Masai Mara National Reserve

Kenya

Masai Mara National Reserve

The Masai Mara, the most famous of Kenya’s game reserves, has been called “the most magnificent wildlife theatre in the world”, and with good reason. Part of the same eco-system as the Serengeti, the Masai Mara hosts with it that great natural spectacle, the annual wildebeest migration.

Exhilarating, exciting, revelatory yet meticulously planned trip to Uganda and Kenya that we will never forget
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The Masai Mara is Africa's original big game park, and it remains one of the most exciting. The reserve in south-western Kenya adjoins Tanzania’s Serengeti, their borders separated by the Mara River, a border which of course means little to the wildlife which roams freely between the two territories.

Like the Serengeti, the Masai Mara is a region comprised mostly of acacia-studded grasslands interspersed by woodland - perfect terrain for game-viewing. The Mara and Talek Rivers are the lifeblood of the park and attract a diversity of wildlife even during the dry months.

The Masai Mara is most famous for its annual migration, which sees almost 1 and a half million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle migrate northwards around July of each year in search of fresh pasture in what is considered one of nature's greatest spectacles. Predators, including lion and cheetah, follow in hot pursuit. In October, the animals begin their return south to the Serengeti.

Of course, the Masai Mara is much more than the Great Migration, and whether you visit in time to witness the famous river crossings or not, you're guaranteed to see a stunning array of wildlife.

In and around the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Game drives, walking safaris and fly-camping are offered by most camps and lodges in the Masai Mara. Hot air ballooning is also possible. Opportunities to learn more about Masai culture are also available at many camps, whether through village visits or in guided activities led by Masai guides.

The migration is a stunning spectacle, and for those visiting the Mara at the right time of year it is almost always worth the effort to include one full-day game drive to the Mara River to see the famous river crossings. That said, the migration naturally attracts many safari-goers, and those seeking peaceful game-viewing may prefer to avoid the congregation of vehicles that pursues the migratory herds each year as readily as the preying lion and cheetah.

Where you stay in the Mara will dictate the activities and game-viewing opportunities available to you. The core national reserve receives the most vehicle traffic, particularly during the peak migration season, whereas the surrounding conservancies are generally much quieter and offer some of the best private camps, with fantastic game-viewing and guiding. However, many of the remoter camps are too far to comfortably access the Mara River area during migration season. For this reason, it is often sensible to split your time between 2 camps.

The Masai Mara combines well with a trip to the Rift Valley Lakes and/or Samburu National Park. For those with less time, fly-in safaris are possible, but we recommend a stay of at least 3 nights to really explore the region.

A few days relaxation on Lamu, Pemba or Zanzibar makes a wonderful finale to any safari in the Masai Mara.

Featured itineraries

Discover Kenya Family Activity Safari

‘Discover Kenya’ is an adventurous alternative to a traditional driven safari, offering families a chance to escape the beaten path and explore on foot, by bike and by 4x4 the best that Kenya has to offer. Designed for holiday fun and not as a challenge, the 7-day itinerary is suitable for active families with children aged 10 and over, and can also be adapted to suit small groups and couples.

Destination

Kenya

Experience

Family Travel
Biking Holidays
Safari and Wildlife Holidays

Prices from £2190 pp

Masai Mara Sleepout

This 4-night Masai Mara Sleepout offers you the ultimate romantic getaway. Spend a night in Serian Safari’s most intimate property, the Nest, a unique tree house with room for just two guests. This is a chance to experience the Masai Mara in quiet isolation – to completely immerse yourself in the serenity of the African bush.

Experience

Honeymoons and Weddings
Safari and Wildlife Holidays

Prices from £3390 pp

Rift Valley Lakes and Maasai Mara Eco-tour

A short, low-cost safari visiting Kenya's Maasai Mara and Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha, perfect as a standalone trip or as an extension to one of our Mount Kenya climbs.

Destination

Kenya

Experience

Family Travel
Safari and Wildlife Holidays
Safari and Wildlife Holidays

Prices from £1660 pp

The Great Migration Fly-in Safari

This 8-day private safari is designed to get you as close to the Great Migration as possible, from both the Kenyan and Tanzanian sides of the border! Starting in the Mara, you’ll stay at the classic Bateleur Camp, before flying south to the Serengeti for 2 nights bush camping at the fabulous Serengeti Under Canvas, a luxury mobile camp that moves in conjunction with the migratory herds. A 2-night stay on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater follows.

Destination

Tanzania
Kenya

Experience

Honeymoons and Weddings
Safari and Wildlife Holidays

Prices from £11780 pp

Kenyan Odyssey

Starting in Nairobi and ending on the shores of the Indian Ocean, this small group safari visits three diverse wilderness areas of Kenya: the lakes of the Great Rift Valley; the open plains of the Mara; and the undulating hills of Tsavo. This is a scheduled group safari accommodating 2-7 passengers and beginning in Nairobi every Sunday.

Destination

Kenya

Experience

Safari and Wildlife Holidays
Group Travel

Prices from £1538 pp

Kenya Safari and Beach (Kicheche Combo)

Discover two of Kenya's finest wilderness regions, the Masai Mara and Laikipia, followed by three nights on the coast at Diani on this luxury but affordable safari and beach combination itinerary. During the 10-night itinerary, you'll spend three nights each at Kicheche Laikipia and Kicheche Mara, followed by 3 nights at Waterlovers Beach Resort, Diani. (The banner image is used with the kind permission of Mike Hewison, who travelled with us to Kenya in 2024.)

Destination

Kenya

Experience

Beach Holidays
Safari and Wildlife Holidays
Honeymoons and Weddings

Prices from £4990 pp