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Masai Mara National Reserve – Great Migration Park
Masai Mara National Reserve and surrounding conservancies are brimming with life and offer travelers a varied range of activities and experiences to choose from. Whether you take to the skies for a morning hot air balloon flight over the vast plains or hit the road for a 4×4 safari, Masai Mara National Reserve will undoubtedly give you an unforgettable experience and memories of a lifetime.
Masai Mara at a Glance
Masai Mara National Reserve, also known as the Mara, is located in Narok County, south-west Kenya adjacent to Serengeti National Park, 180 kilometers away from the capital, Nairobi. It is popular for its vast expanse of rolling savannah plains, which sprawl over an estimated 1,510 square kilometers running to the northernmost section of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.
Masai Mara National Reserve borders Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to the south, the Siria escarpment to the west, and the Masai pastoral ranches to the north, west, and east. The reserve is drained by three main rivers: the Sand River, the Telek River, and the Mara River. It was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1961.
It is named in honor of the Maasai people, ancestral inhabitants of the area who are thought to have migrated to the area from the Nile Basin.
Attractions in Masai Mara National Reserve
Masai Mara National Reserve maintains an abundance of wildlife in its vast plains such as wildebeest, topi, elephant, buffalo, plains zebra, Thomson’s gazelle, and giraffe. Popular safari heavyweights such as lions, leopards, elephants, and buffalos, which make up the famous big five, are present, although you are likely to have some scarce rhino sightings in the Mara Triangle.
Wildebeest predominate in Masai Mara National Reserve and are believed to number in the millions. In the period between July and October every year, Masai Mara National Reserve is a much-welcomed pit stop for endless masses of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles that follow the rains on their death-defying, 2,900-kilometer (1,800-mile) circular journey in search of fresh grazing.
Other notable resident animals in Masai Mara National Reserve include antelopes, Grant’s gazelles, impalas, duikers, hyenas and Coke’s hartebeests. The nocturnal bat-eared fox and the large roan antelope can be sighted in the reserve borders. The reserve is a popular birder’s paradise, with more than 470 species of birds identified, many of which are migrants, and almost 60 species being raptors.
Activities in Masai Mara National Reserve
1. Fantastic year-round game viewing
Masai Mara National Reserve is popular for its wide-open spaces and great diversity of animal populations, which guarantee excellent year-round game viewing opportunities. Its champagne-coloured savannahs are home to the highest concentration of wildlife in the world, with more than 40% of Africa’s larger mammals found roaming the vast expanse of the reserve.
The Mara is renowned for delivering exceptional big cat (leopard, lion, and cheetah) sightings. Cheetahs are notable residents here and well adapted to the region’s flat landscape, which makes the Mara one of the favourite places to sight these nimble predators. They often look for vantage points on fallen trees, termite mounds, and even game-drive vehicles! Any Masai Mara safari is usually an opportunity to watch the world’s fastest land mammal chase down its prey.
While on a Masai Mara safari, expect:
- Large concentrations of elephant, buffalo, and Masai giraffe.
- Incredible big cat sightings: lion, leopard, and cheetah on the open plains
- Diverse landscapes and wide-open spaces, rich resident wildlife, and a temperate climate make it a remarkable year-round safari destination.
2. Witness the Great Wildebeest Migration
The famous wildebeest migration occurs from about July to October every year. An overwhelming number of wildebeest is often observed from space advancing on the plains. To reach the Mara’s fresh grazing from Tanzania’s Serengeti, the wildebeest must make life-threatening river crossings, facing enormous crocodiles lurking in the seemingly still waters of the Mara River.
While witnessing the annual migration, expect:
- Accommodations at convenient locations with easy access to river crossing points
- An aerial view of the herds on a hot-air balloon flight
- Staying in one of the neighbouring private conservancies will allow you to enjoy activities not permitted in the reserve, such as going off-road, nature walks, and night drives, in a crowd free environment.
Note: There is limited availability of well-located safari camps in the peak/high season of June to October. We recommend booking your Masai Mara safari at least a year in advance if you want front-row seats to the wildebeest migration.
3. Experience a hot-air balloon safari
An unsurpassable hot-air balloon safari in Masai Mara National Reserve will reveal spectacular views of a mesmerizing world of lush wildlife, thronged grasslands, meandering rivers, and scattered acacias. Following the course of the Mara River allows you to peek down into the forests and flat plains, float past vultures’ nests, and observe the early-morning routines of boisterous hippos. After touching down on the plains, you’ll be served a sumptuous breakfast and champagne in the heart of the wild.
While on a hot air balloon safari, expect:
- You will take game drives for the rest of the day, followed by bush picnics and sundowners.
- Excellent view of the Mara’s breath-taking landscape and even sight wildlife.
- Watch the sunrise unfurl with brilliance across the boundless plains.
- A perfect experience for a honeymoon safari or anniversary
4. Masaai Cultural Experience
The Maasai are a semi-nomadic ethnic group that inhabits most of Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are best known by travelers for their residence near the many wildlife parks and distinctive customs and dress.
Although cattle keeping and ownership are central aspects of the Maasai culture, many have become expert safari guides and camp managers as a result of increased safari tourism. A safari in Masai Mara National Reserve offers you plenty of opportunities to interact with Maasai guides and camp staff. You will visit local villages for a fascinating glimpse of traditional Maasai culture, lifestyle, and traditions.
- Visit local villages to experience traditional Maasai culture.
- Many safari camps give back to local communities.
5. Stay in a private conservancy
Conservancies are a perfect complement to wildlife parks and game reserves and allow neighbouring local communities to identify and take ownership of conservation efforts while directly benefiting from wildlife management. The locals are positioned to be at the centre of wildlife conservation by being offered better livelihood incentives, which help in the reversal of wildlife decline and thus ensure continuity for future generations.
Therefore, we recommend staying in one of the neighbouring private conservancies on a safari in Masai Mara, as the reserve can get crowded during safari high season (about June to October).
- Enjoy superb, crowd-free game viewing.
- It will enable you to easily access the reserve for Wildebeest Migration scenes.
- Staying in one of the neighbouring private conservancies will allow you to enjoy activities not permitted in the reserve, such as going off-road, nature walks, and night drives, in a crowd-free environment.
- Contribute directly to local communities and conservation efforts.
Best time to visit Masai Mara
Best time to visit Masai Mara is during the dry season from June to October. As a result of varying rainfall patterns, the precise timing fluctuates from year to year. In some years, the rains might be early, and wildebeest herds will arrive and depart sooner, while other times the late rains mean the wildebeest arrive later and you’ll still find stragglers. From November to early March, the weather is mild and dry and there is an absence of safari crowds in the reserve.
The Masai Mara is highly regarded as a fantastic year-round safari destination. Thanks to its abundant resident wildlife, temperate climate, and wide and open plains, there is virtually always something to see, no matter what time of year you visit.
High/Peak Season about June to October.
- Highest rates.
- Need to book well in advance.
- Cool and dry weather.
- Not many baby animals around.
- Not many migrant birds to see.
- Most crowded.
- Great photography conditions.
Low/Green Season about November to March.
- Lowest rates.
- No need to book too far in advance.
- Hot and occasionally wet weather.
- Lots of baby animals around.
- Fantastic time for bird watching.
- Least crowded.
- Greenest, most scenic landscapes with the best light of the year for photography.
How to get to Masai Mara
Masai Mara National Reserve can be accessed by road and air. Most safaris start with international flights arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. You can choose to take an adventurous road trip and be ready to deal with a few bumpy roads along the way, or you can take a quick and easy air transfer to the airstrip closest to the safari lodge you will be staying at.
Daily flights operate through Nairobi at Jomo Kenyatta National Airport and Wilson Airstrip for Masai Mara fly-in safaris. A flight to Masai Mara takes between 45 and 60 minutes (recommended). The lodge you choose to stay in determines which airstrip you fly into. Your safari driver from Stingers Africa Safaris will be ready to pick you up upon your arrival at the airstrip closest to your accommodation. Other domestic flights connect to and from different domestic airstrips across East Africa.