Kenya · Southern rift
Rolling grassland cut by the Mara and Talek rivers, and a concentration of lion, cheetah and leopard that few places in Africa match. Compact enough for a short trip, rich enough to keep photographers returning.
The destination
The Maasai Mara National Reserve covers about 1,510 square kilometres in south-western Kenya, bordered by a ring of community-owned conservancies that roughly doubles the protected area. Grassland dominates, broken by riverine forest, low hills in the west and the Mara River running through the middle of it.
Predator density is the reason most travellers come. Prides here are large and habituated to vehicles, cheetah hunt on the open plains where visibility is excellent, and leopard live along the wooded river courses. Elephant, buffalo, giraffe, topi and eland are resident year-round, so game viewing does not depend on the migration.
From roughly July to October wildebeest and zebra cross north from the Serengeti, and the Mara River crossings become possible. They are unpredictable — herds can wait at the bank for hours or days — so we plan camps that let you be patient rather than chase reports.
The conservancies matter as much as the reserve. They cap vehicle numbers, allow night drives and guided walks that the reserve does not, and pay leases directly to Maasai landowners. For a quieter, more private experience, staying in a conservancy and driving into the reserve for a day usually gives the best of both.
Maasai Mara at a glance
Journeys
Explore 27 catalogue trips that include Maasai Mara. Ask us about dates and the best fit for your group.
3 days · Kenya
Maasai Mara · Nairobi
Explore Maasai Mara on this 3-day wildlife journey. Tell us your travel dates and group size for a quotation and a detailed programme tailored to your plans.
Budget safari
From USD 420 (Jan-Jun) / USD 620 (Jul-Dec)
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3 days · Kenya
Maasai Mara · Nairobi
Explore Maasai Mara on this 3-day wildlife journey. Tell us your travel dates and group size for a quotation and a detailed programme tailored to your plans.
Wildlife safari
From USD 420 (Jan-Jun) / USD 620 (Jul-Dec)
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4 days · Kenya
Maasai Mara · Nairobi · Lake Nakuru
Explore Maasai Mara on this 4-day wildlife journey. Tell us your travel dates and group size for a quotation and a detailed programme tailored to your plans.
Wildlife safari
From USD 580-590 (Jan-Jun) / USD 780-790 (Jul-Dec)
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4 days · Kenya
Maasai Mara · Nairobi
Explore Maasai Mara on this 4-day wildlife journey. Tell us your travel dates and group size for a quotation and a detailed programme tailored to your plans.
Wildlife safari
From USD 570 (Jan-Jun) / USD 850 (Jul-Dec)
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5 days · Kenya
Maasai Mara · Lake Nakuru · Aberdare · Nairobi
Explore Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Aberdare on this 5-day wildlife journey. Tell us your travel dates and group size for a quotation and a detailed programme tailored to your plans.
Wildlife safari
From On Request
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5 days · Kenya
Maasai Mara · Lake Nakuru · Lake Naivasha · Nairobi · Hell’s Gate
Explore Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha on this 5-day wildlife journey. Tell us your travel dates and group size for a quotation and a detailed programme tailored to your plans.
Wildlife safari
From USD 690 (Jan-Jun) / USD 890 (Jul-Dec)
Explore journeySafari journeys shown for design purposes.Browse all safaris
Timing
The Mara is open all year and resident wildlife stays put. What changes is the grass height, the crowds and whether the migration herds are north of the border.
Jan – Mar
Short grass after the rains, plenty of newborn plains game and fewer vehicles. Strong big-cat viewing without migration crowds.
Apr – May
The greenest and quietest months, with lower rates. Afternoon storms are common and some tracks are heavy going.
Jul – Oct
Herds cross from the Serengeti and river crossings become possible. The busiest and most expensive period — book early.
Nov – Dec
Brief showers, dramatic skies and good value. The migration drifts back towards Tanzania through November.
Seasonal guidance only — migration timing follows rainfall and shifts every year.
Key areas
Reserve or conservancy, river or plains — the choice shapes how busy your days feel and what you can do.
The western third of the reserve, managed separately and generally the best-run and least congested. Good road network, classic river crossing points and the Oloololo escarpment as a backdrop.
The busiest and most accessible part, with a wide choice of camps and excellent big-cat density. Best in the shoulder months when vehicle numbers drop.
Mara North, Olare Motorogi, Naboisho and their neighbours limit vehicles per sighting and allow night drives and walking safaris. Quieter, more expensive, and often the highlight of a trip.
Rolling country outside the reserve boundary, useful for shorter road-based trips and often good value while staying close to the main gates.
Wildlife and experience
Large, well-known prides that can be followed across several days with the same guide.
Open short-grass country gives some of the best cheetah viewing anywhere in Africa.
A dawn flight over the plains, usually followed by breakfast set out in the bush.
Herds massed on the riverbank in season — patient waiting rather than a scheduled event.
Permitted in the conservancies, with an armed Maasai guide and a very different pace.
Coffee at first light, then breakfast laid out under a tree once the morning drive is done.
Nearby
Before you travel
Plan your Maasai Mara safari
Tell us when you want to travel and how you like to travel. We'll recommend the right camps, conservancies and length of stay.
