HISTORY
MASAI MARA
The Masai Mara National Reserve was established as a wildlife sanctuary named after the Masai people who historically inhabit the greater area. The sanctuary was then later extended eastward and gazetted as a “Game Reserve” under the management of the Narok county council in 1961.
The word “Mara” in the local maa language meaning “spotted”, describes the tree dotted landscape characteristics of the Reserve.
Comprising magnificent, lush grasslands, vast open plains, acacia woodlands as well as highland plateaus, the land is home to numerous species of flora and fauna in concentrations seen no where
else in Africa.
Until 1963 when Kenya gained independence from British colonial occupation, the Masai Mara was established to preserve the prestigious African wildlife and habitat. As a result of colonial rule, the Masai pastoralist peoples were displaced from their ancestral lands which were vital in sustaining their nomadic lifestyles as well as their livestock herds, a crucial aspect of the Masai way of life.
In 1974 the reserve was partially returned to the Masai people. Additionally, part of the reserve was dissolved in 1976 resulting to a gradual decrease in size by 1984.
In 1994 the “Trans Mara Council” was formed and the mara divided into two. The management of the newly established Mara triangle correspondingly fell under the management of the Trans Mara Council.
Today, the Masai Mara “ecosystem” comprises a variety of conservation areas called conservancies which attach directly to the National Reserve along its northern and eastern border. These conservancies make up for an additional 1450KM 2 of protected land, enabling wildlife to migrate and providing game changing dynamics to conservation in the area on a whole.
Today, named one of the 7 wonders of the natural world, the Masai Mara is undisputedly one of the most famous wildlife conservation areas in Africa. The annual wildebeest migration which is the largest migration of land mammals on the planet, as well as its iconic people are significant influences contributing to its popularity.
