Maasai Mara - 7th Wonder of the World

Maasai Mara and Serengeti and the wildebeest migration has lately been declared the 7Th (seventh) New wonder of the world by ABC.This has been decided by a panel of experts which included an oceanographer- M/s silvia Earlier,range and wildlife management expert,astrophysicist-Neil de Grasse Tyson and a tour expert invited by ABC after six days rigorous selection and classification exercise which ended on 17th November 2006 with a breakfast TV show "Good Morning America" televising a live interview with the Kenya wildlife director.

The New wonders are separate from the conventional Seven Wonders of the world known for centuries and which are classified by UNESCO. These are classified by ABC and they include the following in chronological order;"Tibet's Potala Palace,selected for the hope it provides to exiled Tibetans that one day they will return to their homeland; the Old Jerusalem City, which is holy to both Muslims and Christians; the Polar Ice Caps in Iceland for the mixture of cold frozen glaciers and volcanoes; the under wetter Hawaiian Island's Monument,a protected underwater coral reef;the Internet-described as a world where anything is possible and the Mayan Pyramids in Cancun,Mexico,whose site was described as breathing; then followed with the Maasai Mara and Serengeti and the wildebeest migration, for its uniqueness of the area and the preservation it provides to so many species living in harmony."

The Annual Great Wildebeest Migration in Maasai Mara
This is the most tourist attraction within the years. Every year the Mara plays host to the world’s greatest natural spectacle; The Great Wildebeest Migration from the Serengeti. From the months of July to October, the promise of rain and fresh life giving grass in the north brings more than 1.5 million Wildebeest together into a single massive herd. They converge across the border into the Mara, making a spectacular entrance in a surging column of life that stretches from horizon to horizon. The miracle of the Great Migration is that the animals mysteriously find their way.

The wildebeests bring balance to the fragile ecosystem. They are the heart and soul of the Great Migration-which is lush with new grass. There’s even a pattern to the way they eat grass; first, the zebras come. "The zebra seems to be eating top grass, the wildebeest go for the middle then the herd beasts,the gazelles go for the lowest part". At Grumeti and Mara Rivers they mass together on the banks before finally plunging wildly forward through the raging waters, creating frenzy as they fight against swift currents and waiting crocodiles which start feasting on them.

Even though some are devoured by the reptiles and others trampled upon, thousands make it across and, after three to five months of feeding and fattening, they start the journey back in late November, depending on how green the grass is on the other side of the river. The migration of the wildebeest and other animals bring new life to the Mara, not just through their cycle of regeneration of the grasslands, but for the predators who follow the herds.The Mara has been called the Kingdom of Lions and these regal and powerful hunters dominate these grasslands. Cheetahs are also a common sight in the Mara, as are Hyena and smaller predators such as Jackals.

Maasai Mara and the "Big Nine"
Masai Mara is the best place to see wildlife in Kenya. It is at the mara that you will see "The Big Nine". The so-called "Big Five" are Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard, Lion and Rhinoceros. The "Big Nine" extends this to include Cheetah, Zebra, Giraffe and Hippo. The vast grassland plains of Maasai Mara are scattered with herds of Zebra, Giraffe, Gazelle, and Topi. Elephants and Buffalo wallow in the wide Musiara Swamp. The Mara and Talek rivers are brimming with Hippos and Crocodiles. All these and more will definitely be seen at the Masai Mara without any hastle. The Acacia forests abound with Bird life and Monkeys. Masai Mara has over 500 wildlife species thus making it the most preferred tourist destination by those who want to take close photographs of wildlife.