​Overview – Masai Mara NR

Anthony Ham
Expert
By Anthony Ham

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Masai Mara National Reserve is one of Africa’s most famous parks. The wildlife viewing is superb throughout the year. The grassy plains and regular rainfall support a huge population of herbivores, in turn attracting many predators. All three big cats are relatively easy to see. The yearly wildebeest migration coming through the park is one of the world’s most amazing wildlife spectacles.

Best Time To Go June to October (For general wildlife viewing) and September to October (For wildebeest migration)
High Season June to October and December to March
Size 1,510km² / 583mi²
Altitude 1,435-2,143m / 4,708-7,031ft

Pros & Cons

  • Excellent wildlife viewing throughout the year
  • Annual wildebeest migration (usually September and October)
  • Open savannah makes for easy wildlife spotting
  • Wide variety of accommodation for different budgets
  • Hot-air balloon safaris
  • The park gets busy, especially during high season
  • Access road is bad so a fly-in safari is recommended
  • Roads can be in terrible condition, especially after rain

Masai Mara NR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

The Wildebeest Migration

The Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is home to the annual wildebeest migration where 2.5 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelles follow the rains in search of new grass. They make their way from the Serengeti National Park (in northern Tanzania) to the Masai Mara somewhere around July and August, and usually arrive in September. The crossing of the Mara River along the way is one of the highlights of this spectacular event. They slowly head back into the Serengeti around October.

Wildlife

The Masai Mara is one of the best parks in Africa for seeing big cats. Even leopards are quite used to vehicles and you can see their natural behavior. Cheetahs inhabit the open savannah, hunting or eyeing off their next meal. Of the other Big Five, elephant and buffalo are also plentiful, but black rhino is trickier and they only roam in certain areas.

Scenery

Grassland savannah dominates the landscape in the Masai Mara, but pockets of acacia woodland, riparian forest and rocky hills intersperse the plains. The Maasai word 'Mara', meaning spotted, refers to these dots in the landscape.

Weather & Climate

The Masai Mara has a generally mild climate that doesn’t deviate too much from a comfortable 25°C/77°F in the region’s Dry season (June to October). Variations in temperature are mainly due to changes in altitude in the park, with conditions getting cooler the higher you climb. The Wet season (November to May) comprises a shorter and a longer rainy period that are broken up by a brief dry spell.

Best Time To Visit

The Dry season (June to October) is the best time to visit the Masai Mara. The roads haven’t yet deteriorated because of rain, and thirsty animals crowd around the local waterways. The last two months of the Dry season are often when the incredible annual wildebeest migration passes through. January and February, the interlude between the short and long rains of the Wet season, is also a good time.

Want To Visit Masai Mara NR?

Masai Mara NR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Gemma Pitcher  –  
Australia AU

Gemma authored several Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guides to Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.

Cheap, cheerful and ideal for first-timers
3/5

Plenty of travel writers and tour operators can be a bit snobby about the Masai Mara. It’s East Africa’s most popular and best-known park, with easy access from Nairobi and a plethora of cheap accommodation options. All this combines to...

Full Review

Latest User Review
Frank the Bärliner  –  
Germany DE
Reviewed: May 25, 2023
5/5

Nice Nature Reserve, but to many Lions!

Full Review