Visiting these parks is an excellent way to learn about their initiatives while admiring the animals and landscape. Great Wildebeest migration safari in Masai Mara National Reserve is probably the most popular national park in Africa. Located in southwest Kenya, the park derives its name from the Maasai people who occupy the reserve’s numerous conservancies.
Covering an area of over 1,510 square kilometres, the park is adjacent to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, and together, these form Africa’s most diverse and spectacular ecosystems. The Mara and Talek rivers cut across the reserve’s lush plains and undulating hills, whereas Maasai communities dot the surrounding landscape.
The Mara hosts the Great Annual Wildebeest Migration between July and October; and it is one of the most exciting migration safari events to witness while on an African safari. Besides, the reserve is home to 95 mammal species including the highest concentration of predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, and large mammals such as rhinos, buffaloes, and elephants, among others, as well as more than 750 recorded bird species.
Take a hot air balloon safari; A truly ‘once in a lifetime’ experience, flying in a Hot Air Balloon over the Masai Mara plains is an evocative experience that you have the chance to enjoy during any safari you take to Maasai Mara. The balloon takes off at the break of dawn, around 6am, gliding silently during the ride over the savannah grasslands below where you may spot a variety of wildlife.
The flight lasts an hour and concludes with a ”Champagne Bush Breakfast” at the balloon landing site in the wilderness. The balloon is flown by a fully qualified and experienced Pilot and the balloons themselves are the best quality ever.
A game drive is one of the best activities in Maasai Mara National Park. The drives last 2 to 3 hours per drive in the morning and afternoon hours, with morning timings usually scheduled from 6.30am to 9am and afternoon timings being 3.30pm to 6.30pm, though travelers may sometimes opt for a full day game drive generally from 10am to 4pm, in which case the excursion will include a packed picnic lunch to be had inside the Masai Mara reserve at a designated picnic spot, during lunch hours anytime from 12.30pm to 2.30p.
A bush walking safari is an adventure where participants embark on relaxed, guided walks in a wildlife conservation area with the objective of seeing wild animals in a more natural way without using vehicle. There are two types of nature walks offered while at Masai Mara.
Nature walks within the camp and one outside the main reserve. The duration for these walks within the camp is approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour and the duration for walks outside the main reserve is approximately 2 1/2 to 3 hours covering a distance of 9 – 15 kms.
Take a horseback safari one of the most exhilarating experiences on Safari is to explore the raw wilderness of Africa on horseback, not least because locations such as the extended regions of Masai Mara Game reserve are rich in wildlife and the thrill of being close to magnificent animals while on horseback is a special attraction.
The Virunga parks include Mgahinga national park, volcanoes national park and Virunga national park which is currently closed due to some instabilities. From Kenya, you can decide to visit the Virunga parks or one of them per say Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda that is suitable for the gorilla safaris and excursions and acts good combination of great wildebeest migration gorilla safari in Africa.
Mountain gorilla tracking
This is a priority for most travelers to Volcanoes national park. The national park is a home to 10 habituated gorilla families available for trekking. Also, Volcanoes Park covers Rwanda’s share of the great Virunga massif bordering Virunga national park in Congo and Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda. Travelers to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda are required to buy gorilla permits each costing $1500 for an hour’s interaction.
The trek begins with a briefing at the park’s headquarters and is followed by a hike up the bamboo terrain of the mountain. There are guides for each group of trekkers to lead you to the habitats of the gorilla families and the maximum number per group of trekkers is 8 people only. Once you have sighted a family of gorillas, you can only spend an hour with them in which you can take photos, make videos and see these grand primates.
Visit the IbyI’wacu Village known as Gorilla Guardians Village is close to the park making it a perfect sendoff place to visit as you leave Volcanoes National Park. The activities here can be done whether you opt to stay a few hours or overnight. Try preparing or even eating the traditional meals and drinks such as banana juice or brew banana beer. For the botanist or medical personnel, try the local herbal medicine grown and brewed fresh from the garden. After your curiosity has been quenched, unwind to the traditional music, dance and folklore by the local people and dance troops.
Golden monkey trekking is yet another most done activity in Volcanoes national park which attract thousands of travelers into this jungle. Golden monkeys are exceptional creatures which every traveler should not miss out on his/her Rwanda safari. Its only in Volcanoes Rwanda and Mgahinga gorilla national parks that travelers can see golden monkeys in their natural habitats. Fortunately, golden monkey trekking costs $100 which is relatively cheap compared to gorilla trekking.
Volcanoes national park is a home for three extinct volcanoes. Travelers to this park therefore have an added advantage of hiking to the top of any Volcano which reward them with spectacular views of Rwanda’s rolling hills, Kigali city, Virunga volcanoes and local communities. Mt Karisimbi is the most hiked Volcano and the experience is worthy the hike.
Take your time to explore the Musanze Caves. These age-old caves were once used to store food supplies for the kings of Rwanda in times of war. Today, they are quite a scene to behold when visiting the Volcanoes National Park. The cave ceilings are studded with lots of bats whose eyes sparkle when you shine your flashlight to the ceiling. As you move towards the end of the cave and into the daylight, all you will have heard in the midst of the cave’s silence are your footsteps and the thick dew drops hit the cave’s floor.
