Maasai Mara National Reserve Travel Guide

Without a doubt, the Maasai Mara National Reserve is Kenya's, if not Africa's, most famous safari destination. The Greater Mara is a huge ecosystem with wide-open savannah grasslands located in the Great Rift Valley. The National Park includes the famous Mara Triangle, between the escarpment and the Mara River, as well as the Mara National Reserve to the east of the Mara River. Further north are the Mara conservancies, protected land owned by the Maasai tribes and used for ecotourism. The conservancies form part of the Greater Mara but are not part of the National Park.

Huge concentration of wildlife

The Mara is home to an unbelievable quantity and variety of wildlife, which is most concentrated near its western escarpment. But the vast open plains further east also attracts large numbers of herbivores and predators.

Nowhere else in Africa will you find a greater abundance of game and you're virtually guaranteed to see most of the Big 5 here; buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard and with some luck, rhino. Other game you might encounter include cheetah, serval, hyena, bat-eared fox, black-backed and side-striped jackal, hippo, crocodile, baboon, warthog, topi, eland, Thompson's gazelle, Grant's gazelle, impala, waterbuck, oribi, reedbuck, and of course wildebeest and zebra.

The world-famous annual wildebeest migration, known as the Great Migration, takes place here every year between July and October and is said to involve more than 1.5 million animals. It's a truly incredible sight if you're lucky enough to witness it.

The reserve boasts some 95 species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles with more than 400 birds species recorded. Only the Kruger National Park in South Africa has more mammal and bird species than the Maasai Mara.

Best time to visit

Peak migration time in the Mara is from late July to early October. During this time you have the best chance to see one of the famous river crossings where thousands of wildebeest brave the dangerous croc-infested waters of the Mara River to get across to the grassy plains on the other side.

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is 1,600 m (5,300 ft) above sea level. There are two rainy seasons - the short rains in October and November, and the long rains from March to May. Mornings are usually clear and dry, with clouds building into dramatic thunderstorms by late afternoon, early evening. The dry season extends from June until September and offers you the best game viewing, but it is also the most congested time in the Mara.

If you are able to book a few weeks before or after the peak season, you'll have far less crowding and probably much better rates, too. October and November also offer excellent game viewing. Temperatures generally range from 20 - 30°C (68 - 86°F).

Getting there

The Mara is easy to get to by road or by air. There are several all-weather airstrips and road access is fair, especially from Nairobi. We'll gladly help you work out the best options for your itinerary and preferences. Which airstrip you fly to will depend on which camp or lodge you are going to.

Optional activities

In addition to superb game viewing by day, night drives with spotlights can be arranged in certain areas. Hot air ballooning is popular and is an unforgettable way for you to experience the sheer expanse of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Of course, a visit to one of the Maasai cultural villages is sure to be a highlight on your itinerary.