The Masai Mara is home to about 90 mammal species, including the Big Five, namely lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and African buffalo, as well as cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, and zebras.
According to Masai Mara Travel, an estimated 850 to 900 lions live in the Masai Mara National Reserve and surrounding conservancies.
Male lions can have territories ranging from 30 to 400 square kilometres, while lionesses are mainly responsible for hunting and bringing down prey.
African elephants are also found across the Mara. They are the largest land animals and can weigh up to about 6.6 tonnes.
The reserve is also a home to black rhinos, which are smaller than white rhinos and mainly feed on shrubs and other vegetation.
Leopards are also found in the Mara but are more difficult to spot because they are generally solitary and often hunt at night.
African buffalo occur in large herds and are commonly found near water during dry periods.
List of Animals Found in the Masai Mara
Masai Mara Travel notes that the Big Nine list adds cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, and zebras to the Big Five. Cheetahs mainly hunt in open areas and are known for their speed.
Other mammals recorded in the Maasai Mara include wildebeest, topi, impala, Thomson’s gazelles, Grant’s gazelles, elands, Coke’s hartebeest, waterbucks, warthogs, bushbucks, dik-diks, klipspringers, oribis, hyenas, jackals, mongooses, baboons and vervet monkeys.
Masai Mara Travel also lists less frequently seen species such as pangolins, aardvarks, aardwolves, honey badgers, spring hares and crested porcupines among the mammals found in the area.
Birds form another part of the Mara’s wildlife, with numerous species occurring across the reserve and the wider ecosystem.
Also Read: Kenya Visa and Entry Requirements for Masai Mara Safari Visitors
Birds Found In the Reserve
The reserve has a wide range of bird species, including storks, eagles, vultures, herons, hornbills, kingfishers, bustards and several smaller birds. Masai Mara Travel lists several bird species that can be found in the reserve and surrounding areas.
Among the birds found in the Maasai Mara is Abdim’s stork, also known as the white-bellied stork. It is one of the smaller stork species and has grey legs, red feet, and a grey bill. The species is widespread across Africa and can be seen in parts of the Masai Mara.
The reserve also has African darters, water birds often found around rivers, lakes, and other water bodies. They use their long, pointed bills to catch fish.
African fish eagles are also found near open water and can be identified by their brown bodies, white heads, and yellow facial skin.
Several stork and wading species occur in the Mara, including the African openbill, which feeds mainly on aquatic snails and freshwater mussels, and the African spoonbill, recognizable by its long, spoon-shaped bill. Black-headed herons and hammerkops are also found in wetland areas.
Also Read: How to Get to Masai Mara from Nairobi: Flights, Road Trips and Transport Options
Birds of prey recorded in the reserve include the African harrier hawk, bateleur, black-chested snake eagle, black-winged kite, grey kestrel, martial eagle and secretary bird.
The martial eagle is one of Africa’s largest eagles, while the secretary bird is known for its long legs and its habit of hunting on the ground.
Other birds listed by Masai Mara Travel include the African grey hornbill, green wood hoopoe, southern ground hornbill, lilac breasted roller, grey-headed kingfisher, and striped kingfisher.
The reserve’s grasslands and woodland areas also provide habitats for birds such as the Kori bustard, Coqui francolin, Fischer’s sparrow lark and rufous-nape lark.
Smaller birds found in the reserve include the southern masked weaver, speckled mousebird, superb starling and Usambiro barbet.
The reserve is also home to the vulturine guineafowl, one of the largest guineafowl species, as well as the spotted thick knee, a ground-dwelling bird that is mainly active at night.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
