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    Masai Mara National Reserve
    Volodymyr Burdiak / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Kenya

    Masai Mara National Reserve

    Point of Interest

    The Masai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya is the country's most renowned wildlife sanctuary and the northern continuation of the Serengeti.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Kenya
    7. Masai Mara
    9. Masai Mara National Reserve
    The Masai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya is the country's most renowned wildlife sanctuary and the northern continuation of the Serengeti. Grassy savannas, acacias, and the Mara River form the backdrop for the Great Migration, as large herds of wildebeest and zebras arrive from Tanzania starting in July.Even outside the Migration, many animals remain year-round by the river and in the swamps. The Reserve is managed by Narok County, not the Kenya Wildlife Service.

    Sights in Masai Mara National Reserve

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Lookout Hill
    Attraction

    1Lookout Hill

    Viewpoint hill in the reserve's south, overlooking the Mara River. From here, multiple migration crossings can be observed simultaneously, as herds move north after crossing the border from Tanzania.
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    Purungat Bridge
    Point of Interest

    2Purungat Bridge

    The bridge over the Mara River is one of the two access points to the Mara Triangle. Nearby are well-known river crossings, often quieter in the mornings.
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    3Oloololo Gate and Oloololo Escarpment

    The gate at the foot of the 400-meter-high Oloololo Escarpment is the northwestern access to the Mara Triangle. The escarpment forms its western border and overlooks the plains by the Mara River.
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    Balloon Safari (Governors' Balloon Safaris)
    Point of Interest

    4Balloon Safari (Governors' Balloon Safaris)

    Balloon rides over the Mara start at dawn and end with a champagne bush breakfast. Depending on the operator and launch point, prices are several hundred US dollars per person; book early.
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    Restaurants in Masai Mara National Reserve

    Landscapes & Regions

    Mara TriangleThe western part of the reserve is situated between the Mara River to the east, the approximately 400-meter-high Oloololo Escarpment to the west, and the Tanzanian border to the south. Access points include the Oloololo Gate and the Purungat Bridge over the Mara River.The North around MusiaraTo the north, gallery forest, marshland, and grassland characterize the area around Musiara Marsh, home to the Governors' Camp, founded in 1972. The diverse habitats allow for sightings of many different bird species during a drive.River CrossingsWell-known crossings include Paradise Crossing in the central part, Lookout Hill in the south, and the confluence of the Talek and Mara rivers. In the Narok Sector, the numbered Crossing Points 1 to 4 attract the most vehicles. There is no guarantee of a crossing at any bank.

    Visit & Practicalities

    Fees 2026Adult non-residents pay US$200 per day from July to December, and US$100 from January to June (as of October 2026, Narok County).Children aged 9 to 17 pay US$50; younger children are free. A ticket is valid for 12 hours.Fees go to Narok County, not KWS; your camp or operator usually handles billing. Check rates before travel, as they have changed multiple times.Best Time and Game DriveThe migration usually peaks between mid-July and September; river crossings are most frequent in July and August.During the long rains in April and May, many tracks are muddy.The reserve is open from 6 AM to 6 PM; game drives usually start early in the morning.Balloon safaris start at dawn and conclude with a champagne bush breakfast.Getting ThereLight aircraft from Safarilink and Airkenya fly from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to the Mara's airstrips in 45 to 60 minutes. By road via Narok, the journey takes five to seven hours.

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    Nearby

    Masai Mara

    Masai Mara

    The Maasai Mara, in southwest Kenya, about 300 road kilometers from Nairobi, is the country's most famous safari area. Open grass savanna, the Mara River, and vast animal herds define this region, seamlessly extending south into Tanzania's Serengeti.From July to October, the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras moves through, with their river crossings being among Africa's most breathtaking wildlife spectacles. Surrounding the state-run reserve are private conservancies on Maasai land, offering walking safaris and night game drives.

    The Mara Conservancies are private protected areas on Maasai land, bordering the Masai Mara National Reserve to the north and east. Mara North, Olare Motorogi, and Mara Naboisho are particularly well-known, where only a few camps operate, keeping the number of vehicles at a sighting correspondingly small.Here, walking safaris with Maasai guides, night game drives, off-road driving, and bush dinners are possible, all of which are not permitted in the Reserve. From most camps, you can also drive into the Reserve.
    Ruma National Park

    Ruma National Park

    Ruma National Park is located in the Lambwe Valley southwest of Homa Bay, not far from Lake Victoria. It is the only terrestrial national park in the former Nyanza Province and the last home of the roan antelope in Kenya.Across 120 square kilometers of savanna and bushland, you will also see Rothschild's giraffes, oribis, and topis.
    Lake Magadi

    Lake Magadi

    Lake Magadi is the southernmost lake in the Kenyan Rift Valley, about 100 km southwest of Nairobi near the Tanzanian border. During the dry season, a soda crust covers about 80 percent of its surface, hot springs feed the lake, and flamingos and other wading birds live on its shores.En route, a stop at the prehistoric site of Olorgesailie is worthwhile, featuring Acheulean hand axes.
    Hell's Gate National Park

    Hell's Gate National Park

    Hell's Gate National Park lies south of Lake Naivasha, around 90 km from Nairobi, and is one of Kenya's few parks where you can explore on foot or by bike among zebras, buffaloes, and antelopes. Red cliffs, the volcanic plugs Fischer's Tower and Central Tower, and a narrow gorge define the mere 68 km² landscape.The scenery served as inspiration for the animated film "The Lion King" (1994); among other productions, "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" was filmed here.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI