Mara Triangle
Mara Triangle is a remarkable area in the Mara ecosystem where the dramatic river crossing during the annual great migration is witnessed, the Mara triangle is also a home to some of the highest concentrations of wildlife which you will an opportunity to encounter during a Kenya safari.
Mara Triangle is the southwestern part of the Masai Mara national reserve is a separated from the reserve by the Mara River spanning over an area of 510 square kilometers making it one third of Masai Mara national reserve. It has two natural borders and one is political, to the southwest is the Tanzania/Serengeti border, to the east is the Mara Riverand the northwest is the Oldoinyio Escarpment also called Oloololo or Siria Escarpment.
The landscape of the Mara Triangle is composed of riverine forest, red oat grasslands, volcanic hills and the 400 – meter high Oloololo Escarpment.
Though The Mara Triangle hosts a huge concentration of animals, it is always quiet, remote and less crowded which makes it the best place to visit for an authentic Kenya safari experience. Here are more details about Mara Triangle.
The Mara Triangle history
The area presently known as The triangle spans across 510 square kilometers which is approximately one third of the entire size of Masai Mara national reserve, the past of this region dates back when there was widespread of poaching which resulted into the death of thousands of animals on a year basis.
In 2000 a group of local leaders joined forces to make a difference to promote the conservation of the Mara Triangle and save the reducing numbers of animals from being poached for meat, skin and ivory sold on black market. The collaboration among these leaders resulted into the establishment of Mara Conservancy a non-profit entity (conservancy), the collaboration marked the first step towards a groundbreaking partnership between the public and private sector, between conservation professionals and the local Masai Community with purposes of successfully conserving and managing of the most animal rich areas of the world.
Geography & wildlife
Mara Triangle covers one third of the Masai Mara national Reserve with an area of 510 square kilometers, the area lies between the Serengeti National park in Tanzania, the Mara River and the Oloololo Escarpment in the South western section of Kenya. It can only be reached through Oloololo gate or by the way of the New Mara Bridge.
Because of the limited access, it is far less visited and less crowded than the rest of the Maasai Mara region. The Mara Triangle is a gem in the rough hosting a large population of wildlife all year round, the area’s vast open plains and acacia forests are a home to an amazing abundance of wildlife including giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, elands, impalas, predators such as lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals and cheetahs which are always lurking nearby.
The banks of Mara River are flanked with riverine forests sheltering and providing food to animals such as elephants, buffaloes, hippos, baboons among others. During the Great Migration the fierce Nile crocodiles in the waters of the river are readily waiting to snap at the weakened wildebeests attempting the fateful crossing of the river.
The gateway to the Great Migration
The triangle is the gateway to the Great Migration and is one of the best location in the Mara region, the annual wildebeest migration is one the features which make the Triangle a special place for wildlife viewing. Mara Triangle is the entry and exit point for the endless herds of wildebeest and zebras on their trekking from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara, the great migration crossing occur from July through October and are nothing short of breathtaking. It is very incredible and a sight not to forget watching over million wildebeests and hundreds of thousands of zebras, gazelles and other animals making the perilous trek through the area in search for food and water sources in Masai Mara plains each year.
Mara Triangle accommodation
In the Mara triangle, there is limited number of accommodations in operation and this is due to due to rules governing the Masai Mara conservancies, in the triangle there is a very strict limit of approximately 350 acres per guest that is per a double tent per 700 acres. Accommodations in the Triangle include Little governor’s camp, &beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, &Beyond Bateleur camp and Angama Mara.
Additionally there a few accommodation options situated along the edge of the Mara Triangle, if you are planning to stay in the Triangle, it is important to book your accommodations as soon as you are sure of your Kenya safari dates.
Note: staying at accommodations situated inside the Triangle you are supporting the Maasai communities, the conservancies and the accommodations recruit locally when possible. Though the workers in the accommodation do not speak English, it does not mean accommodations do not directly benefit the local Masai community.
Seasonality
The Mara Triangle is known for being the gateway for the great migration and because of it, most travelers visit in time when the great migration takes place. Chances of seeing the herds as they trek are got in the months of July through October, in this period the weather conditions are good. From November through June it is a green season, it season is excellent for viewing wildlife, in this season the weather may be poorer and there are also far fewer visitors during these months.
