Maasai Mara National Reserve commonly known as Maasai Mara or just the Mara is the largest game reserve in Kenya and globally famous for its exceptional population of the Big five with more emphasis to the cat family including the Lion, Cheetah and Leopard family.
The reserve is a photographer’s and naturalist’s paradise, with abundant elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion and cheetah alongside the migratory wildebeest and zebra. Leopards are frequently encountered, endangered black rhino hide in the dense thickets and large rafts of hippo and enormous crocodiles are found in the Mara River. The park is also home to over 450 bird species.
The reserve lies at between 4,875 and 7,052 feet (1486 and 2149 meters) in elevation and extends south to Serengeti National Park. The name comes from the local Maasai people, who called this expanse of land "Mara," or spotted, in their native language of Maa, because of the way the acacia trees and wildlife dotted the plains.
“Legendary” is the best word to describe the herds and predators of the Mara.
