Maasai Mara

The Maasai Mara is the northern extension of the Serengeti ecosystem: a sweep of rolling grassland, acacia-dotted hills and riverine forest along the Mara and Talek rivers. The national reserve covers roughly 1,500 square kilometers (about 580 square miles), and its open terrain, abundant prey and year-round water make it one of Africa's great big-cat destinations.

The migration in the Mara

From about July to October, the Great Migration typically moves north from Tanzania into the Mara. The herds spread across the plains in their hundreds of thousands, and the crossings of the Mara River, sometimes several in a day, sometimes none for days, are among the most dramatic sights in nature. Timing is never guaranteed, because the herds follow the rain, but patience and a skilled guide improve your odds enormously.

The conservancies

Around the national reserve, community conservancies such as Mara North, Olare Motorogi and Naboisho are leased from Maasai landowners, who earn income directly from tourism. Vehicle numbers are strictly limited, and guided walks and night drives, which aren't allowed in the reserve, reveal a different side of the bush. Many guides here are Maasai who grew up on this land and know it intimately.

A year-round reserve

Even without the migration, the Mara is outstanding. Resident lions, cheetahs and leopards stay all year, as do elephants, giraffes, buffalo, topi and hippos. Sunrise balloon flights, bush breakfasts and visits to Maasai communities arranged through the conservancies make the days even richer.

How we plan the Mara

We usually recommend three or four nights, often split between the reserve, for the river crossings in season, and a conservancy, for exclusivity and walking. Our Kenya Safari Adventure and Gorillas & the Great Migration journeys both feature the Mara, and either can be tailored around your dates.