What are the private conservancies that border the Maasai Mara reserve?

Maasai land leased for wildlife tourism

Fenced zoos run by the government

Hunting areas for trophy hunters

Maasai Mara Quiz: Big Cats and the Great Migration in Kenya

This Maasai Mara quiz heads to Kenya's most famous wildlife reserve, with questions on what the name Mara means, river crossings on the Mara River, the Big Five, hot-air balloon safaris over the savanna, the BBC's Big Cat Diary, the best months for the Great Migration, the Maasai adumu dance and community conservancies. Ten questions.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 90s

Names
In the Maa language of the Maasai, what does the word Mara mean?
Rivers
During the Great Migration, wildebeest face crocodiles while crossing which river?
Big Five
Which of these animals is NOT one of the Big Five?
Safaris
Which popular safari starts at dawn and drifts silently above the Mara plains?
Television
Which long-running BBC wildlife series followed lions, leopards and cheetahs in the Maasai Mara?
Seasons
When does the Great Migration usually pass through the Maasai Mara?
Dance
What is the adumu, performed by young Maasai men?
Antelopes
Which reddish antelope is often seen standing on termite mounds as a lookout in the Mara?
Conservation
What are the private conservancies that border the Maasai Mara reserve?
Size
Roughly how large is the Maasai Mara National Reserve?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: In the Maa language of the Maasai, what does the word Mara mean?
Answer: Spotted
From above, the plains look spotted with trees, bushes and cloud shadows. The reserve is named after both the Maasai people and this landscape.
Q2: During the Great Migration, wildebeest face crocodiles while crossing which river?
Answer: The Mara River
Huge herds gather on the banks before plunging in. Nile crocodiles wait in the water, making the crossings one of nature's most dramatic sights.
Q3: Which of these animals is NOT one of the Big Five?
Answer: The cheetah
The Big Five are the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and Cape buffalo. The term comes from hunters who found them hardest to hunt on foot.
Q4: Which popular safari starts at dawn and drifts silently above the Mara plains?
Answer: A hot-air balloon safari
Balloon flights last about an hour and usually end with a champagne breakfast on the savanna. Animals below are rarely disturbed.
Q5: Which long-running BBC wildlife series followed lions, leopards and cheetahs in the Maasai Mara?
Answer: Big Cat Diary
Big Cat Diary aired from 1996 to 2008. Its stars included the Marsh Pride of lions and a leopard called Half-Tail.
Q6: When does the Great Migration usually pass through the Maasai Mara?
Answer: July to October
Herds follow the rains and fresh grass in a giant loop. They spend the rest of the year in Tanzania's Serengeti.
Q7: What is the adumu, performed by young Maasai men?
Answer: A jumping dance
Warriors take turns leaping high from a standing position while others sing. The higher the jump, the more admired the dancer.
Q8: Which reddish antelope is often seen standing on termite mounds as a lookout in the Mara?
Answer: The topi
Topi have dark patches on their legs and faces. They are among the fastest antelopes and often graze in mixed herds.
Q9: What are the private conservancies that border the Maasai Mara reserve?
Answer: Maasai land leased for wildlife tourism
Landowners earn income by keeping their land open for wildlife. The conservancies limit vehicle numbers, giving guests a quieter safari.
Q10: Roughly how large is the Maasai Mara National Reserve?
Answer: About 1,500 square kilometers
The reserve is much smaller than Tanzania's Serengeti, but its wildlife density is among the highest in Africa. It was first established in 1961.

Maasai Mara Quiz – Kenya's Greatest Safari

The Maasai Mara National Reserve, in southwestern Kenya, is one of the most famous wildlife areas in the world. Its rolling grasslands, dotted with acacia trees and crossed by rivers, are home to lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras and countless antelopes. It forms the northern part of the vast Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.

The reserve is named after the Maasai people, who have herded cattle on these plains for centuries, and the Maa word mara, meaning spotted. The Maasai are known for their red shúkà cloths, beadwork and jumping dances. Many now take part in tourism and conservation, leasing their land to conservancies that protect wildlife.

The Mara's greatest spectacle is the Great Migration. Each year, from about July to October, more than a million wildebeest, along with zebras and gazelles, arrive from Tanzania in search of fresh grass. Crossing the Mara River, they face crocodiles, strong currents and steep banks, while lions and leopards hunt on land.

The Maasai Mara is especially famous for big cats. Television series such as Big Cat Diary made lions of the Marsh Pride and individual leopards and cheetahs world-famous. Visitors explore on game drives, walking safaris and hot-air balloon flights at sunrise.

Conservation is a major concern. Growing human populations, fences and tourism put pressure on the land, so local communities, guides and scientists work together to protect wildlife.

Safari lodges and tented camps range from simple to luxurious. Many guides are Maasai who grew up near the reserve and know animal behavior well. Visits outside the migration season are quieter, and resident wildlife such as lions and elephants can be seen all year.

This quiz covers the wildlife, people, seasons and safaris of the Maasai Mara.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is perfect for wildlife lovers, travelers and nature documentary fans.

What the name Maasai Mara means
The Great Migration and river crossings
The Big Five and big cats of the Mara
Balloon safaris and Big Cat Diary
Maasai culture and the adumu dance
How conservancies protect wildlife

Quick Facts About the Maasai Mara

The Mara is about five to six hours by road from Nairobi.
Small planes fly visitors to airstrips inside the reserve.
The Mara Triangle is managed by a nonprofit conservancy.
Black rhinos live in the reserve, but in small numbers.
Hundreds of bird species have been recorded in the Mara.
The Talek and Sand rivers flow into the Mara River.