The Mara Triangle

The Mara Triangle, aptly named for its shape, is situated in the southwestern part of the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Narok County, Kenya. It covers an area of 510 square kilometers, bordering the Serengeti National Park, the Mara River, and the Oloololo Escarpment. The Mara Triangle offers the opportunity for spectacular river crossings during the great wildebeest migration.
The Mara Triangle was once an avenue for poaching, leading to the death of thousands of wildlife in past years until 2000, when a group of Maasai leaders decided to stop poaching and put efforts into conserving wildlife in the Mara Triangle by creating “The Mara Conservancy.”
The Mara Conservancy manages the Mara Triangle under a contract from a nonprofit organization known as the Trans Mara County Council, formed by the neighboring Maasai community. The main aim of the council is to improve conservation and prevent poaching.
The Mara Triangle provides a unique wildlife experience different from the Masai Mara National Reserve, being an entry and exit point for the great wildebeest migration that takes place every year, starting from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Over 1.5 million wildebeests, thousands of zebras, Thomson’s gazelles, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and other animals participate in this event.
The Mara Triangle is less crowded compared to other parts of the reserve, offering chances to view several animals during a game drive, such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals, wildebeests, zebras, hyenas, elephants, waterbucks, giraffes, Thomson’s gazelles, crocodiles, serval cats, hippos, foxes, and many more.
The best way to view wildlife is by taking morning and late afternoon game drives. Balloon safaris are also available, and night game drives are organized to explore and watch nocturnal animals like hippos.
The Masai Mara is home to about 470 bird species, 47 of which are birds of prey, most found in the Mara Triangle. Therefore, bird enthusiasts can spot several species such as the long-tailed cormorant, common ostrich, black-crowned night-heron, rufous-bellied heron, great white egret, banded martin, brown-throated sand martin, grey-rumped swallow, red-capped lark, white-tailed lark, cardinal woodpecker, grey woodpecker, greater honeyguide, red-fronted tinkerbird, spot-flanked barbet, crowned hornbill, green wood hoopoe, little bee-eater, pied kingfisher, blue-naped mousebird, swamp nightjar, African wood owl, black coucal, Klaas’s cuckoo, red-chested cuckoo, and emerald-spotted wood dove, among others. The best places for birding are around the Mara River and Musiara Marsh. For successful birding, make sure to follow some birding tips.
The Mara Triangle can be visited all year round, but the best time is from July to October when the great migration takes place. This includes millions of wildebeests and gazelles, thousands of zebras, impalas, and other antelopes moving in search of fresh pasture and water, closely followed by predators such as lions, leopards, hyenas, and cheetahs, not to mention crocodiles patiently waiting at the Mara and Grumeti Rivers.
A visit to the Mara Triangle wouldn’t be complete without a cultural encounter with the Maasai people. Their unique culture and distinct way of dressing have made them famous across Africa. Interact with the local Maasai people to learn about their way of life, and you can also engage in their day-to-day activities like grazing cattle, traditional dances, and preparing local food. You can support the community by purchasing souvenirs from the local Maasai women who make beautiful jewelry.
While at the Mara Triangle, you can book accommodation from various places such as Little Governors’, Mara Serena, Asilia Rekero Camp, Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge, Kilima Camp, Kichwa Tembo, Angama Camp, Bateleur Camp, Mpata Safari Club, Karen Blixen Camp, Mara Ngenche Safari Camp, and Mara Siria, among others. Where to stay will depend on your budget, with accommodations ranging from budget to luxury. Most lodges were established to support the local Maasai people as an encouragement to stop poaching, and they also employ locals whenever there is a need. Staying at a lodge in the Mara Triangle means you’re contributing to conservation and to the Maasai people. Due to the scarcity of accommodation in the Mara Triangle, tourists are advised to book their accommodation in advance, as places easily fill up, especially during the peak season.
The Mara Triangle can be accessed through the new Mara bridge or the Oloololo gate.
Apart from the Mara Triangle, there are also other conservancies within the Masai Mara working together with tourism partners to protect wildlife and improve the livelihoods of the people living around the park. Most of the money generated through these conservancies is used to support the community, for example, by establishing schools and healthcare centers.