MASAI MARA MARATHON

Masai Mara Marathon

MASAI MARA MARATHON 2011

 

Masai Mara a place where lions 'rule' the land, the iconic Maasai people live on it and a marathon will take place, the “World’s Wildest Marathon”.

With about 600 runners poised to run the event, the Masai Mara Marathon combines the allure of the Masai Mara and the fame of Kenya's running tradition and spirit to attract local and international participants.

Set for the 19^th of November, 2011, the race starts in the early light, as the rays of sun shine on the vastness of Africa’s great lands. One can experience the Masai Mara on foot, and enjoy the thrill of running close to animals in the wild.

The race has been organized by the Masai Mara Marathon Ltd and the Rotary Club of Nairobi, where Kenya Airways among others are event sponsors.

The first inaugural Masai Mara Marathon was held in November 2009 with a total of 352 participants registering; 214 took part in the 5km race while 138 participated in the 21km.

The Marathon brings together legendary Olympian runners through the National Association of Kenya Olympians (NAKO), to mentor upcoming athletes.  This is a partnership project between the Kenya Olympians and the organizers aimed at benefitting the community.

Why Masai Marathon?

The Masai Mara National Reserve is home of the famous "Big Five" also famous for one of the Wonders of the World – the great annual wildebeest migration.

It is a charity event organized to raise funds for:

·         Literacy – upgrading facilities to mitigate environmental hazards.

·         Health, Water and Sanitation – try to avail clean drinking water. To be a catalyst to raise funds to address health and water and Sanitation problems.

The Masai Mara Marathon was created with the main objective of raising funds that would be focused on a few significant activities for the benefit of the community and the environment.

OBJECTIVES:

Conservation
To create a forum through which funds can be raised for the conservation of the Mara ecosystem. Funds and donations raised will be targeted at the climate change challenges, the drying rivers, the famine and hunger and education.

Support for our Kenyan Olympians
Kenyan sportsmen and women, performing in various sporting events in the world, have brought honor and glory to Kenya and have inspired others.

The aim of this run is to create continuity of purpose for Olympian legends by creating a mentorship forum where they can put their skills to good use and raise the next generation of Olympians in the communities where they live.

Water, Health and Sanitation for Communities
Communities living in the Ecosystem have serious issues to do with water, sanitation, healthcare, food security and education.

Sports Tourism Catalyst
Promote Kenya as a sports-tourism destination. Kenya is famous as a tourism destination and also as a sports hub for athletes. The Masai Mara Marathon will combine the allure of the Masai Mara and the fame of Kenya’s running tradition and spirit to attract local and international participants.

ACCOMODATION:

Bushbuck Adventures will be providing accommodation at Bushbuck Mara Camp which is located in the same conservancy (Lemek) where the Marathon will be taking place.

Bushbuck Mara Camp will also be available for private hire during this period (Bushbuck Adventures Special Offers).

For booking click here: ***Bushbuck Adventures Booking Form***

For more information the below are some links on the Masai Mara Marathon:

Masai Mara Marathon Facebook Page

3rd Annual Kenya Airways Masai Mara Marathon (Event | Facebook)

Masai Mara Marathon Registration

Masai Mara Participants

RUN, SO THAT THE RIVERS CAN DO THE SAME

Hide & Seek

Hide and Seek

The Masai Mara, a vastness of land enriched by the habitat; animals, birds and flora. Approximately 290,000 tourist to the Masai Mara National Park every year. One of Africa's greatest destinations.

A journey across valleys and plains. 

On this particular day, during an entire days game drive in the Masai Mara with Bushbuck Adventures, we ended up 'playing a game',a game of 'hide and seek'.

In the distance we spot vehicles circled next to some bushes, cameras on tripods for that steady shot, roof hutches open, people in whispers; one could even sense the excitement. One wondered why people would be so keen and gathered around some bushes. So we inquired....and soon we were also fixated on the same bush, all because of the elusive spotted one.

Engines off, binoculars out, eyes peeled, will the spotted one reveal itself, or do we have to eagerly search? Reminds me of hide and seek, but this time the one we are seeking has the advantage of camouflage. Under the croton bushes, it ‘hides’, unaware of the buzz around.

Patience pays, perseverance is the key, but we seem to lack both, so we drive off, and hope to be fortunate later.

After driving around the Masai Mara Game Reserve, we stop somewhere by the bank of the Mara River. Zebra’s to our left grazing, as others debate cautiously whether to have a drink. We are also debating where to have a picnic. Mwaniki, the driver looks to the right and spots a lioness stalking, hidden by the bushes. Focus changes, all attention on the lioness. Patiently, a lesson we are all getting to learn, we wait, then suddenly a cub walks past the mother’s hunt-path and the zebras spot it. In a mad dash the zebras scatter, dust in the air, zebra’s calling, the hunt terminated; seems to be ‘lunch break’ in the Mara. But just as i had written earlier in King of the Jungle, lions may be kings of Masai Mara but they don't always have it their way. Only 1 in 5 attempts will be successful.

We drove off yet again, but this time with just a bit of patience and perserverance, the elusive one crossed our path. Curiosity killed the cat, but in this case, curiousity revealed a cat, one of the 'Big Five' in Kenya.

*GAME OVER*