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The Masai Mara National Park is one of the world’s greatest safari destinations, featuring vast African savannah plains, breathtaking landscapes, and an abundance of incredible wildlife. The park shares unfenced borders with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania allowing for the seamless migration of wildlife. Offering unrivalled views of the world’s greatest migration - a wildlife spectacle of over 1.5 million wildebeest moving in a circular direction between Kenya and Tanzania in search of fresh grasslands, creating a dramatic sight as herds attempt to get across the crocodile-infested waters. Visitors also have the rare opportunity of interacting with the Maasai people, learning about their century-old traditions and bush survival skills.

Beyond the migration, enjoy year-round thrilling experiences with game drives and hot air balloon safaris. Each year visitors flock to the reserve to witness the great migration which occurs annually from July through to November.

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Masai Mara National Reserve

A visitors guide to the masai mara national park.

The Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya’s most celebrated wildlife reserve, and possibly it’s best for a safari (though faces stiff competition from Amboseli and Tsavo East for this title). Created in 1968 the reserve is around 1,550 km sq, and made up of vast open grasslands, dotted with rocky hills and acacia woodland. It’s sandwiched between several large conservancies on the northern border, conservation areas to the east and west and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park on the southern border. This makes the reserve part of a much larger East African ecosystem and a critical checkpoint for the Great Wildebeest Migration between July and October each year.

As well as the annual Masai Mara migration, the reserve is home to the big five. There are an estimated 300 lions in the Masai Mara – one of the highest densities anywhere in Africa – and sightings of the thick-maned lions are virtually guaranteed, particularly if you’re on the open plains. Cheetah, spotted hyena and other carnivores such as bat-eared fox and black-backed jackal are common, as are elephant, and there’s a small but healthy population of endangered black rhinos. Alongside the spectacular game viewing, there have been over 570 bird species recorded in the reserve, from raptors to ostrich .

The Masai Mara National Park can be broadly divided into three parts:

1. The Eastern Sector

The eastern sector from the Mara & Talek rivers to the Ngama Hills makes up around half the reserve, and is the closest part of the reserve to Nairobi and the most visited. The Ngama hills rise above the main Sekenani Entrance Gate and are a prominent feature of the landscape, visible from all areas of the park and a useful landmark if you’re doing a self-drive Masai Mara safari . The hills themselves don’t have as much wildlife as the plains below, but dense thickets on the slopes attract elusive black rhino, so it’s worth doing a tour of the hills.

The plains surrounding the hills are the classic East African safari landscape of short grassed savannahs, dotted with the occasional acacia tree. For the best wildlife viewing in this part of the park take a detour from the main roads, and use the smaller tracks that wind their way between the main routes. Big cats and cheetah are common here, along with their prey of antelope, gazelle , eland, and ostrich , along with plenty of elephants. The South Mara Bridge is the only crossing between the eastern and western sectors of the park, and offers a great spot to take a bush picnic with views over a large hippo pool.

2. The Central Sector

The central plains lie between the Mara and Talek rivers in the heart of the Masai Mara. Game viewing here is exceptionally reliable – particularly for big cats, many of which are habituated to vehicles, meaning you can very close for top viewing and photos without fear of driving the cats away.

Cupping these central plains are the Mara River and its tributary the Talek, the only permanent water sources flowing through the Masai Mara National Reserve. The area is covered with dozens of deep hippo holes, and the Mara River supports much aquatic life including hippo, crocodile and otter, along with plenty of birdlife. The lush forest that edges the rivers is home a strong leopard population, vervet monkeys and bushbucks. It’s this central section of the park that is home to one of nature’s greatest shows – when the Great Wildebeest Migration comes to town and crosses the Mara River. This can actually happen several times during the wildebeests’ 2-3 months in the Masai Mara. There a number of regular crossing points, most of which are in a 5 km stretch of the Mara River, up-water from where the Talek joins the Mara. Lookout Hill, opposite the Serena Lodge is the best vantage point for seeing the herds congregating and crossing the river.

3. The Mara Triangle

The most westerly section of the Masai Mara Reserve is known as the Mara Triangle, and is divided from the rest of the park by the Mara River on its eastern side. Oto the northwest is the Oloololo Escarpment making for a dramatic backdrop to the scenery as it 400 meters above the wildlife grazing on the plains. In July and August the grasslands of the Mara Triangle are heaving with wildebeest, zebra and gazelle – as well as their many predators.

This section of the park is less visited and less crowded than the rest of the Masai Mara and has limited – though quality – accommodation options

Masai Mara map

Map of Masai Mara National Park, courtesy of MaraNorth.com

Getting to Masai Mara Game Reserve:

The Masai Mara is 270 km from Kenya’s capital Nairobi, and the 4-5 hour drive between the two via Narok can be tough going. Most people opt for a 45-minute flight. In the reserve itself, the eastern side of the park now has all-weather roads, making for easy driving conditions. Through the rest of the park roads are almost all un-signposted dirt tracks and can be rough driving requiring a 4X4. If you’re planning a self-drive safari there is only one bridge inside the reserve across the Mara River, so plan your route and time accordingly.

Best Time to visit Masai Mara:

The Masai Mara is a year-round safari destination, with big cats and big game on view all of the time. December to February are the driest months and a great time to see the big cats in action. The great migration Masai Mara portion usually takes place from July to October. As the migration is a natural event that’s largely driven by the weather, these dates are not 100% certain, but very likely. Travelling to the park outside of peak season will mean no migration, but fewer crowds and cheaper accommodation.

Masai Mara highlights:

• The main highlight of the park is the great wildebeest Masai Mara migration.
• Aside from the migration, the Masai Mara is famed for its dense lion population, with the males sporting particularly shaggy, dark manes.
• The Masai Mara offers perfect conditions for an early morning balloon safari , giving a birds-eye view over the wildlife sprinkled plains in the rosy-tinted dawn light. Balloon safaris take off from Keerok lodge are usually completed with a bush breakfast with bubbles.

Masai Mara hotels:

There are dozens of camps and campsites in the eastern sector catering for all budgets, in the park and fringing the borders of the park. The central plains area is serviced by a handful of high-end safari camps. In the Mara Triangle, there’s only one camp (Little Governors) and one lodge (Mara Serena, with its prime position overlooking the Mara River crossings used by the great migration), though there are a number of high-end camps on the edge of the Mara Triangle  Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge, Kichwa Tembo, Bateleur Camp, Mara Siria, Kilima Camp and Mpata Safari Club.

Game drives are often confined to the same section that the safari lodge or campsite is in, so check with your lodge before booking. If you’re visiting for more than one night it’s a good idea to divide your time between different hotels so you can see as much of the Mara as possible.

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Have you been to the Masai Mara or have any tips for visiting this game reserve? Please share with us in the comments section below!

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Maasai Mara National Reserve

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is a breathtaking wildlife sanctuary located in the Narok County of Kenya. Named after the Maasai people, the area’s indigenous inhabitants, and the Mara River which divides it, this reserve is globally renowned for its exceptional wildlife population, picturesque landscapes, and unique cultural experiences. Spanning approximately 1,510 square kilometers, the Maasai Mara offers visitors an unforgettable opportunity to witness the beauty of nature at its finest.

Established in 1961, the Maasai Mara National Reserve forms a part of the greater Mara ecosystem, which also includes the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The reserve is situated at an altitude of 1,500 to 2,170 meters above sea level, providing a variety of habitats to support its diverse wildlife population. The area experiences two rainy seasons: the long rains from March to May and the short rains from November to December.

The Maasai Mara is home to an abundance of wildlife, including the famous “Big Five” – African elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and rhinoceros. Additionally, it hosts over 450 bird species, including vultures, marabou storks, and ostriches. The reserve is globally renowned for the annual Great Migration, during which over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles traverse the Mara River in search of greener pastures between July and October.

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers. With its unparalleled natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and rich cultural experiences, a visit to the Maasai Mara is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Activities to Do in The Mara

Walking safari, horseback safari, wildlife photography.

MAASAI MARA FACTS

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of the world’s most famous and important wildlife conservation and wilderness areas. Here are some facts about it:

Great Migration

People & culture, why visit the maasai mara, extraordinary wildlife, luxury safari lodges and camps, breathtaking landscapes, the great migration, get in touch, +254113420342, [email protected], maasai mara national reserve, narok county, kenya., monday - sun: 06:00- 18.00, send us a message we will get back to you..

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Masai Mara National Reserve is located in south west Kenya and is a vast scenic expanse of gently rolling African savannah plains measuring 1510 square kilometers in area and bordering the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the south. Masai Mara is a unique wildlife conservation haven famous for its spectacular natural diversity of wildlife and is the premier Kenya Safari location in East Africa, offering visitors numerous reasons to visit this animal paradise. Large numbers of Lions, Cheetah, Elephant, Rhino, African Buffalo, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Zebra and many more animals are found in the park in their natural habitat, unconfined and free to roam the vast Kenyan wilderness stretching for miles on end. It is no surprise that tourists from the world over travel here to experience a Masai Mara Safari tour, more so as the reserve has been voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Regarding the origin of the name, the word 'Masai' comes from the Maasai tribe, nomadic inhabitants of the area and the word 'Mara' is their word for 'spotted', referring to the ubiquitous flat topped acacia trees, shrubs and bushes that dot the landscape across most of the reserve.

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Masai Mara now also comprises a number of conservancies and group ranches bordering the main reserve and is home to some of the most diverse species of African wildlife and is also the site of the annual Wildebeest migration, simply known as the 'Great Migration'. Masai Mara National Park is famous for this migration, during which large herds of a million plus wildebeest, zebra and other wild animals including the "Big Cats" migrate north into the Mara from Serengeti National Park . This migration typically takes place between July to mid September and involves the wildebeest making dangerous crossings through crocodile-infested rivers. The 'Mara', as Masai Mara is also known, is among the best wildlife reserves not just in Kenya but also in Africa and the aim of this website, Masai Mara .Travel , is to offer comprehensive information to guide visitors and tourists in planning their visit or for booking a Safari in Masai Mara, suited to their preference. Travelers are expected to have numerous questions while planning their visit, everything from which is the best month to visit, to which is the better reserve, Serengeti or Masai Mara or even information on how to book a trip to this magnificent reserve. We aim to answer most if not all your questions through this platform.

In case you require any information, guidance or suggestions regarding a visit or to plan a Kenya Safari to Masai Mara, Africa's premium Game Reserve, do get in touch with us via email. We are also available on Chat or on Skype.

things to do in masai mara

There are several exciting activities one can enjoy in Masai Mara. The most thrilling of these has to be the Hot Air Balloon safari, taken at the break of dawn and ending with a leisurely 'Champagne Bush Breakfast'. This is a truly unique adventure activity and the Mara provides the perfect backdrop for the amazing balloon excursion. The flight lasts for about an hour as you glide gracefully over the African savannah watching the magnificent wildlife below. The pilots are highly experienced and the activity boasts of an exceptional safety record. Another popular experience is visiting a traditional tribal Maasai village which allows visitors a fascinating insight into the unique way of life of the famous Maasai, a nomadic warrior tribe found in Kenya and parts of East Africa. There are also nature walks, bush meals and sundowners as some of the other popular things to do in Masai Mara as a tourist visiting this reserve.

Photos & Videos

Animals in masai mara

The reserve has a magnificent collection of wildlife and it is quite possible to spot not just the 'Big Five' as often mentioned widely, but also infact the 'Big Nine', to include the Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Girrafe, Zebra, Cheetah and Hippo. It is quote possible that due to the nature and richness of flora and fauna in the national park, one can see all of the above animals not just in a single 2-3 hour game drive, but also with a little more luck, within an hour of your drive in the reserve. The section above lists photos and brief information on some of the amazing wildlife and animals that you will find in Masai Mara including a list of Birds commonly seen here. The game reserve is quite the animal kingdom and likely the very best place to see an amazing eco system of African wildlife in the wilderness.

Click on the link above to open the list of animals in Masai Mara . Here you will find information on the many species of mammals and birds naturally habitating in Maasai Mara Game Reserve free and unconfined even across the border into Serengeti National Park, spread over thousands of square miles. The Masai Mara National Reserve official website can be accessed from the Ministry of Tourism, Kenya Government or Narok County Government.