The Masai Mara is the reserve most people picture when they think of an African safari: open red-oat grassland, flat-topped acacias, and a horizon that seems to go on for ever. It is the northern end of the great Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, and from about July to October more than a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle cross into it, running the gauntlet of the Mara River's crocodiles.
Even outside the migration, the Mara is one of the best places in Africa for big cats. Lions live in prides of ten or more on the plains, cheetahs hunt from termite mounds and fallen trees, and leopards watch from the riverine fig trees. The western Mara Triangle is bounded by the Oloololo escarpment and is quieter, while the private conservancies on the reserve's edge limit the number of vehicles and allow walking, night drives and off-road tracking.
We usually combine the reserve with a conservancy stay, so you get the famous scenery and the migration crossings as well as quieter game viewing away from the crowds.
The Mara holds the Big Five and then some. Lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo are seen regularly, and black rhino survive in small, closely guarded numbers in the Mara Triangle. Cheetah are one of the reserve’s great attractions, and the open plains give some of the clearest cheetah viewing anywhere. Spotted hyena, jackal, bat-eared fox and serval round out the predators.
The plains game is just as rich. Topi, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, impala, eland, Maasai giraffe, hippo and warthog live in the reserve all year, joined from July to October by the Great Migration herds. The river crossings, where thousands of wildebeest plunge into the Mara or Talek rivers, are unpredictable but unforgettable.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
The reserve is a mosaic of rolling grassland, scattered acacia and balanites, and the winding green line of the Mara and Talek rivers. In the west the Oloololo escarpment lifts above the Mara Triangle, giving wide views over the plains. In the dry season the grass turns a pale gold, and in the green season the whole landscape is a deep emerald under towering clouds.
Activities here
The Mara sits at around 1,500 to 2,000 metres, so days are warm and nights are cool, often 11°C to 14°C before dawn. The long rains come from March to May and a short rainy season from November to December, with most of the rain falling in afternoon storms.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27 | 13 | 70 |
| Feb | 27 | 13 | 70 |
| Mar | 27 | 14 | 110 |
| Apr | 25 | 14 | 190 |
| May | 24 | 14 | 150 |
| Jun | 24 | 12 | 40 |
| Jul | 23 | 11 | 30 |
| Aug | 24 | 12 | 40 |
| Sep | 26 | 12 | 45 |
| Oct | 27 | 13 | 70 |
| Nov | 26 | 14 | 120 |
| Dec | 26 | 13 | 100 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
June to October is the main dry season, with warm sunny days at about 24°C to 27°C and cold early mornings, so bring a fleece for dawn drives and the balloon. The grass is shorter, the rivers lower, and animals gather near water. January and February are a second, shorter dry spell that is hot and quiet.
The long rains from March to May turn the plains green and the roads soft, and many camps close or offer low rates. The short rains in November and December are lighter and the landscape is fresh, with good birding and fewer visitors. Showers are usually brief, and the cats are still easy to find.
July to October is the classic time, when the migration is in the Mara and the river crossings take place, though it is also the busiest and most expensive period. January and February are drier and calmer, with excellent big-cat viewing and resident game. The green season from November to June is quieter with lower rates, and the cats and birds are still superb.
Best time to visit Jan to Feb, Jun to Oct
Most guests fly from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to one of the reserve’s airstrips in about 45 minutes to an hour, which saves a long and bumpy day on the road. The drive from Nairobi takes about five to six hours via Narok, mostly on good road, with the final section on rough track. We often arrange a flight in and a road transfer out, or the other way round, so you see the Great Rift Valley from the air as well as the ground.
Reserve and conservancy fees are charged per person per day, and they are included in our safaris. Almost every visitor needs a Kenya electronic travel authorisation (eTA), applied for online before you fly. It costs roughly US$30 plus service fees, is normally approved within a few working days, and needs a passport valid for at least six months. Hot-air balloon flights, walks and night drives are arranged as extras.
The Mara lies in a malaria area, so please take medical advice well before you travel. The roads are dusty and bumpy, so bring a scarf, sunglasses and sun protection. Stay in the vehicle during game drives, and walk only with a guide in the conservancies. The altitude is moderate and rarely troubles visitors.
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“Our take”
Give the Mara at least three nights, and consider a night or two in a conservancy for walks and night drives. Tell us your travel month, because we choose the camp around where the herds are.
Safaris from
US$1,786 per person
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