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This famous park – a northern extension of Tanzania’s Serengeti – is responsible for perhaps more images of African animals than any other. And with good reason: it is chock-full of wildlife, and blessed with open terrain that makes game viewing easy. From July or August to October the park plays host to the northern leg of the famous Serengeti wildebeest migration (not forgetting the countless zebra and other herbivores that accompany them), which many consider to be the world’s greatest wildlife spectacle. There are also few better places in Africa to seek out all three big cat species in a single day. The downside of this popularity, argue purists, is high tourist numbers – and this is certainly Kenya’s number one destination for package safaris. But don’t let that deter you – especially if you are a safari first-timer. Certainly I saw a lot of minibuses crossing the plains during my one visit, but I also saw wall-to-wall herds, watched both lion and cheetah hunting,
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and enjoyed the unexpected bonus of a rare black rhino and calf. You can escape the hordes at more exclusive camps situated in the westerly Mara Triangle or on various private concessions that lie outside the reserve’s northern boundary. Activities such as night drives and walking safaris are also available in these concessions. One warning: Mara River crossings do not happen with the punctuality that some TV documentaries might suggest, so count yourself lucky if you’re in the right place at the right time. Birders can expect rich pickings, especially in the riverine forest patches.
Big Cat Heaven
No wonder Disney chose to film ‘African Cats’ in the Mara. This is Kenya’s finest big game reserve, 5,000ft above sea level and home to all kinds of animals, from 6-tonne elephants to tiny dik-diks. Cheetahs patrol its open grasslands and leopards haunt the shady forests beside the Mara and Talek Rivers. But for me this will always be the land of the lion. I’ve been coming here since 1974 and the magic never fails. From the Siria escarpment to the Ngama Hills you’ll find a score of prides, including the descendants of the Marsh Pride of ‘Big Cat Diary’ fame, which still live in the vicinity of Musiara Marsh. This is also usually the first part of the Mara to welcome the arrival of the Serengeti wildebeest migration – the greatest wildlife show on earth. July through October is the time to see it. Particularly beautiful is the Mara Triangle with its Balanites woodlands and flat-topped inselbergs looking down into the Serengeti. A balloon safari from Little Governors’ Camp
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will show you the best of it. The only downside to the Mara is its popularity. With so many camps and so many vehicles, the tipping point is not far off. So my advice is to stay in the private wildlife conservancies in the migration dispersal area outside the reserve, where tourist numbers are strictly limited.East Africa at Its Best
Nowhere else sums up the East African dream like the Masai Mara. Always the best place in Kenya to see huge herds of grazers and a seemingly endless procession of carnivores big and small, the Masai Mara is the one place in East Africa I could return to again and again and never get jaded or bored. Fantastic at any time, visiting the Mara during the annual wildebeest migration (roughly July to October), though, is to witness one of the undisputed wildlife wonders of the world.
Of course there are some downsides. The Mara is the one protected area in Kenya that everyone wants to visit and the easiest way to find a lion is often to look for a group of minibuses. The park has a long history of mismanagement (it’s a national reserve rather than a national park, which means it’s governed by the local council rather than the national government) and has long been in serious danger of being overdeveloped (some would say this has already happened) with few enforced rules on lodge
But, even with these negatives there is simply no other Kenyan park that comes close to matching the Mara and if the reserve itself weren’t good enough on its own then in the last few years things have got even better with the establishment of a number of private and community conservancies bordering the reserve. Visiting these conservancies can be very expensive (you have to be a guest of one of the very upmarket lodges to enter conservancy lands), but if you can afford it then these are the ultimate in safari indulgences. Each conservancy will have only a handful of other guests at any one time (several times I have been the only tourist present in a conservancy!), meaning there’s none of the minibus circus common in the reserve itself. The animal populations in the conservancies are phenomenal and increasing, as more and more animals leave the reserve itself and head to the peace and quiet of the conservancies. Best of all, by and large most local Maasai, who feel they are finally gaining from the presence of wildlife and tourists on ‘their’ land, are fully supportive of the conservancies.
The conservancies have other advantages as well over the reserve itself. Walking safaris and fly-camping are allowed in all of them as is, in most cases, a certain amount of respectful off-road driving, and vehicle numbers around any given sighting are strictly limited. All up these conservancies might well offer the best safari experience on the continent.
At the end of the day though, whether it’s the reserve itself or one of the conservancies, there is no other place in East Africa I would rather be.
Of course there are some downsides. The Mara is the one protected area in Kenya that everyone wants to visit and the easiest way to find a lion is often to look for a group of minibuses. The park has a long history of mismanagement (it’s a national reserve rather than a national park, which means it’s governed by the local council rather than the national government) and has long been in serious danger of being overdeveloped (some would say this has already happened) with few enforced rules on lodge
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development. Fortunately, in recent years, new laws and regulations have come in, the park management has been overhauled and there are growing signs that the bad old days might be behind it and, I desperately hope, a bright, wildebeest-filled future awaits!But, even with these negatives there is simply no other Kenyan park that comes close to matching the Mara and if the reserve itself weren’t good enough on its own then in the last few years things have got even better with the establishment of a number of private and community conservancies bordering the reserve. Visiting these conservancies can be very expensive (you have to be a guest of one of the very upmarket lodges to enter conservancy lands), but if you can afford it then these are the ultimate in safari indulgences. Each conservancy will have only a handful of other guests at any one time (several times I have been the only tourist present in a conservancy!), meaning there’s none of the minibus circus common in the reserve itself. The animal populations in the conservancies are phenomenal and increasing, as more and more animals leave the reserve itself and head to the peace and quiet of the conservancies. Best of all, by and large most local Maasai, who feel they are finally gaining from the presence of wildlife and tourists on ‘their’ land, are fully supportive of the conservancies.
The conservancies have other advantages as well over the reserve itself. Walking safaris and fly-camping are allowed in all of them as is, in most cases, a certain amount of respectful off-road driving, and vehicle numbers around any given sighting are strictly limited. All up these conservancies might well offer the best safari experience on the continent.
At the end of the day though, whether it’s the reserve itself or one of the conservancies, there is no other place in East Africa I would rather be.
A Wildlife Utopia Brings Out the Worst in Tourism
Famed the world over for its magnificent wildlife, and site of the annual Great Migration, I had been looking forward for a long time to a safari in the Masai Mara. Massive numbers of grazers and browsers here support a huge population of predators and most visitors will have a wildlife sighting here that leaves them squealing in delight.
The magnificent landscape did not disappoint – rolling grasslands and open savannah on an epic scale. Afternoon thunderstorms rolled over the Mara horizon and over the savannah when I was there in June – the light constantly dueled with the shadows as murky clouds covered pale blue skies.
Doing a safari here, however, is a challenge. Safari company vehicles en masse illegally cross the landscape (off the official tracks) and race to the next big sighting (a big cat or rhino), and then surround the distressed animal.
The safety and wellbeing of the animals has been reduced to a thoughtless trade-off in which the
My advice is to talk to your driver/guide before entry into the reserve and make sure they are aware that you want no part of this behavior. That is the best way to experience the magnificent wildlife of this very special place, just cruising quietly through the grassy savannah – and who knows what you’ll come across and have all to yourself instead.
The magnificent landscape did not disappoint – rolling grasslands and open savannah on an epic scale. Afternoon thunderstorms rolled over the Mara horizon and over the savannah when I was there in June – the light constantly dueled with the shadows as murky clouds covered pale blue skies.
Doing a safari here, however, is a challenge. Safari company vehicles en masse illegally cross the landscape (off the official tracks) and race to the next big sighting (a big cat or rhino), and then surround the distressed animal.
The safety and wellbeing of the animals has been reduced to a thoughtless trade-off in which the
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only thing that matters is getting the client into the best position for a photo. You’ll probably find that the thrill of seeing a pride of lions, for example, or a cheetah with its young is somewhat curtailed by dozens of vehicles all jockeying for the best position.My advice is to talk to your driver/guide before entry into the reserve and make sure they are aware that you want no part of this behavior. That is the best way to experience the magnificent wildlife of this very special place, just cruising quietly through the grassy savannah – and who knows what you’ll come across and have all to yourself instead.
‘Big Cat Diary’ Made Flesh
The Masai Mara is where the BBC’s ‘Big Cat Diary’ was filmed, and unsurprisingly it ranks as one of the finest reserves anywhere in Africa for big cat sightings. Above all, I associate it with lions: I’ve often encountered four or five prides in the space of a day here, and it is one of the few places where I’ve regularly seen prides of 20 or more individuals, and enjoyed the spectacle of these heavyweight cats mating. I’ve also yet to go more than a couple of days in the Mara without seeing leopard or cheetah, while other predators, notably jackals and hyenas, are also common. Other great things about the Mara include the spectacular wildebeest migration, which usually crosses into the reserve from Tanzania from July or August to October, the opportunity to see wildlife from a hot-air balloon, and the scenery in the westerly ‘Mara Triangle’, which lies below the Oloololo Escarpment (part of the Rift Valley Wall). It is worth noting that parts of the Mara can become very
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crowded, especially during the migration season, so I always try to stick to the less crowded western part of the reserve, or – better still – one of the restricted-access private Maasai conservancies that border it.The Legendary Masai Mara
Legendary Masai Mara is the most visited wildlife reserve in Kenya and it’s easy to see why. This 1,510 square km park supports a huge and diverse animal population and is one of the only places in the world where it is still possible to see vast herds of grazing animals.
Attracted by the abundant wildebeest, antelope, buffalo and zebra are the predators. There are more lions here than anywhere else in the country, and leopard, cheetah, jackal and hyena also wander the grasslands. Far-reaching views across open plains ensure that wildlife is almost never out of sight and it’s not unusual to see a dozen different species at the same time – all good news for Big Five enthusiasts!
If at all possible, visit around August or September for the great migration. On my most recent visit we watched swarms of wildebeest thunder across the river on their way to greener pastures, with a few unfortunate souls trampled under foot, or picked off by a predator along the way
Staggering wildlife viewing does come at a price and it’s not uncommon to see hordes of vehicles surrounding a pride of lions, but if you (or your guide) look hard enough it’s possible to find your own little piece of wilderness.
Attracted by the abundant wildebeest, antelope, buffalo and zebra are the predators. There are more lions here than anywhere else in the country, and leopard, cheetah, jackal and hyena also wander the grasslands. Far-reaching views across open plains ensure that wildlife is almost never out of sight and it’s not unusual to see a dozen different species at the same time – all good news for Big Five enthusiasts!
If at all possible, visit around August or September for the great migration. On my most recent visit we watched swarms of wildebeest thunder across the river on their way to greener pastures, with a few unfortunate souls trampled under foot, or picked off by a predator along the way
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– an unforgettable experience.Staggering wildlife viewing does come at a price and it’s not uncommon to see hordes of vehicles surrounding a pride of lions, but if you (or your guide) look hard enough it’s possible to find your own little piece of wilderness.
Quintessential Kenyan Safari Destination, Whatever the Season
Grasslands dotted with graceful acacias, hundreds of big cats and enough natural drama to keep wildlife documentary filmmakers busy year after year – the Masai Mara has it all. It also has some highly alluring and charismatic places to stay, perfect for a classic guided or self-drive safari.
If you only have the chance to visit the Masai Mara once, then it’s well worth visiting during migration season – the sight and sound of hundreds of wildebeest and zebra on the move and of predators weighing up their chances is something you’ll never forget. However, this is a park that delivers superb wildlife watching at any time of year. There’s enough grass to support huge numbers of grazing animals and their predators.
The Masai Mara will always be an extremely special place to me, as it was here that I had my first ever taste of a “proper” safari – and highly enjoyable it was, too.
Big Cat Country Par Excellence
Where else can you be following a lioness and her three cubs towards their hideout and at the same instant see a pair of cheetahs sitting high on their termite hill lookout? The Masai Mara has everything within an incredibly short distance – it has been called the prime wildlife real estate on earth, and I think that is not unreasonable. We even had the classic Mara scenario of having a cheetah use our Landrover roof as a lookout and I saw a full-scale battle here over a kill between a pride of lions and a group of about 30 hyenas! I have visited the Mara on several occasions (both at camps inside the park and at concessions on Maasai land on the fringes – where walking safaris and ‘controlled’ night-drives are possible). I have never been lucky enough to coincide my visit with the migration, however (although I did see it in the neighbouring Serengeti). One day I will be back!