Masai Mara Animals: Insights into Predators, Herbivores, and More

The Big Nine

Beyond the renowned ‘Big Five‘—lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, and buffalo—the Mara hosts a diverse array critically endangered species of wild animals. Below is a summary of the creatures you might encounter during your Masai Mara adventure.

Why settle for the ‘Big Five’ when you can experience the ‘Big Nine’? This group includes the Big Five plus the giraffe, cheetah, hippo, and zebra. You’re likely to spot many of them on a Masai Mara safari. The zebra species in the Mara include the plains zebra, Grevy’s zebra, and the mountain zebra, each with unique characteristics and habitats. Here’s a closer look at these four additional members of the Big Nine that you’ll want to see on your wildlife journey.

Giraffe (Giraffa)

The Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchii), the tallest land animal, is a breathtaking sight. Known for their elegant movements and striking appearance, giraffes can reach speeds of 50-60 kilometers per hour. Kenya is home to various masai giraffe or subspecies. In Northern Kenya, you’ll find the reticulated or Somali giraffe. Particularly rare is Rothschild’s giraffe, whose classification as a separate subspecies is still debated.

In Southern Kenya, Masai giraffes roam. These giraffes are distinguished from reticulated giraffes by their jagged body spots, as opposed to polygonal liver-colored spots. Around 33,000 Masai giraffes inhabit this region, mostly living in small groups. They spend approximately 16-20 hours daily feeding, with acacia tree leaves being their preferred snack. Their long tongues and lips adeptly navigate the acacia thorns to access the leaves. With fresh vegetation, they can go weeks without water. Typically, male giraffes feed from the top branches of acacia trees, while females feed from the lower branches. Their primary threats are hyenas, lions, and poachers. Their best defense is their ability to flee swiftly and, if necessary, deliver a powerful kick.

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubantus)

The cheetah is one of the most iconic animals in the Masai Mara, hunting in open areas in groups of up to five cheetahs. These big cats have flexible spines that allow for rapid acceleration, reaching speeds up to 110 kilometers per hour. In just three strides, they can go from 0 to 64 kilometers per hour. Their long tails act as rudders, enabling sharp turns while chasing prey. Though often confused with leopards, cheetahs are slimmer, with longer bodies and smaller, rounder faces. Female cheetahs are solitary, while males are not. Females only interact with adult males for breeding and raise their cubs alone. When male cheetahs cubs reach eighteen months, the mother leaves them to fend for themselves.

Sibling cubs usually stay together for about six months. Around two years, female siblings leave to live solitary lives, while male siblings form lifelong ‘coalitions’ of two to three members. Cheetahs hunt in the early morning and late afternoon, preying on small antelopes, kudu, warthog, hartebeest, oryx, sable, and occasionally game birds and rabbits. Unfortunately, cheetahs are now classified as critically endangered by the IUCN due to a significant population decline, with an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 remaining in the wild.

Hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius) – Dangerous Animals

Hippos are the third-largest land animals, with adult males weighing up to 1,500 kilograms. You’ll find them in rivers, swamps, and along lake shores, spending their days keeping cool in water and mud in family groups. At dusk, they leave the water to graze on grass. The Masai Mara National Reserve hosts large numbers of hippos. Male hippos (bulls) dominate specific river stretches, overseeing five to 30 female hippos and their young. Hippos are among the most aggressive and most dangerous animals anywhere in Africa, with approximately 125,000 to 150,000 residing throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.

Zebra (Equus quagga)

The Masai Mara is home to large herds of plains zebras, slightly smaller than Grevy’s zebras but larger than mountain zebras. Their stripes are broader than those of other zebra types. Plains zebras inhabit treeless grasslands and savanna woodlands in tropical and temperate climates. They are preyed upon by lions, spotted hyenas, crocodiles, cheetahs, and African wild dogs. Plains zebras are highly social, forming harems with one male stallion, several female mares, and their young. Bachelor male plains zebra in groups also exist. Occasionally, multiple groups join to create herds, working together to watch for predators. When a predator is detected, the stallion snorts or barks to protect his harem.

Other Masai Mara Animals

The Masai Mara offers much more than the Big Five and Big Nine. Here is a list of some of the unique and fascinating mammals inhabiting this part of Africa. The mountain zebra, for instance, stands out when compared to other zebra species like the plains and Grevy’s zebra, both in terms of size and social structure.

Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)

Aardvarks are small burrowing mammals with long snouts and powerful claws. These nocturnal animals are native to Africa and feed on insects like ants and termites. They are hairless, with short legs and thick claws for burrowing and digging.

Aardwolf (Proteles cristatus)

This yellowish animal, resembling a small striped hyena, has black stripes and a bushy, black-tipped tail. It features a coarse ridge of hairs along its back and longer front legs than hind legs. Aardwolves are solitary animals and active at night.

African Hare (Lepus capensis)

The African hare inhabits wooded savannas and grasslands across Africa. While generally being solitary animals, they sometimes pair up in twos or threes for safety from predators during feeding.

Banded Mongoose (Mungos mungo)

This mongoose species is common in central and eastern Africa, living in savannahs, forests, and grasslands. Their homes often include termite mounds, and they typically reside in colonies. Banded mongooses are either brown or grey, with dark bands extending from shoulder to tail.

Even More Land Animals in the Maasai Mara National Reserve

• Bat Eared Fox (Otocyon magalotis)

• Bushbaby (Galago senegalensis)

• Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus)

• Coke’s Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii)

• Common Eland (Taurotragus oryx)

• Copper Tailed Monkey/ Red Tailed Monkey (Cercopithecus Ascanius)

• Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata)

• Dwarf Mongoose (Helogale parvula)

• Grant’s Gazelle (Gazella granti)

• Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis)

• Impala (Aepyceros melampus)

• Kirk’s Dik-Dik (Madoqua kirkii)

• Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus)

• Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra)

• Olive Baboon (Papio cynocephalus Anubis)

• Oribi (Ourebia ourebi)

• Pangolin (Manis temminckii)

• Side Striped Jackal (Canis adustus)

• Slender Mongoose (Herpestes sanguineus)

• Spotted Hyena (Hyaena hyaena)

• Spring Hare (Pedetes capensis)

• Straw Coloured Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum)

• Thomson’s Gazelle (Gazella thomsonii)

• Topi (Damaliscus lunatus jimela)

• Vervet Monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops)

• Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)

• Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus)

• Wildebeest (Connochaetes)