Maasai Mara Game Reserve: Introduction
The Maasai Mara National Reserve, located in southwestern Kenya, covers 1,510 km2 (583 miles2) of breathtaking landscapes and endless plains. This reserve offers excellent safari attractions thanks to a high concentration of wildlife year-round. It is most famous as the stage for the Great Migration, when over two million wildebeest, zebra, and other antelopes cross the land. A paradise for photographers and naturalists, the Mara hosts abundant elephant, buffalo, giraffe, lion, and cheetah. Furthermore, leopards are frequently sighted, endangered black rhinos hide in the dense thickets, and the Mara River is home to large pods of hippo and enormous crocodiles. The park also boasts over 450 bird species.
The Maasai Mara National Reserve and its neighbouring conservancies form Kenya’s flagship conservation area and one of the top safari destinations in Africa. Its wide-open plains provide a sanctuary for an abundance of animals like elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, hyena and the Mara’s famous big cats: lion, leopard and cheetah. And between about August and November every year, the Mara is a much-welcomed pit stop for unending masses of wildebeest that follow the rains on their death-defying, 2 900-kilometre (1 800-mile) circular journey.
Locate the Maasai Mara Game Reserve
How to get there & Best time to visit
How to get there
Flying is almost always the best option. A number of airlines like Safarilink and Air Kenya operate daily flights from Nairobi’s domestic terminal (Wilson) into the Mara. There are a number of different airstrips in the Mara, e.g. Ol Kiombo, Keekorok, or Mara North - which ones you fly into will depend on where in the reserve you are staying (or if you’re in a conservancy).
If you’re driving, Masai Mara National Reserve is 270km/168mi west of Nairobi. The road to the reserve is paved all the way from Nairobi to Sekenani Gate, and the driving time is about 4 to 5 hours*. If you’re driving to the northern end of the Mara (including to the Mara North and Mara Triangle conservancies), there’s an unpaved stretch of 70km/43mi soon after leaving Narok, although there are plans to seal the road.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Masai Mara National Reserve is during the Dry season from June to October. At this time, animals draw near to rivers and and vegetation is thinner, making wildlife easier to find and to see. During the rains (especially March, April, November and December), some driving tracks can be difficult to navigate. Your best chance to witness the spectacle of the is between July or August and October.