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Actual 4 times maana Masai mara ni extension ya the Might Serengeti! Kila Mkunya anajua hilo!
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NairobiWalker,
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Masai Mara vs Serengeti β Which Park Should You Choose?
By
Ariadne van Zandbergen
Ariadne is a renowned African wildlife photographer whose work is featured in many well-known guidebooks and magazines.
Serengeti vs Masai Mara; which is best for an African Safari? There is no better or worse when it comes to Kenyaβs Masai Mara National Reserve and Tanzaniaβs Serengeti National Park. These two world-famous safari destinations form part of the same cross-border ecosystem, and have much in common when it comes to landscapes and wildlife. But there are differences too. Which reserve suits you better will depend not only on your preferences and priorities, but also on the time of year when you visit. To figure out where you should go on safari, read on for the main points of comparison.
Masai Mara vs Serengeti Comparison 1: Habitat & Landscape
While the
Masai Mara and
Serengeti are two main components in the greater Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, their landscapes are not identical. For one, they are very different in size. The Serengeti, at 14,760kmΒ²/5,700miΒ², is huge, while the Masai Mara, at 1,510kmΒ²/585miΒ², is very small in comparison. The Serengeti is dominated by open grassland, but it also protects a great range of other habitats, such as kopjes (rocky outcrops), evergreen riverine forest and deciduous woodland. As you travel from south to north in the Serengeti, the landscapes change. The terrain gradually becomes more hilly and wooded as you reach the Northern Serengeti and ultimately the Masai Mara.
Masai Mara vs Serengeti Comparison 2: Wildlife
Both the Masai Mara and
Serengeti offer incredible wildlife viewing. They are best known for the
wildebeest migration that moves between
Tanzania and
Kenya on a seasonal basis. But thereβs plenty of resident wildlife too. Both parks are Big Five destinations that reliably deliver good sightings of lion,
leopard, buffalo and
elephant β as well as
cheetah,
giraffe and plenty of other animals. Rhinos are scarce throughout the ecosystem, but are far more likely to be seen in the Masai Mara. Especially in the western section known as the Mara Triangle, where you have an excellent chance of encountering one of these heavyweights.
The smaller size of the Mara and higher concentration of hotels and lodges make it more difficult to get away from the crowds than is the case in the Serengeti. That said, the greater number of vehicles out on game drives in the Mara does add up to more shared sightings, which makes wildlife viewing easier.
Masai Mara vs Serengeti Comparison 3: Best Time to Go
Generally a good time to visit either park is in the driest months from about June to October. This is when animals are drawn to available water sources, such as rivers and waterholes. As the Dry season progresses the vegetation shrivels away, which makes wildlife viewing easier β especially the predators, which can sometimes be difficult to spot when the grass is high. However the
best time to see the wildebeest migration is different in the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. The exact timing depends on rainfall, but you have a good chance of seeing the migration in the Serengeti from January to September. The
best time to see the migration in the Masai Mara is from September to October.
Masai Mara vs Serengeti Comparison 4: the Great Migration
The circular annual migration of more than 2 million grazers (mostly wildebeest, but also zebras and gazelles) is one of Africaβs most impressive wildlife spectacles. No wonder many visitors like to time their East Africa visit to witness it. Due to the larger size of the Serengeti, the great migration is in the Serengeti longer than in the Masai Mara.
January and February are a great time for a safari in the Southern Serengeti. This is where the wildebeest interrupt their migration to give birth. At the peak of the calving season, thousands of calves are born here daily and this attracts lots of predators. Towards the end of April, when the calves are strong enough to start their first migration, the wildebeest and their entourage start moving north in long, noisy columns. Around June to July they cross the Grumeti River in the Serengetiβs Western Corridor β another migration highlight. The survivors continue north to reach the Mara River around August. This river crossing, possibly the most exciting moment of the great migration, can be witnessed from the Serengeti and the Masai Mara sides of the ecosystem. Once all the wildebeest have crossed over, they spend about two months in the Mara before heading south again towards the Southern Serengeti.
Masai Mara vs Serengeti Comparison 5: Accommodation Options
Both the Serengeti and the Masai Mara have a big variety of accommodation to suit different people.
Accommodation styles include tented camps (both budget and high-end exclusive), rustic small lodges and bigger chain hotels/resorts. Tented camps are especially popular. These can be fully furnished units with canvas walls, or no-frills standing tents with twin beds and not much more. Many top lodges try to blend into the environment and are surprisingly down-to-earth. They might not offer much in terms of mod cons. Instead they aim to be ecofriendly, offering an exclusive experience with great service, food and guiding.
Even more basic but highly exclusive are mobile camps. These temporary camps follow the migration without leaving any footprint.
Although every level of accommodation is available in both parks, the Serengeti has perhaps the biggest selection of small upmarket lodgings. The Masai Mara has a few more mid-range options, as well as a lot of budget accommodation just outside the reserve.
Camping trips to the Serengeti usually stay inside the park, as opposed to
budget camping trips to the Masai Mara, which mostly stay outside the reserve.
Masai Mara vs Serengeti Comparison 6: Cost
A
safari in the Masai Mara is generally cheaper than in the Serengeti. For a start there are more
budget-friendly accommodation options in the Mara than in the Serengeti, many of them outside the reserve. Due to the size of the Serengeti and the fact that the main entry point is through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, staying outside the Serengeti and entering the park for day visits is not a viable option. Well-priced accommodation options inside the Masai Mara are mostly clustered together on the eastern side of the reserve, which can make the experience quite crowded, especially in peak season. Youβll generally pay a bit more when staying on the quieter western side and the central plains of the Masai Mara. To really get away from the crowds you should consider staying in one of the private conservancies north of the national reserve. When looking at these options, a safari in the Mara and the Serengeti are comparable in price.
Masai Mara vs Serengeti Comparison 7: Getting There
Getting to the Masai Mara or the Serengeti is quite straightforward.
The
Masai Mara is usually visited from Nairobi, one of the biggest transport hubs in Africa. There are lots of flights from Europe and North America at competitive prices to Nairobi, from where a scheduled flight to the Masai Mara takes less than an hour. There are also regular flights to the
Masai Mara from Mombasa and most other Kenyan safari destinations. By road, the drive from Nairobi takes about five to six hours.
Masai Mara Tours
The gateway to the Serengeti is Arusha. This is serviced by Kilimanjaro International Airport (all international and some domestic flights) and the smaller Arusha Airport (domestic flights only). Although it is possible to fly in and out of the Serengeti from Arusha, road safaris covering the Northern safari circuit are popular too. The
drive from Arusha takes you through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with the option of visiting the Ngorongoro Crater. Other parks that can be visited on the same circuit include
Lake Manyara and
Tarangire National Parks.
Serengeti Tours
KenyaParks & ReservesPlaces To Visit in AfricaTanzania
By
Ariadne van Zandbergen
ZA
Ariadne is a renowned African wildlife photographer whose work is featured in many well-known guidebooks and magazines.
Serengeti vs Masai Mara; which is best for an African Safari? To figure out where you should go on safari, read on for the main points of comparison...
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