Landscape and Vegetation Masai Mara: A Look at Kenya's Natural Beauty

4 Types of Landscape in Masai Mara National reserve

Nestled within the Great Rift Valley, the Masai Mara is part of a 5,600-kilometer fault line that extends from Ethiopia’s Red Sea through Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique. Visitors to the Mara are treated to four distinct and stunning terrains. To the east lie the Ngama Hills, characterized by leafy bushes and sandy soil, a preferred habitat for rhinos. To the west, the Olooloo Escarpment presents a towering sheer cliff rock wall. The Mara Triangle, adjacent to the Mara River, is adorned with lush grasslands and acacia-filled woodlands, hosting a diverse array of wildlife, including the migrating wildebeest. Lastly, the rolling grasslands, dotted with boulders, termite mounds, and occasional bushes, form the Mara plains.

The Masai Mara Plains

A significant portion of the Masai Mara comprises breathtakingly vast, wide-open golden-hued grasslands. These plains seem to stretch endlessly, devoid of any man-made structures. It’s the classic ‘savannah’ where you’ll have an unparalleled view of the grazing animals, lazily wandering or perched upon a termite mound, gazing into the horizon. This is also the prime location for witnessing thrilling high-speed predator versus prey pursuits. The open landscape provides

The Mara’s Riverine Forests & Mara River Basin

Beyond the vast plains, the Masai Mara is home to surprisingly lush and green riverine forests. Major rivers like the Mara River swell beyond their banks during the rainy season, while in the dry season, they continue to supply water to the Mara’s diverse wildlife. This abundant water source supports the growth of broad-leaved evergreen trees. The shade provided by these leafy canopies keeps the soil and air moist, creating an ideal environment for a variety of vegetation to thrive. This flourishing habitat offers sustenance to insects, bird species, and animals in the Mara. The forest floor is adorned with shade-loving plants, feature leafy bushes, and the trees themselves host a myriad of orchids and creeping vines.

Loita Hills at Maasai Mara National Reserve

At first glance, the Loita Hills with the termite hill staring out from the distance might not seem particularly impressive. However, with a bit of determination (and a few hours of bumpy driving), you’ll discover the enchanting indigenous forest known as the ‘Forest of the Lost Child’. These hills, reaching altitudes of up to 2,150 meters, form a low-lying mountain range northeast of the Masai Mara National Reserve. This area remains one of the most traditional parts of Masai territory, largely due to its remote and challenging access, resulting in sparse population and few visitors. It has preserved its authentic charm. For those with an adventurous spirit, walking safaris along the trails winding through the mountainside’s dense jungle offer an unforgettable experience. The Loita Hills are home to an array of remarkable wildlife, from buffaloes and bushbucks to forest pigs and colobus monkeys. This region also hosts the lesser-known ‘little migration,’ where thousands of wildebeest and their predators undertake their epic annual journey.

Masai Mara versus the Serengeti National Park

A key distinction between both the Masai Mara and the Serengeti, two famous safari destinations, is their size. The Serengeti, covering 30,000 square kilometers, is significantly larger. In contrast, the Masai Mara spans 1,510 square kilometers but proves that great things come in small packages. Despite the Mara ecosystem comprising just 0.01% of Africa’s total landmass, it harbors over 40% of Africa’s large mammals. As you journey north from the Serengeti towards the Masai Mara border, the landscapes of these two regions become increasingly similar. However, the Masai Mara is greener, with a higher density of trees, and features a more undulating, hilly landscape compared to its southern neighbor, the Serengeti. Both regions boast extensive river systems, including the Mara River, which flows from the Masai Mara into the Serengeti. This river is the stage for dramatic crossings by migrating wildebeest and zebras during the epic annual trek of great migration.