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MAASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
Description:
Set at an altitude of 1650m (5210 ft) the rolling grasslands of the Maasai Mara offer one of the nature's most dramatic spectacles, the annual migration of over a million wildebeest and zebra from Tanzania's Serengeti which takes place from late July to September. The Masai Mara lies 275 kms (170 miles) west of Nairobi.
The journey to Masai Mara, either by air, with extensive panoramic views of the floor of the Great Rift Valley including the "lost world" volcano of Suswa with its inner plateau, or by road along the south slopes of the Mau, is scenically magnificent.
Here the great herds of immense shuffling elephants, browse among the rich, tree studded grasslands with an occasional sighting of the solitary and ill-tempered rhino. Thompson's gazelles, zebra and eland and many more species of plains' game offer a rich choice of food for the predatory lions, leopards and cheetahs which hunt within the Masai Mara's 1,672 Kms2 of pristine African wilderness.
In the Mara River, which every now and then comes into tumultuous flood, hippo break surface to snort and grumble whilst drowsy looking crocodile sunbathe on the river banks, mouths agape awaiting for prey.
But all of this richness of fauna, and untouched life of Africa continuing as it has for thousands of years, is secondary to the Mara's main attraction - the march of the wildebeest. Each year, far south in the great vastness of the Serengeti, they will raise their heads, sniff the air and, as if one by one accord, turn and start the long trek to the Kenya border and the Masai Mara.
The spectacle of more than a million of these creatures moving as a great mass across the savannah, in a lemming, follow-my-leader ritual, is one of the most astonishing sights in nature. The herds are following the rains and when they arrive in the Mara there is new succulent grass for fodder. But the trek is costly.
Blindly heading north, accompanied by ravening packs of predators, hyenas, feline carnivores and the circling ever-watchful vultures, hundreds perhaps thousands of the lame, laggard and sick will never reach their destination. More die in the swirling flood waters while trying to cross the Mara River.
Once the rains have ended and the grass begins to wither under the harsh sun, the wildebeest once again, turn south, heading hundreds of kilometres back into the Serengeti. The actual migration does not last for very many days and its start is impossible to foretell accurately. Nevertheless visitors to the Masai Mara in August through September are certain to see the great herds of wildebeest and zebra together with their attendant predators.
Year round the Mara is the richest of all Kenyas parks. Apart from the better known species already mentioned there are numerous opportunities to add some of the rare and less frequent seen animals to the visitor's check list.
In the south western sector of the Reserve are roan antelope, bat eared foxes are found sniffing the air from a vantage point and there are thousands of topi, wild dog, hunting in packs are a savage and awesome sight.
The combination of a gentle climate with scenic splendor and unbelievable wildlife makes the Masai Mara Kenya's most popular inland destination.
| GREAT RIFT VALLEY & THE MARA REGION |
Lake Naivasha Country Club
- 51 rooms furnished in different styles
- Set in 12 acres of lake side gardens
- Dinig room, large lounge and verandah
- Swimming pool
- Bird walks and Lake cruises
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Lake Nakuru Lodge
- 68 rooms
- 4 restaurants and bar
- Swimming pool
- Set in beautiful gardens overlooking Lake Nakuru
- Conference facilities
- Horse riding
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Lake Baringo Club
- 48 rooms
- Swimming pool
- Main reastaurant,lounge and bar
- Bird watching by boat
- Traditional dancers
- Gift shop
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Sarova Lion Hill 
- 64 Chalet bedrooms
- Restaurant and bar
- Swimming pool and sauna
- Conference facilities
- Curio and gift shop
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Lake Elementaita lodge
- 33 rooms
- Restaurant and bar
- Swimming pool
- Conference room
- Naturer walks and bird watching
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Lake Bogoria Hotel
Located inside Lake Bogoria National Reserve. It is 300 Km away from Nairobi and 150 km from L.Nakuru National Park
Accomodation : The hotel comprises 22 rooms in the main block and 23 cottages situated a short walk from the main block.
Facilities: Swimming pool, Conference center, Restaurants
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Malu Farm
- Located on the Rift Valley escarpment to the east of Lake Naivasha. 11 km from the main Nairobi - Nakuru road and 14kms from Naivasha town.
- Accomodation include Famili Villas, Cottages, Tree House
- Restaurant
- Activities-Walks, Bird watching, Forest & Ridge walks, The plunge Pool, Horse & Donkey Ridding
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Crater Lake Lodge
- Located 2 hours drive away from Nairobi at the shores of Green Soda lake
- Accomodation - It has 8 double tents and 2 family bandas
- Acctivities - Nature walk, birding, boating, Night Game Drives
- Facilities include- Fuction Room, Private Bush Camp
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Kongoni Game Valley
Location
Located only 120 km from Nairobi. It takes approximately 2 hours by car or 20 minutes by plane.
Accomodation
Main house: 7 large double bedrooms (each with private bathroom) + 1 single bedroom, all decorated in original english colonial style.
Cottages: 3 double bedrooms (each with private bathroom).
Activities:
Guided Game walks, Daytime game drives, Night game drives, A boat ride around Lake Naivasha’s Little Lake, Sundowners, picnic breakfast or romantic evening meals,Guided Mountain bike game rides,Guided Horse riding.
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Great Rift Valley Lodge
Location
Located at the shoulder of the Eburru Escarpment, overlooking Lake Naivasha.
Accomodation
21 twin and 9 double rooms with large beds and luxurious furnishings, en-suite bathrooms and all modern facilities.
Activities
Fishing, Sundowners, Mountain Biking, Sailing, Horse ridding, Bush Breakfast
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Keekorok Lodge
- 89 ensuite rooms
- Restaurant and bar
- Swmming pool
- Raised walkway ovelooking hippo pool
- Balloon safaris
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Mara Intrepids Club
- 30 luxury en suite tents
- Dining tent and bar
- Swimming pool
- Balloon safaris
- Nature and bird walks
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Siana Springs Tented Camp
- 38 en suites tents
- Restaurant and bar
- Swimming pool
- Bird walks and night game drives
- Balloon safaris
- Gift shop
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Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp
- 45 en suite tents
- Dining tent and bar
- Swimming pool
- Panaromic views of the Mara Plains
- Balloon safaris
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Governors' Camp
- 38 luxury en suite tents
- Dining area and bar
- Set among trees along the Mara river
- Sundowners by campfire
- Balloon and walking safaris
- Gift shop
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Mara Simba Lodge
- 84 en suite luxury rooms
- Restaurants and bar overlooking the mara river
- Swimming pool
- Balloon safaris
- Bird walks, flood lit water holes
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Mara Safari club
- 50 en suite tents
- Dining room and bar
- Swimming pool
- Balloon, birdwalks and walking safaris
- Slide shows and videos
- Gift Shop
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Mpata Safari Club 
- Located Oloololo escarpment beside the Masai Mara National Reserve,located to the South East of Kenya close to Tanzanian border
- 23 separate cottages
(There are 11 Suites and 12 Deluxe unites)
- Reception, Restaurant, Library and Bar
- Attractions here include Game Drives,Nature Walks,Balloon Safaris and Maasai Villages
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Mara Fig Tree Camp
- Located on the banks of the Talek River in the world famous Masai Mara game reserve
- 70 rooms
- Services at Fig Tree Camp include, game drives and night safaris, game walks, bush black tie dinners and champagne breakfasts on the planes of the Masai Mara.
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Mara Bush Camp
- Located in the heart of the Mara Game Reserve on the banks of the Olare Oruk river, with only a 10 minute drive from Ol Kiombo airstrip
- 10 luxury tents
- Day and Night game drives
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Accommodation 
