Kenya Chronicles: Part 2 – Maasai Mara Magic

King of the jungle

Journey from Nairobi to Masai Mara

Our ride from Nairobi to the Masai mara and back. It had a pop-up roof for game drives

Great Rift Valley

On the way to masai mara our first stop was a viewpoint to see the Great Rift Valley. The Great Rift Valley stretches through Kenya and lies between Nairobi and the Maasai Mara, offering breathtaking scenery along the journey. Traveling from Nairobi toward the Mara, you descend from the city’s highlands into the valley, passing viewpoints that overlook vast rolling savannahs. This section of the Rift Valley is part of a massive geological trench that runs from Lebanon to Mozambique, formed millions of years ago by tectonic forces, and is rich in wildlife, birdlife, and cultural history.

Masai mara national park

We stayed at Jumbo Mara Safari Logde

Our room

Resident wildebeest - these look and act different than the wildebeest which migrate from Tanzania

Our days in the Mara unfolded in a rhythm of safaris: an evening drive, a sunrise hot-air balloon ride, a full-day adventure, and a final morning safari. Each outing offered new surprises. For us the best time to observe the animals with fresh kills was early mornings. We continued to spot various animals thoughout the day but the early mornings felt different. Each day we learnt something new about the animals from our guide. I loved to observe and learn about peculiar behaviors of animals like zebras stand looking at opposite sides to keep an eye on predators.

Pumba 😀

We spotted plenty of graceful gazelles and antelopes. The ones above are Topi, often nicknamed ‘Blue Jeans’ for the bluish hues on their legs.

Hot air balloon safari

Wildebeest looking like tiny black specks scattered across the savannah

The pick up for this activity was at 4:30 am in the morning! After an hour’s ride into pitch dark jungle, we reached the balloon take off area. Getting into the balloon was an adventure in itself — we had to lie down inside the basket as the crew prepared for takeoff. With a few bumps and jolts, the balloon slowly lifted and then glided smoothly into the sky. For the landing we sat down inside the basket & as it landed the crew members on the ground made the basket to lie on the side as it touched the ground, bringing the journey full circle. 

From the hot air balloon, we watched the sun rise over the Masai Mara, casting a golden glow on wildebeest thundering across the plains, with deer and ostriches scattered in the distance. The scene was peaceful, and the captain kept us laughing with his jokes, adding to the joy of the ride. The balloon had separate compartments, each holding four of us, so we couldn’t move around much, but that made perfect sense for keeping the balance as we floated gently above the wilderness. After the 1 hour ride, next on the agenda was breakfast in the jungle. Many tourists like us had gathered at a spot to enjoy a hearty breakfast right in the jungle, surrounded by the wild sounds of nature, making the experience feel truly extraordinary.

The Great Migration

The main reason for choosing the Maasai mara was to observe the great migration. The Great Migration in Kenya is one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife events, taking place mainly in the Maasai Mara between July and October. During this time, over 1.5 million wildebeest, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles, cross the Mara River from Tanzania’s Serengeti in search of fresh grazing, braving crocodile-infested waters and predators along the way.

Hippos & crocodiles in the Mara river

Big hippo families along the river

Wildebeest and Zebras appear to be best friends

We saw them gathered near the Mara river. It was very interesting to watch the ones in the front turn back and the fresh row of wildebeest would look ahead and also turn back. For over an hour, the drama played out, but no one made the leap. Our guide told us this standoff could last for days until one brave leader finally jumps, triggering the crossing of thousands. Even without the plunge, seeing the plains dotted with wildebeest as far as the eye could see was awe-inspiring.

Next, our guide took us to a spot right on the border, where the Masai Mara in Kenya meets the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

International border

And the safari continued 😀

Wild buffalo and elephants

Leopards - Our guide told us this is mother and son

Chilling in the afternoon sun

Big cats yawn when they are about to get up and move

During all our safaris we saw an incredible amount of animals thanks to our guide who was constantly in touch with other drivers and taking us to most interesting encounters. From lions to rhinos, we were fortunate enough to witness all of the Big Five in Kenya.

Lions royally ignoring the tourists

If there was one drawback, it was the crowd of safari jeeps converging on every big-cat sighting. The Mara is much smaller than Tanzania’s Serengeti or South Africa’s Kruger, and at times it felt like too many vehicles for too little space. The animals, regal as ever, seemed unbothered — but I felt we were intruding.

Meeting the Maasai

We also visited a Maasai village (one of many in the region, chosen by our guide) where the community welcomed us with singing, dancing, and their famous jumping contest. The men demonstrated how they make fire, and we learned about their semi-nomadic lifestyle. Known for their distinctive red shúkà (cloth), beadwork, and tall, graceful stature, the Maasai traditionally herd cattle, which are central to their culture and economy. 

Maasai village huts

They speak Maa, alongside Swahili and often English, and maintain many of their customs, rituals, and traditional dances despite modern influences. Their strong connection to the land and wildlife makes them an important part of the cultural identity of the Maasai Mara region.

Some more pictures clicked during the safaris:

This bird is called 'Superb starling'

Vultures

Shy cheetah

Hyena

My final impressions of Kenya and Nairobi:

Until next time

This journey turned out to be so much more than a safari. I came home with a deeper understanding of Kenya’s history, culture, and people. I learned about its shared colonial history with India, about the love for chai and spices, and about the warmth of its people. Nairobi surprised me with its clean streets, no stray animals, calm traffic, and polite drivers — no honking, no chaos. Locals were quick to remind us that not all of Nairobi is like the polished areas tourists usually see. The city also faces challenges of corruption and inequality, and it is home to Kibera, one of Africa’s largest slums. In fact, we were advised not to venture out on our own.

In the end, Kenya gave me something I didn’t know I was looking for: wonder, peace, and a reminder of how much there is to learn when you step out of your comfort zone.