Masai Mara National Reserve

Discover the iconic Masai Mara

Situated in the southwest of Kenya, covering an area of 1,510 square km (583 square miles), the Masai Mara National Reserve is a land of breathtaking vistas, abundant wildlife and endless plains.

The quintessential Masai Mara safari delivers many attractions, as the reserve is home to an excellent year-round concentration of game, including the more than two million wildebeest, zebras and other antelopes that make up the famous Great Migration.

The reserve is a photographer’s and naturalist’s paradise, with abundant elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion and cheetah alongside the migratory wildebeest and zebra. Leopards are frequently encountered, endangered black rhino hide in the dense thickets and large rafts of hippo and enormous crocodiles are found in the Mara River. The park is also home to over 450 bird species.

The Masai Mara National Reserve has fenceless borders with a number of private conservancies, including Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. This vast protected landscape is one of the top wildlife destinations in Africa, and Kenya's flagship conservation area.

Game viewing

Game viewing in the Masai Mara is excellent all year around thanks to the diverse population of resident game, including the Big 5 – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino – plus popular species like zebra, giraffe, hyena, eland and gazelle. The Mara’s big cats are even the stars of a popular wildlife TV series.

From July to November one of nature’s greatest spectacles, the wildebeest migration, reaches the Mara - the sheer number of wildebeest arriving in the area is staggering. The migration is a dramatic mass movement of almost 2-million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle in a seasonal annual cycle driven by rainfall. To reach the Mara’s fresh grazing, wildebeest make dramatic river crossings, facing enormous crocodiles to feast on the Mara plains and regain their strength. November's short summer rains trigger the last leg of the migration, when the wildebeest move south to their Serengeti calving grounds. The calving season also happens in the Mara between December and January. Known as the green season, it’s a time when surface water is plentiful and wildebeest, zebra and antelope give birth to their calves, foals and fawns. With so much easy prey around, it is also a good time for predators to raise their cubs and pups, making for wonderful photographic opportunities.

The Masai Mara and its neighbouring private conservancies offer a range of accommodation, from  child-friendly to romantic. The park can be crowded in high season, which is why we recommend staying in one of the neighbouring private conservancies where you’ll enjoy the advantage of easy access to the Mara for the superb game-viewing and migration scenes, but can also retreat to the conservancy’s crowd-free setting where off road game viewing, night drives and guided nature walks are permitted

The best time to visit the Masai Mara is from late June to early October - you'll catch the wildebeest migration in full flow. Midsummer can get busy though, so come at the beginning or end of that period for full on wildlife without crazy crowds. March to May are wet with scattered wildlife, but you can find some cheaper deals if you're not bothered about the migration. The great plains, Maasai villages and Big Five are reward enough in themselves

Which months are ideal for catching the Great Migration?

The month-by-month guide to the Great Migration in Masai Mara:

July
The beginning of the Great Migration, visitors will see thousands of wildebeest and zebras crossing the Mara River into Masai Mara from Tanzania. This also makes it a great time to view birds of prey and big cats such as lions and leopards!

August
By this time, travellers should expect to see the Great Migration slowing down; now, the animals will be happily grazing on the plains of the Masai Mara. This means further opportunity to view wildebeest, zebras, lions, leopards, and more.

September
With the dry season in full swing, expect to see larger crowds and higher temperatures in September. Visibility of all wildlife present for the Great Migration (wildebeest, zebras, big cats, and more) is still excellent, however, so this month remains a popular time to visit.

October
The last month of the dry season, October sees the migrating animals begin to make their way back to Tanzania. Visiting the south-eastern part of the reserve offers the best views of these incredible animals in October.

November
The "short rains" usually begin in mid-November, so travellers should expect the occasional wet day. However, there are ample opportunities for birdwatching at this time, and some baby animals can also be seen! For more information about when to see the animals in the Great Migration, please see our migration map.

December - June
At this time, the animals who take part in the Great Migration have returned to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. While many animals remain in Masai Mara, the taller grasses make them more difficult to see.

Interesting facts about the Great Migration

How many animals migrate?

Nearly 2 million animals make the journey.

What animals migrate?

Mostly wildebeest, zebras, and Thompson's Gazelles.

What drives the Great Migration?

Seasonal rains, and a search for green fresh grass.

How do they know where to go?

The sun and Earth's magnetic field acts as a compass, and the animals instinctively know where to go.

How many perish on the way?

About 250,000 animals don't complete the journey.

When is climate and weather best in Masai Mara?

The months of June to October see the least rainfall in Masai Mara, as this is the dry season. Masai Mara experiences two rainy seasons, the "long rains" and the "short rains." The long rains take place from March to May, and the short rains occur from October to December. While travellers visiting during the rainy seasons will have fewer crowds around them, they should be prepared for muddy conditions.

Read Also about The best time to visit Kenya and Tanzania on safari