the first glimpse of the vast rolling plains as well as open savannah dotted with various kinds of acacia trees. In a typical morning’s game drive you will encounter grassland vegetation and deeper in the park you will meet hilly outcrops. The topography is marvelous, too, the sunsets are intoxicating and will make any enthusiast traveler wish to stay longer.
Around and inside the park there is a wide range of accommodation to suit different tastes and budgets. Lodges inside the park and private conservancies are more pricey but with extra activities on offer like horse riding and Night game drives. In as much as the game drives are rewarding, I found that you can get more of your visit if you explore Masai’s culture with a visit to their villages.
BEST FOR: WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS
Masai Mara is densely packed with resident game all year round thereby very suitable for enjoying great encounters with the wildlife. It is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts who want the thrill of the African Savannah.
Rainfall here is not as seasonal in contrast to the southern counterpart, even though wildlife populations still swell during the dry season of July to October. Numerous predators follow the traveling grazers on the greatest African show, yearly Wildebeest Migration. These grazers consist majorly of wildebeests, zebra and some varieties of antelopes. During this period of migration visitors get the mandate to witness first-hand action of game hunts along the Mara River as well as in the open grasslands.
BEYOND GAME DRIVES: EVEN MORE THRILLERS
An aerial view of a hot air balloon at dawn is a real treat as most of the animals are active at this time of the day mainly the big cats. From up above you could be able to observe the mass movements of the wildlife below and even meet with birds in the sky. Balloon safaris start early in the morning to catch predators still roaming around after enjoying their feast; most of the predators are nocturnal, hunting in the night and mostly resting during the day.
Horse-back rides is an exclusive activity only possible in some private conservancies. There are spots in the conservancies safe for riding horses and nature trails for taking leisurely walks. It is essentially much less crowded in the private conservancies thus allowing for more serenity and activity options.
Nature lovers will undoubtedly savor the sundowners in the sunset, offered by virtually every semi-luxury and luxury lodge around the reserve. This is the best place for a honeymoon, valentine getaway, birthday party or any other event away from the bustle of city life. The environs are incredibly suitable for couples to enjoy serene time alone over a sunset on a glass of scotch whisky or fine Romanee-Conti.
Nature walks and hikes are available too for curious adventurers who don’t like sitting still. With a Masai to guide you along the safe paths, there are numerous things they will show you along the way including various kinds of plants.
HIGHLIGHT: PAY THE MASAI VILLAGE A VISIT
A trip to the wild Masai Mara just isn’t complete without experiencing for yourself the archaic traditions practiced by the Masai community in their villages. By taking this tour you could learn about the rich cultural heritage of our Kenyan communities and get to even learn survival tactics in the wild if you are by yourself; all courtesy of our Masai brethren.
The Masai have a unique lifestyle, which they have surprisingly held on to since archaic times, plus a few other communities like Samburu. That is the most fascinating part, they have not let their culture get stained in any way; in my opinion this has benefits as well as its downsides too. You will enjoy Masai dances once you get welcomed into their villages. The women hand-make and offer fantastic souvenirs for sale which you should definitely get for future memories.
SERENGETI
INTRODUCTION
The Serengeti National Park is a land of charming open savannah and is contiguous with the Masai Mara and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is the closest park to an untouched African wilderness naturalists will ever get, alongside Masai Mara. It’s not a surprise that the Serengeti enjoys the lion’s share of the Wildebeest Migration since it is vast, covering a good 30,000 square kilometers while the Masai Mara is much smaller at 1,510 square kilometers.
The excitement of the Serengeti is indescribable with words, only real-time experience would suffice. A plethora of activities, wildlife and amazing topography is worth the visit and not to mention that the park ranks among the world’s top birding destinations.
A number of camps are located along the paths of the Great Migration. Enthusiasts for this unique spectacle should therefore make the right timing during the year to increase the chances for viewing the animals in action. Seasonal mobile camps are also another option; they essentially track the seasonal migration movement. Many of the accommodation options in Serengeti are semi-luxury and luxury, although solo travelers on a budget should not get discouraged. There are plenty of budget options for you too.
BEST FOR: GENERAL GAME VIEWING
Despite numerous animals on a constant move, time taken on escapades amongst the animals seems to stand still. Due to the great size of this wondrous park, it is not fenced thus animals particularly wildebeests get to circulate between Masai Mara and Serengeti with no trouble. Regardless of time of the year, Serengeti is perfect for game viewing as you will find yourself surrounded by a great number of wildlife once you are inside roaming around in your 4X4.
Many visitors of the Serengeti undoubtedly make the trip to observe the cyclical movement of the wildebeest, however it’s worth it to also look beyond this spectacle and enjoy other prevalent wildlife. The park has a relatively higher density of lions than its counterpart in Kenya, approximately 3,000 recorded to the present moment.
The Serengeti encapsulates a wide range of various landscapes as well as habitats which attract a number of animals. Ungulate can be spotted grazing in the open grasslands, there are also acacia-dotted savannahs, hilly outcrops, wooded hills and riverine woodlands. Rhinos have become a bit elusive recently, although other wildlife prevalent are easily seen in a casual game drive.
BEYOND WILDERNESS ENCOUNTERS: A TOUCH OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
The Masai are a symbol of not only Kenya’s culture, but Tanzania as well. It is one of the most famous tribes and their villages present inside the park are open to be visited by all culturalists touring the park. An excursion to their humble abodes (made of cow dung and clay) will immerse you in their enchanting ancestry.
These fierce Masai warriors live off their herds of cattle, goats, donkeys and sheep which they graze amongst wildlife of the Serengeti, pretty audacious in my opinion. Even though they ceased roaming lands nomadically in search of green pasture and water for their herds, they still practice their ancestral way of life. They coexist collectively among the wildlife and live on a diet of meat, milk and sometimes supplement with some grain.
The Savannah plains can also be explored on a guided trek to appreciate the breathtaking scenery which seems to be endless over the sunset. Armed rangers guide tourists around the nature trails inside the park where some wildlife species can also be spotted.
HIGHLIGHT: THE VIBRANCY
The Serengeti plains are the vastest grasslands in the southern part of the park, and it gets grassier and hilly towards the central. Acacias are in a higher density to the west close to Lake Victoria, where the landscape gets hilly.
In a regular game drive you can easily travel between hilly outcrops and grasslands thereby enriching the whole safari experience. This is one of the best parks if you are seeking a vibrant African habitat.
MY VERDICT: Masai Mara and Serengeti are both great to enjoy a wild atmosphere and experience a wide range of natural habitats. Major difference is that Masai Mara is densely packed with wildlife due to its smaller size in comparison to its counterpart which is vast but has more wildlife. Visit either of them or both to make your own judgement. TripNest Holidays will organize a perfect tour to any of these destinations for you, and ensure your holiday is a success.