Photos from my last visit to Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. The Maasai Mara National Reserve is a large game reserve in Kenya named in honor of the Maasai people (the ancestral inhabitants of the area). It is globally famous for its exceptional population of lions, leopards and cheetahs. The wildebeest are the dominant inhabitants of the Maasai Mara, and their numbers are estimated in the millions. Around July of each year, these ungainly animals migrate north from the Serengeti plains in search of fresh pasture, and return to the south around October. The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving some 1.300.000 wildebeest, 500.000 Thomson's gazelles, 97.000 Topi, 18.000 elands, and 200.000 zebras. These migrants are followed along their annual, circular route by hungry predators, most notably lions and hyena. When visiting the Maasai Mara you are likely to see the famous Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo.
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Lion
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The lion is one of the five big cats. Some males exceeding 250 kg in weight it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger. Lions live for 10–14 years in the wild. Males seldom live longer than 10 years, as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity.
African elephants
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One species of African elephant, the bush elephant, is the largest living terrestrial animal. Their large ears enable heat loss. Males stand 3.2–4.0 m tall at the shoulder and weigh 4–6000 kg
Hippo
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The hippopotamus, or hippo, are recognizable by their barrel-shaped torsos, enormous mouths and teeth, stubby legs and great size; adults average 1,500 kg. Despite its stocky shape and short legs it can easily outrun a human, being capable of reaching 30 km/h (19 mph) over short distances
Maasai Giraffe
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The Masai Giraffe is the largest subspecies of giraffe and the tallest land mammal.
Nile Crocodile
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On average the Nile crocodile is between 4.1 to 5 metres, weighing around 410 kg. However, specimens measuring 6.1 metres in length and weighing 907 kg have been recorded.The Nile crocodile is an opportunistic apex predator and a very aggressive species of crocodile that is capable of taking almost any animal within its range.
Mating lions
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The couple copulates twenty to forty times a day, often forgoing eating
Sun rising above the wildlife
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Hot air balloon safari early in the morning
Hot air balloon safari in sunrise
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Hot air balloon safari early in the morning above the wildlife and the magnificent landscapes.