The Masai Mara is Kenya's most famous reserve and the northern end of the Serengeti ecosystem. Its rolling grasslands are home to some of the highest numbers of lions, leopards and cheetahs in Africa, and wildlife is easy to see all year.
From about July to October, more than a million wildebeest and zebra arrive from Tanzania. The crossings of the Mara River, with crocodiles waiting below, are one of the great wildlife spectacles on earth.
What you'll do in Masai Mara National Reserve
- Morning and afternoon game drives in a pop-up roof 4x4
- Full-day drives with a picnic lunch by the Mara River
- Sunrise hot-air balloon flight followed by a bush breakfast (optional)
- Visit a Maasai village to learn about their culture and homes
- Guided walks and night drives in the private conservancies
What to expect
- Lions, cheetahs and leopards on most trips, plus elephant, buffalo, giraffe and hippo
- Wildebeest river crossings from July to October, though timing is never guaranteed
- Dusty or muddy roads, depending on the season, and early starts for the best sightings
- Comfortable tented camps and lodges, from simple to very luxurious
