Separated from the rest of the Maasai Mar a National Reserve by the Mara River, the Mara Triangle is less visited and less crowded, with a fairly good concentration of wildlife all year-round including the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino) and diverse plains ‘game’ such as cheetah, hyena, jackal, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, waterbuck and many other species. This is also due to the fact that the Mara River forms a natural barrier to many wildlife who prfer remaining on the quite side.
During the migration, the Mara Triangle is one of the areas where herds of the Great Migration enter and exit the Maasai Mara National Reserve from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, making it one of the prime viewing locations for this wildlife spectacle. Crossings of the Mara River are world-renown for being particularly dramatic, featuring in many wildlife documentaries such as Wild Africa and Big Cat Diary, and its annual wildebeest migration.
Sandwiched between Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, the mighty Mara River and the western section of the Masai Mara, the Mara Triangle or Mara Conservancy is a game rich haven for wildlife with its terrain that’s primarily red oat grasslands punctuated by volcanic hills and thick riverine forests.
The Mara Triangle is the most preserved and unspoiled part of the Maasai Mara with very few camps and lodges, resulting in the lowest density of visitors and vehicles in the greater Maasai Mara.
Mara Triangle is the main entry and exit point for the annual wildebeest migration, a dramatic spectacle comprising vast numbers of wildebeest on the move in search of greener pastures. It’s here where visitors will see zebra, gazelle, eland, impala and prowling predators accompanying the scores of wildebeest following the rains.
Mara Triangle harbors the highest concentration of the big five, making it the perfect year-round safari destination. The triangle sector is relatively free of crowds during peak season, which means visitors are privy to distinct and unique sightings.
On the banks of the Mara River is where the action happens. There are often noteworthy sightings of lions taking down prey clambering up crumbling riverbanks.
During the migration, it’s not uncommon to see the Thomson’s gazelle, eland, topi, impala, zebra and other plains game following the wildebeests’ herds. Thousands of herds of general game are also in pursuit of lush green vegetation that emerges after the rains.
Jackal, hyena, giraffe and waterbuck are frequent sightings alongside the big five animals. With such an abundant and diverse plains game, it means that predators are rife in the Mara Triangle throughout the year. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, Black rhino, the African wild dogs and aardvarks are commonly spotted on the open plains, making Mara Triangle paradise for predators and other wildlife!
For birdwatchers, the Mara Triangle has over 485 bird species. There are high numbers of vultures especially during the migration, marabou storks, bustards, hornbills, stilts, cranes, snipes, plovers, starlings, and weavers alongside a good number of waders and birds of prey.
Throughout the year, the Mara Triangle stands out and offers incredible wildlife sightings, irrespective of the month. June and October are considered high season for tourists in the Maasai Mara, which means it’s an expensive and crowded time of year. In contrast, The Mara Triangle remains a lesser-visited region even during the time of the migration, and this means minimal tourists and vehicle numbers.
The months of October and November are optimum for viewing big game, proving time and again that this is the most rewarding time for predator showdowns.
July to October is ideal for watching the annual migration unfold. This is the best time of year to witness the famous river crossings.
From April to June is the wet season, a time when young antelope are born, and landscapes become bold with green hues. This is the time when the Mara Triangle has the lowest number of guests at any given time of the year.
The Mara Conservancy that is in charge of the Mara Triangle, as for a long time ensured that the area remains relatively uncrowded. Inside the conservancy.
There is a very strict limit of approximately 350 acres per guest (or 700 acres per a double occupancy tent). Within the Mara Triangle. As a rule, there are only a limited number of accommodations operational in conservancies namely, the Mara Serena Lodge and the Governor’s Camps.
Additionally, there are also several camps located along the edge of the Mara Triangle. The few accommodation options in this area tend to fill up quickly. Therefore, it is important to book your accommodation early in advance to ensure there is space available.
However, guests have a wide selection just on the outskirts of the Mara Triangle in more affordable to classic safari camps.
Accommodations options include traditional mobile-tented camps; comfortable, often luxurious semi-permanent safari camps; and lodges that are more modern. Within the national reserve and Mara Triangle, activities focus on morning and afternoon wildlife drives by 4×4 vehicle, which is a great complement to the rough roads.
The accommodations that do their game viewing in the Mara Triangle are Mara Serena Lodge, Kilima Camp, Mara Enkipai Safari Camp, Mara West, Sanctuary Olonana, and Beyond Bateleur Camp, and Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge, Mara Siria Camp, Mara River Camp, Mpata Safari Club and Angama Mara, Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Karen Blixen Camp and many more.
At Oluokos Signature, we maintain our pages to keep them as informative and current as possible. However, we encourage you get in touch with us directly, by email or telephone.
The travel and tourism sector is constantly changing and the excellent deals we get from our suppliers vary from week to week, which means your best source of information and recommendations will always be from our designers experts.
However, for those looking to do a bit of their own research before getting in touch, we are delighted to launch our new pre-safari virtual meeting service. You can book for an appointment with us here and let us know when you’re available virtual meeting.
