Mammals in Masai Mara

The Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is a globally renowned wildlife destination, home to a rich diversity of mammals. With its extensive grasslands, riverine woodlands, and savannas, the Mara supports an extraordinary variety of species. This guide highlights the major mammal species found in the Mara, from the iconic “Big Five” to smaller, often overlooked species.

The Big Five

1. African Lion (Panthera leo)
   • Description: Large, muscular cats, lions are social creatures living in prides, usually led by a dominant male. Males have magnificent manes, and females are the primary hunters.
   • Habitat: Savannas and grasslands.
   • Diet: Large herbivores such as wildebeest and zebras.
   • Behavior: Lions are territorial, often seen resting under trees or stalking prey.
2. African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
   • Description: The largest land mammal, elephants are known for their intelligence, social structure, and complex emotional lives. They communicate with deep rumbling sounds.
   • Habitat: Found throughout the Mara, especially near water sources.
   • Diet: Grass, leaves, bark, and fruits.
   • Behavior: Elephants live in matriarchal herds, with males often leaving the herd once mature.
3. Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer)
   • Description: Large, dark, and imposing, buffalo are social animals found in herds. Solitary bulls, known as “dagga boys,” can be particularly dangerous.
   • Habitat: Grasslands and near water sources.
   • Diet: Grass.
   • Behavior: Known for their unpredictability, especially solitary bulls.
4. Leopard (Panthera pardus)
   • Description: Elusive and solitary, leopards are skilled hunters, often dragging their prey into trees to avoid scavengers.
   • Habitat: Riverine woodlands and dense vegetation.
   • Diet: Antelope, hares, and occasionally fish.
   • Behavior: Mostly nocturnal, leopards are stealthy and often difficult to spot.
5. Rhinoceros
   • The Masai Mara is home to both the Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis), critically endangered, and occasionally the White Rhino. The black rhino is more elusive, preferring dense thickets, while the white rhino is found in open savannas.

Large Herbivores

1. Maasai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi)
   • Description: The tallest land mammal, giraffes are known for their long necks and intricate coat patterns.
   • Habitat: Savanna and acacia woodlands.
   • Diet: Leaves, particularly from acacia trees.
   • Behavior: Giraffes live in loose herds, and males often engage in “necking” battles.
2. Plains Zebra (Equus quagga)
   • Description: Famous for their black and white stripes, zebras are social animals, often found in mixed herds with wildebeest.
   • Habitat: Grasslands and savannas.
   • Diet: Grass.
   • Behavior: Highly social and often seen in large herds. They play a critical role in the Mara’s Great Migration, moving with wildebeest in search of fresh grazing.
3. Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)
   • Description: Known for their role in the Great Migration, wildebeest are large, dark antelopes with distinctive humped backs.
   • Habitat: Grasslands and savannas.
   • Diet: Grass.
   • Behavior: Their annual migration is one of nature’s greatest spectacles, with millions moving between the Mara and Serengeti.
4. Topi (Damaliscus lunatus)
   • Description: A fast-running antelope with a distinctive blue sheen on its coat.
   • Habitat: Open grasslands.
   • Diet: Grass.
   • Behavior: Topi are highly alert and often stand on termite mounds to keep a lookout for predators.
5. Eland (Tragelaphus oryx)
   • Description: The largest antelope species, eland are known for their impressive spiral horns.
   • Habitat: Grasslands, wooded savannas, and thickets.
   • Diet: Browsed herbs and leaves.
   • Behavior: Despite their size, eland are capable of jumping great heights, up to 3 meters (10 feet).

Small and Mid-Sized Herbivores

1. Thomson’s Gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii)
   • Description: Small, agile gazelles with distinctive black side stripes.
   • Habitat: Grasslands and savannas.
   • Diet: Grass and shrubs.
   • Behavior: Known for their speed and agility, they are often preyed upon by cheetahs.
2. Grant’s Gazelle (Nanger granti)
   • Description: Slightly larger than Thomson’s gazelles, they lack the black side stripe but are equally graceful.
   • Habitat: Grasslands and savannas.
   • Diet: Grass and shrubs.
   • Behavior: They are more tolerant of dry conditions and often found in mixed herds with other grazers.
3. Impala (Aepyceros melampus)
   • Description: Elegant antelope with characteristic black “M” markings on their rear and lyre-shaped horns on the males.
   • Habitat: Wooded savanna and riverine woodlands.
   • Diet: Grass, leaves, and shoots.
   • Behavior: Known for their spectacular leaping abilities, impala are commonly seen in large herds, making them a key prey species for predators.
4. Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus)
   • Description: A shy, medium-sized antelope often seen near riverine forests.
   • Habitat: Wooded areas and riverine forests.
   • Diet: Leaves, fruits, and herbs.
   • Behavior: Solitary and elusive, bushbucks are often heard before they are seen, as they make loud barking sounds when alarmed.
5. Kirk’s Dik-dik (Madoqua kirkii)
   • Description: One of the smallest antelopes, easily recognized by its large nose and petite frame.
   • Habitat: Wooded savannas and bushlands.
   • Diet: Leaves, shoots, and fruits.
   • Behavior: Monogamous pairs occupy small territories, often marking them with dung piles.
6. Steinbuck (Raphicerus campestris)
   • Description: Small antelope with large ears, steinbucks are elusive and solitary.
   • Habitat: Grasslands and savannas.
   • Diet: Grass, herbs, and shoots.
   • Behavior: Known for their ability to “freeze” to avoid predators, steinbucks are often seen darting through the grass when disturbed.

Primates

1. Olive Baboon (Papio anubis)
   • Description: Large, intelligent primates with olive-colored fur.
   • Habitat: Wooded areas and savannas.
   • Diet: Omnivorous—fruits, seeds, small animals, and insects.
   • Behavior: Baboons are highly social and live in large troops, often foraging near tourist camps.
2. Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)
   • Description: Small monkeys with distinctive black faces and light grey bodies.
   • Habitat: Riverine woodlands and forests.
   • Diet: Fruits, leaves, seeds, and insects.
   • Behavior: Known for their agility and curiosity, vervet monkeys are often seen foraging in trees near rivers.

Nocturnal Species

1. Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)
   • Description: Solitary, nocturnal creatures with long snouts, known for digging up termites and ants.
   • Habitat: Open grasslands and bushlands.
   • Diet: Termites and ants.
   • Behavior: Elusive and primarily nocturnal, aardvarks are rarely seen but play a vital role in controlling insect populations.
2. Bushbaby (Galago senegalensis)
   • Description: Small, nocturnal primates with large eyes and excellent leaping abilities.
   • Habitat: Forests and woodlands.
   • Diet: Insects, fruits, and gum.
   • Behavior: Bushbabies are nocturnal and can often be heard making eerie, high-pitched calls during the night.

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