The Maasai Mara Game Reserve, often called simply “The Mara,” is a land of breathtaking beauty.
Its name, derived from the Maa word for “mottled,” perfectly describes the landscape of rolling grasslands dotted with distinctive acacia trees and riverine forests. Covering 1,510 square kilometres, this ecosystem is world-renowned for its incredible wildlife density.
Landscape of Masai Mara
Location and Geography
Maasai Mara, sometimes also spelt Masai Mara and locally known simply as The Mara, is a large national game reserve in Narok County, Kenya, contiguous with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
It is named in honour of the Maasai people, the ancestral inhabitants of the area, who migrated to the area from the Nile Basin. It is the northernmost section of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, which covers around 25,000 ha (62,000 acres) in Tanzania and Kenya. Maasai pastoral ranches are to the north, east and west. To the south is the Serengeti National Park, the Siria/Oloololo escarpment is to the west.
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The terrain of the reserve is primarily open grassland with seasonal riverlets. In the south-east region are clumps of the distinctive acacia tree. The western border is the Esoit (Siria) Escarpment of the East African Rift, which is a system of rifts some 5600km long, from Ethiopia's Red Sea through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and into Mozambique.
The Sand River
The camp’s namesake, the Sand River, is a breathtaking feature in itself. A picturesque tapestry of sandbanks, dramatic rock formations, and lush riverine forest, it is a lifeline for the area’s wildlife.
The Sand, Talek and Mara Rivers are the major rivers draining the reserve. Shrubs and trees fringe most drainage lines and cover hill slopes and hilltops.
Elewana Sand River Masai Mara’s strategic location is one of its greatest assets. Situated alongside the banks of the Sand River within the Masai Mara National Reserve, it is positioned close to the border of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.
Absolutely. The camp is renowned for its breathtaking river views.
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Wildlife and the Great Migration
The Great Migration
Maasai Mara is one of the wildlife conservation and wilderness areas in Africa, with its populations of lions, leopards, cheetahs and African bush elephants.
The “Big Five” - lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo - are all present. The experience is further enriched by the “Big Nine,” which includes the cheetah, giraffe, zebra, and hippo. However, the Mara’s magic lies not just in checklists but in the sheer abundance and vitality of its wildlife.
While the Masai Mara is legendary for the Great Migration, its resident wildlife is equally spectacular. The reserve is a stronghold for big cats, with dense populations of lion, leopard, and cheetah.
Wildlife tends to be most concentrated here, as the swampy ground means that access to water is always good, while tourist disruption is minimal. Blue wildebeest are the dominant inhabitants of the Maasai Mara. Around July of each year, these animals migrate north from the Serengeti plains in search of fresh pasture, and return to the south around October.
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The Maasai Mara is the only protected area in Kenya with an indigenous black rhino population unaffected by translocations. Due to its size, the Mara can support one of the largest populations in Africa. The population of black rhinos was fairly numerous until 1960, but it was severely depleted by poaching in the 1970s and early 1980s, dropping to a low of 15 individuals. Hippopotamuses and Nile crocodiles are found in large groups in the Mara and Talek rivers.
Large carnivores are found in the reserve. Lions are the most dominant and are found here in large numbers. Spotted hyenas are another abundant carnivore, and will often compete with lions for food. Leopards are found anywhere in the reserve where there are trees for them to escape to. East African cheetahs are also found in high numbers on the open savanna, hunting gazelle and wildebeest. African wild dogs are quite rare here due to the widespread transmission of diseases like canine distemper and the heavy competition they face with lions, who can often ravage their populations. Their packs also roam and travel far distances throughout the plains, making it hard to track them.
Antelopes can be found, including Grant's gazelles, impalas, duikers and Coke's hartebeests. The plains are also home to the distinctive Masai giraffe.
Great Migration/ Battle for Survival/ Wildebeest Crossing River Crocodile - Serengeti National Park
Safari Camps and Lodges
Explore the nearest safari camps and lodges where the wildebeest migrations were seen and spotted.
Located on the serene banks of the river that shares its name, Elewana Sand River Masai Mara occupies a privileged position within the Masai Mara National Reserve, near the Tanzanian border and the vast plains of the Serengeti. The camp’s philosophy is a masterful recreation of the exclusive, permanent tented camps of the late 1920s. This is not rustic camping Masai Mara style; it is an immersion into a bygone era of romance and adventure.
An Unbeatable Private Location: The camp is situated in a remote and secluded area of the Masai Mara National Reserve, far from the crowds and other properties. This ensures that your Masai mara safari experience is truly exclusive.
A Front-Row Seat to the Great Migration: The location of Elewana Sand River Masai Mara is, quite literally, on the migration route. Guests are often privileged to witness the awe-inspiring spectacle of wildebeest and zebra crossing the Sand River from the comfort and safety of their private tent verandah.
Accommodation at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara
The accommodation at Elewana Sand River Masai Mara is a testament to the fact that camping Masai Mara can be an incredibly luxurious affair.
Tented Suites: The camp features 15 spacious tented rooms (49m²), available as 11 doubles and 4 twins. Each suite is a private sanctuary, featuring an en-suite bathroom with a flushing toilet and hot shower, elegant furnishings, and a private verandah offering stunning views.
Family Tent: A magnificent Family Tent (87m²) provides the perfect solution for families or small groups. Exclusive Camp Layout: To enhance the feeling of intimacy and exclusivity, the camp is ingeniously divided into two separate, adjoining areas. The main camp consists of 10 tents, while “Little Sand River” features just 6 tents. Each “camp” has its own dedicated main lounge and dining area, creating the feel of a private, intimate safari experience.
The Elewana Sand River Masai Mara has 16 luxury tented accommodations divided into two separate but adjoining campsites of 10 and 6 tents. An expansive Family Tent comprises of double and twin ensuite rooms adjoined by a lounger area.
With a design aesthetic that reflects the old-world glamour of the 1920s safari immortalised in classic Hollywood movies, Sand River Masai Mara offers guests luxurious seclusion. Set against the backdrop of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, this tented safari camp was built with the modern ethos of low-impact and sustainable living and is dedicated to ensuring the conservation of the wildlife sanctuary it calls home.
Overlooking the Sand River, under the protection of a grove of shady trees, Sand River Masai Mara offers guests a secluded position from which to observe the splendours of Kenya. Game drives and hot-air balloon safaris provide spectacular and year-round Big 5 game viewing. The 16 elegant Canvas Suites are designed with extreme attention to detail. All interior fixtures and furnishings combine to reflect the heydey of the 1920s permanent tented camps.
Experiences Offered
- Shared Game Drives: Explore the Mara in custom-designed 4×4 safari vehicles, expertly guided by knowledgeable local guides who possess an intimate understanding of the ecosystem.
- Bush Meals and Sundowners: Experience the quintessential safari tradition.
- Balloon Safaris: For a truly unforgettable perspective, embark on a hot-air balloon safari at dawn.
The Maasai People
Beyond the fauna, the human element is equally captivating. The Mara is the ancestral land of the Maasai people, a proud, semi-nomadic community with a fascinating and vibrant culture.
The Maasai people make up a community that spans northern, central and southern Kenya and northern parts of Tanzania. The Maasai rely on their lands to sustain their cattle, as well as themselves and their families. Before the reserve's establishment, the Maasai were forced to move out of their native lands. Tradition continues to play a major role in the lives of modern-day Maasai people, who are known for their tall stature, patterned shukas and beadwork. In 2008, an estimated half a million individuals spoke the Maa language.
Maasai Warrior
Conservation Efforts
When Maasai Mara was originally established in 1961 as a wildlife sanctuary, it covered only 520 km2 (200 sq mi) of the current area, including the Mara Triangle. The area was extended to the east in 1961 to cover 1,821 km2 (703 sq mi) and converted to a Game Reserve. The Narok County Council took over management of the reserve at this time.
Part of the reserve was given National Reserve status in 1974, and the remaining area of 159km² was returned to local communities.
As of 2023, Mara Conservancy manages the Mara Triangle on behalf of the county, while the County Government of Narok manages the Narok Sector. The more visited eastern part of the park, known as the Maasai Mara National Reserve, is managed by the Narok County Council. The outer areas were administered by ranches of the Maasai community.
The rise of local populations in areas neighbouring the reserve has led to the formation of conservation organisations such as the Mara Elephant Project. The project aims to ensure the peaceful and prosperous co-existence of humans alongside wildlife. According to the project, human wildlife conflict is seen as a leading threat to the reserve as the population continues to grow.
The Mara Conservancy encourages conservation efforts in the Reserve and has accomplished several of their goals since taking stewardship.
Access and Transportation
Access to this secluded paradise is seamless.
Flights from Nairobi: Keekorok is a 45-minute flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport.
Flights to Sand River Masai Mara land at Keekorok Airstrip where the driver~guide will meet you and drive approximately 45 minutes to get to the camp.
Yes, Elewana Sand River Masai Mara offers seamless airport transportation and shuttle services for guests from Keekorok Airstrip.
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