The Masai Mara is situated in south-west Kenya and is one of Africa’s Greatest Wildlife Reserves. Together with the Serengeti National Park, in Tanzania it forms Africa’s most diverse, incredible and most spectacular eco-systems and possibly the world’s top safari big game viewing eco-system.
It’s about 270 km from the capital.
A Masai Mara safari is an unmissable highlight of any holiday in Kenya. There are breathtaking panoramas in every direction, a vast range of wildlife including the Big Five and a rich cultural heritage to explore. Kenya’s Masai Mara is without doubt one of the greatest safari destinations in Africa.
Between July and October things get busy in the Great Rift Valley. Millions of zebra and wildebeest make the perilous crossing across the Masai Mara in search of new grazing territory. And in their wake comes a veritable horde of predators including lion and leopard. These animals cross the crocodile-packed Mara River; most make it across while the unfortunate ones are feasted on by the hungry crocodiles.
The climate in the Masai Mara is mild and pleasant year-round, with cool nights and warm days. During the dry season, the skies are almost always sunny. Even during the period of the “short rains” (October to December), you can still expect lots of sun. Luckily, it never gets too hot because of its high elevation. Even on the hottest of days, there’s always a pleasant breeze.
The largest concentration of lions in the world can be found in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy. No safari is complete without a lion sighting, and travelers to the Mara are never disappointed. Television crews that want to capture unique lion behavior often pick the Mara for their films.
The BBC has returned to the Mara countless times to capture its charismatic big cats and other predators like hyena. Among the famous documentaries made here are Planet Earth and the Big Cat Diaries. The Masai Mara has many lion, cheetah and leopards, making for exciting game viewing. The Masai Mara is also home to large hyena clans, numbering over a hundred individuals.
The Masai Mara has a long safari season, with good to excellent weather conditions for ten out of twelve months. For game viewing, the weather is best during the dry season, which starts in July and continues until end October.
Though it is sometimes referred to as annual event, the Great Migration is actually a fluid and continuous, year-long journey of animals migrating through Tanzania and Kenya. In total, this circuit spans some 1,200 miles. Yes, dramatic river crossings are part of the migration, but they are only a small part of a far more complex chain of events that play out from season to season across two different countries. These events include mating rituals, calving and the shifting fortunes of the herd, all of which are influenced by the subtle changes in rainfall that occur year over year.
The Maasai are one of the most charismatic, friendly and open people you will meet. Their culture remains one of the best preserved on the African continent, and their incredible fashion sense is world famous. The Maasai straddle two worlds – their traditional pastoral ways, and technological progress coupled with conservation awareness. They are the custodians of the East African savannahs, and their image is associated with grassroots wildlife conservation.