Masai Mara

About Masai Mara

Located in the south-west of Kenya bordering Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, the Masai Mara is a justifiably world-renowned game reserve famed for its big cats and as a stage for one of the planet’s greatest wildlife spectacles; the annual wildebeest migration.

The Mara is a haven for large numbers of animals and a quite staggering variety of species including Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles, topi, eland, impala, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, elephants, and black rhinos. This is your chance to see prides of lions and cheetahs hunting on the open plains and leopards stalking in the forests, as Masai Mara safaris are known to consistently deliver fantastic sightings of these big cats. 

The Masai Mara the perfect place to experience the great migration Every year between July and October, vast herds of migrating wildebeest, along with hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelles, arrive from the Serengeti to feed on the Masai Mara’s grass plains. The exact timings of this natural phenomenon are dependent on rainfall and grass growth, but one thing is for sure: if your visit to the Mara coincides with the migration you will have a truly spectacular safari with huge numbers of animals grazing on the plains and plenty of predator action. The very fortunate may also witness the herds braving a crossing of the Mara River, where crocodiles wait patiently for their prey.

There is a wide range of accommodation including the famous and long-established Governors’ Camp, which has an enviable position on the Mara River and Naibor Camp; located in the heart of the action, close to the confluence of the Mara and Talek Rivers. Bordering the main reserve are conservancies where you can enjoy your game viewing without the crowds, to truly immerse yourself in the Masai Mara landscape and exclusive safari experiences. In these areas, bush walks and night drives are also possible – activities which are not permitted in the main reserve. Elephant Pepper Camp and Kicheche Bush Camp offer an authentic tented camp experience, while Cottar’s 1920s Camp provides colonial-style luxury in their own private corner of the Mara.

For more information, why not speak to one of our experts on +44 (0) 20 7843 3500 or email info@africatravel.co.uk

Wildlife

African elephants can currently be found in 37 African countries

The wildebeest weighs between 300 and 600 pounds

Lions spend 16-20 hours of the day sleeping or resting

Leopards can see seven times better in the dark than humans

At birth, baby rhinos weigh between 88-140 pounds

The pattern of a zebra's stripes are unique to each individual zebra