Masai Mara National Park

The Masai Mara is one of Africa’s most famous parks. The wildlife viewing is superb throughout the year. The grassy plains and regular rainfall supports a huge population of herbivores, in turn attracting many predators. All three big cats are relatively easy to see. The yearly wildebeest migration coming through the park is one of the world’s most amazing wildlife spectacles.

Pros & Cons

Excellent wildlife viewing throughout the year

Annual wildebeest migration (September and October)

Open savannah makes for easy wildlife spotting

Wide variety of accommodation for different budgets

Hot air balloon safaris

The park gets busy, especially during high season

Access road is bad so a fly-in is recommended

Roads can be in terrible condition, especially after rain

The Wildebeest Migration

The Masai Mara is Kenya’s flagship park. Sightings of four of the Big Five are pretty much guaranteed. Black rhino is more elusive, but can sometimes be spotted in the Mara Triangle. The reserve is one of the best for big cats, but sightings of smaller predators like bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal and spotted hyena also tend to be rewarding. Antelope include impala, reedbuck, Thomson's gazelle, eland and topi, while buffalo, elephant and giraffe are relaxed and easily spotted.

Wildlife Highlights

The legendary wildebeest migration is one of the world’s most amazing wildlife encounters. Sometime in July and August, millions of animals leave the Serengeti and head into the Masai Mara around September. The crossing of the Mara River along the way is the most spectacular part of the migration. Around October, the migration slowly heads back into the Serengeti again.

It should be noted that, although the pattern is well known, the exact timing of the migration is unpredictable as animals move with the rain looking for greener pastures.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife viewing in the Masai Mara is good throughout the year. The best months for the wildebeest migration are September and October. June to October is relatively dry, and offers the best general wildlife watching.

Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife viewing in the Masai Mara is generally very safe as long as you use common sense and listen to the advice given by your guide. Incidents are extremely rare. For more information, please read the 'Wildlife Viewing Safety Precautions' below.

Further advice on limiting dangers and annoyances when traveling:

• Wildlife Viewing Safety Precautions

• General Travel Safety Precautions

• Cities & Urban Areas: Safety Precautions

• Safety & Security – Kenya

• Malaria & Vaccinations – Kenya

The Masai Mara isn’t one of Kenya’s birding hotspots. However, with more than 500 bird species recorded, this isn’t a bad place to mark off a lot of Kenya’s savannah species from your bird list. The park is particularly rich in raptors with 57 species present. Bateleurs can often be seen soaring above the grassy plains and predator kills are a good place to find up to six species of vultures scavenging. Migratory birds are present from November to April.

Birding Specials–Treats for Avid Birders

(E) endemic = only lives in Kenya
(NE) near-endemic = also lives in neighboring countries

Best Time for Bird Watching

The Masai Mara offers good bird-watching any month of the year, but the best time is from November to April when the migrants from Europe and north Africa arrive. This coincides with the Wet season when many species can be seen in breeding plumage. June to October is the Dry season, and tends to be best for general wildlife viewing.

The best time to visit The Masai Mara is during the driest months, from late June to October. These are the best months for wildlife viewing because vegetation is thinner and animals gather around rivers and water holes. It does offer good wildlife viewing throughout the year, but the rainy months (March, April, November and December) make some of the roads difficult to navigate. The wildebeest migration and the river crossings in particular are difficult to time, but your best chance to witness this spectacle is in late September and October.

Best Time June to October is best for general wildlife viewing and September to October are best for the wildebeest migration (Dry season)

High Season June to October and December to March (It gets very crowded except in some remote areas)

Low Season April and May (Some roads might be in bad condition and rain can sometimes interfere with your trip)

Best Weather June to October (Days are sunny, but not too hot)

Worst Weather March and April (Peak of the Wet season)

June to October –Dry Season

Although rarely hot, it is sunny and dry
Animals gather around rivers and waterholes, making them easy to spot
September and October are best for seeing wildebeest crossing the Mara River
Most of the park gets very crowded and good sightings tend to attract a lot of vehicles

November to May –Wet Season

The park is less busy which makes wildlife viewing special
The skies are clear of dust, the park is green, and there are lots of flowers
Good time to see newborn animals
Low season rates apply in April and May
There are plenty of resident animals in the Mara, and wildlife viewing is still good
Bird watching is excellent and migratory birds are present
Rain in March, April and November will sometimes interfere with your planned activities, and roads can become tricky

Due to the altitude, the climate in the Masai Mara is slightly colder and wetter than might be expected this close to the equator. Daytime is pleasant with temperatures in the mid to upper twenties, while it cools off significantly at night.

Dry season–June to September

This is an enjoyable time to be in the park with lovely weather. Typically, there are sunny days and it’s rarely very hot. Don’t forget to pack winter clothing for early morning game drives.

June, July & August – It can still rain, but mostly it is sunny and dry. Afternoon temperatures reach an agreeable 25°C/77°F, but the cold can hang around in the evenings and early mornings when temperatures of around 12°C/54°F are common.
September & October – Still a dry time of the year, although rain is possible some days. Temperatures increase slightly in October and hover around 27°C/81°F (and higher), before they decrease with the beginning of the rain. Chilly early mornings persist (around 12°C/54°F).

Wet season–November to May

There are many overcast, cloudy days. Afternoon showers are the norm. Daytime temperatures don’t vary much. The nippy early mornings have temperatures around 13°C/55°F. Bring warm clothing.

November & December – ‘Short rains’: The rains normally break at some point in November. Average afternoon temperatures are around 27°C/81°F.
January & February – Rainfall eases between the short and long rains, although showers do still occur. The exact timing of this drier period is somewhat challenging to predict.
March, April & May – ‘Long rains’: April is the wettest month. It doesn’t often shower all day, but rainfall is regular. Tracks might become slippery and difficult to navigate. Early mornings are a bit warmer – average temperatures are about 13°C/55°F.

The Masai Mara is located 270km/167mi northwest of Nairobi. The road is notoriously bad and the driving time is about five hours. Most people fly to the park.

It is also possible to drive from Lake Nakuru NP. The distance is about 235km/150mi and the driving time is roughly six hours.

Getting to Nairobi is easy, as the city is a major African transport hub. International arrivals usually land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), 15km/9mi southeast of Nairobi. From Nairobi it’s easy to catch a domestic flight to Masai Mara.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner, or for multiple-destination flights check Expedia, to see which airlines can take you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), and what tickets would cost.

Domestic Flights

If you are on a package tour, you will probably find that charter flights you are taking between parks are booked by your tour operator. There are nine airstrips in and outside the park catering to the different lodges. Most domestic flights, including flights to the Masai Mara, leave from Wilson Airport (WIL), 6km/4mi south of Nairobi. Scheduled flights can be booked via several domestic carriers:

Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements

Please check our Getting There – Kenya page to learn more about passport, visa and other entry requirements

Safety

Masai Mara National Reserve is very safe to visit, in our opinion. Most people fly to the park, which is not only the most comfortable, but also the safest way to travel. Crime towards travelers is rare in Kenya’s wildlife areas. As is the case throughout the world, the crime that does occur mostly happens in cities. Normal safety precautions should be taken when passing urban centers on your trip (see ‘Cities & Other Urban Areas: Safety Precautions’ below). However, you’ll be shielded from any crime-related problems when on an organized tour.

Several vaccinations are needed before coming to Kenya. There is malaria in the Masai Mara and antimalarials are highly recommended. Using mosquito repellent containing DEET and covering up at dusk is also advisable to minimize the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes.

In our opinion, Kenya is generally safe to visit. The tourist industry is very established and visitors are very well looked after. Several governments have advised against traveling to some cities and remote border areas, but tour operators will only take you to places that are considered safe. For more info on these travel warnings, see the advisory links below. There is crime in big cities such as Nairobi and Mombasa, but most issues can be avoided by following basic safety precautions. More than a million tourists visit Kenya every year, and the vast majority of visits are trouble-free.

Below are tips on staying safe in Kenya.

Staying Safe on Wildlife Viewing Activities

Your safari guides will ensure your safety at all times – all you have to do is follow their instructions and always keep your distance from wild animals. When on a self-drive safari, only leave your car where it has been designated as safe to do so. For additional tips:

Other Tips on Staying Safe

Malaria & Vaccinations – Kenya

The information on this page is just a brief, general guide and should not be used in replacement of a consultation with your travel doctor.

Malaria

The information on this page is just a brief, general guide and should not be used in replacement of a consultation with your travel doctor.

Malaria Risk

High risk throughout the country except in high altitude areas over 2,000m including Nairobi, Nairobi NP, Laikipia plateau and Mt. Kenya. Most safari parks are high-risk zones. The highest risk of transition is during the rainy season from September to April.

Wildlife viewing is generally very safe in our opinion. A professional guide will ensure your safety on a guided safari. Self-drive safaris are safe as well, as long as you treat animals with respect and follow all park rules. It is extremely rare for incidents to occur. Below are some general safety guidelines and tips.

Always follow your guide’s instructions and guidelines
Always keep your voice down when close to animals
Stay in the car during game drives except at designated areas where you are allowed to get out
Don't stand up in the car, hang out of the window or sit on the roof
Don’t drive too close to animals if you are on a self-drive safari and back off if the animals seem disturbed
Don’t drive between elephants in a herd, especially females and their young
Stay together as a group close to your guide on a walking safari and always walk in single file
Never run or jog in a wildlife area as it entices predators to attack
Never walk between a hippo and water; it may panic and charge because its safety route to the water is blocked
Never leave food in your tent; it will attract wildlife
Cover your arms and legs in the evening and use insect repellent to protect against mosquitoes
Wear a hat, use sunscreen and drink plenty of water
Don't wear bright and colorful clothes or too much perfume – especially on walking safaris
In tsetse-fly areas it is recommended not to wear dark-colored clothing – such as black or dark blue – since it attracts these stinging flies
Bring warm clothes for morning game drives in open vehicles

African safaris are generally safe in our opinion. Especially if your visit is primarily an organized tour. Your tour operator and guide will ensure your safety at all times. Self-drive safaris are generally safe as well, but it is recommended to seek advice about the safety of the areas you intend to visit. Below are some general safety tips:

Buy good travel and health insurance
Check the passport and visa requirements for your destination
Get all the required vaccinations, antimalarial medication and insect repellent (those containing DEET are most effective)
Lock all your travel bags and keep all valuables in your hand luggage
Make duplicates of important travel documents or keep copies online
Bring appropriate clothing to protect against the sun, mosquitoes and to stay warm on open vehicle game drives
Check luggage restrictions on all your flights (including domestic flights)
Don't drive at night
Put your valuables in the safety deposit box of the hotel
Always be polite and respectful to police officers and military personnel. In the rare instance that you might get asked for a bribe (on a self-drive safari only), a light attitude and a joke might well get you off the hook.

Travel in Africa is generally safe in our opinion. Especially if on an organized tour or safari. However, as is the case all over the world, there is an increased risk of crime in large cities and urban areas. Visitors on guided activities are mostly shielded from these risks and their guide will ensure their safety. When unguided, normal safety precautions and common sense should keep you safe. Below are some general tips:

Ask at your hotel if it is safe to walk around the local area; when new in a place it’s always good to seek local advice on safety issues
Don’t wear jewelry when walking in cities and leave all valuables in a safety deposit box at your hotel
Avoid walking alone in a large, unfamiliar city
Don’t walk around at night; take a taxi
Avoid getting engaged with people approaching you in the street
Be careful when drawing money from an ATM; go elsewhere if you suspect people hanging around
Always lock your car doors and close windows when driving in busy towns
Never leave a car unattended with valuables or luggage visible