Top 10 Wildlife Found in Masai Mara Kenya: If you enjoy traveling and being in nature, a safari to Kenya‘s world-famous Masai Mara is something that virtually every travel enthusiast hopes to accomplish at some point in their lives.
The diversity of the animals and birds found in the Masai Mara is one of the reasons why it is such a popular tourist destination. The Masai Mara national reserve in Kenya is home to 100 different mammal species and over 500 different bird species. This is Africa’s highest species concentration.
Top 10 Wildlife Found in Masai Mara Kenya.
- Lion/ Simba.
The African lion, one of the big five creatures, is one of the most popular animals on an African safari and might easily be considered the continent’s emblem. Lions are common in the Masai Mara and are simple to identify if you are accompanied by a guide. At the time of writing, I discovered that the Masai Mara National Reserve has 825 lions.
- Rhino/Kifaru
The Masai Mara has no white rhinos, just black rhinos. Rhinos (another of the Big 5 creatures) are more difficult to detect in the Masai Mara due to their critical extinction. A Black rhino has a shorter head from brow to mouth, but a larger and more projecting head.
White rhinos have a significantly longer cranium and a longer, less defined forehead. Black rhinos also hold their heads higher, but white rhinos drop their heads closer to the earth to facilitate grazing.
You will undoubtedly want the assistance of a guide to locate this magnificent animal. Rhinos are mostly solitary creatures, and you are rare to encounter several of them together.
This makes them harder to find, especially if the grass is thick. If you are particularly interested in witnessing black and white rhinos, Lake Nakuru National Park is the place to go.
- African Savannah Elephant/Tembo or Ndovu.
The Masai Mara is teeming with elephants. Elephants have vast numbers, and spotting them will be simple even on a self-drive trip. This Big 5 Animal typically grazes in groups, making it easier to identify than some of the other Big 5 species.
- Leopard/ Chui
The African leopard, one of the most secretive members of the Big 5, is one of the other species you can expect to see in the park, although it will be little more difficult to detect without a guide. They are mostly nocturnal and generally reside in trees.
This means you’ll need to know just where to look to find them. With a skilled guide, you can spot the leopards perched on a tree, and if you’re lucky, it’ll have a newly captured food with it. When I visited the Mara, I did not spot any leopards.
- Buffalo/ Nyati
The African Buffalo, the final of the Big Five on my list, is numerous and simple to detect in the Masai Mara. They graze on the wide savannah in large herds that are hard to overlook. The buffalo is one of the first Big 5 species you should expect to see in the park.
- Wildebeests/Nyumbu
Wildebeest and zebra are two of the most numerous animal species in the Masai Mara. While they are distinct creatures, I’ve grouped them together since they frequently reside and move together between the Mara and the Serengeti. They are the most visible in the Masai Mara and are part of the spectacular Great Wildebeest Migration between the Masai Mara and the Serengeti National Parks.
- Giraffes/Twiga
The giraffe, the world’s tallest mammal, is prevalent in the Masai Mara and will be simple to identify. Although they do not dwell in large herds, their height makes them quite visible even from a long distance.
- Hippos/Kiboko
The Hippo, one of the animal protagonists in the film Madagascar, is also extremely frequent in the Masai Mara. Despite the fact that they are only found in rivers, they have quite big numbers and will be tough to overlook while visiting the Masai Mara. You may need a guide to get to the rivers, but if you are on a guided trip, your driver will already know where to go to see the hippos in the Mara.
- Hyena/Fisi
The Hyena, one of the more opportunistic creatures in the Mara, thrives in this park because there are so many possibilities to locate an easy meal by stealing from other predators or taking down the young of the area’s hundreds of herbivores. The hyena will be simple to see and a fascinating predator to encounter in the park.
- Antelopes/Swala
Antelopes are plentiful in the Mara and will be one of the species you encounter on a regular basis. Because of their vast numbers, you will have several opportunities to encounter with the various types of antelopes found in the Mara.
Finally; the Masai Mara is a breathtaking mix of wild and rugged terrain, friendly and hospitable people, and a thrilling diversity of large and little wildlife. The Masai Mara, world famous for hosting the legendary Great Migration, invites 1.5 million wildebeests into its expansive savannahs each July through October.
The Masai Mara National Reserve and conservancies are teeming with life and offer safari visitors a diverse range of activities. Whether you go to the sky for a morning hot-air balloon ride or hit the road for a 4×4 safari, the Masai Mara will leave you with unique experiences and lifetime memories.
