Kenya
Masai Mara
Region
The Maasai Mara, in southwest Kenya, about 300 road kilometers from Nairobi, is the country's most famous safari area.
by Felix Gillen
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.
Reserve and ConservanciesThe Masai Mara National Reserve is managed not by the Kenya Wildlife Service but by Narok County. Its western part, between the Mara River and the Oloololo Escarpment, is called the Mara Triangle. To the north and east are Conservancies like Mara North, Olare Motorogi, and Naboisho: community land that Maasai landowners lease to safari camps.The Great MigrationThe large herds usually reach the Mara from July and stay until about October. River crossings at the Mara River are most frequent between July and September but are never guaranteed. Even outside the Migration, many animals remain year-round by the river and in the swamps.Best Time to VisitDry season from June to October: good visibility, many animals, highest prices and fees.During the long rains in April and May, tracks are often muddy and difficult to traverse.
Maasai Homeland
Maasai and WildlifeThe Mara is traditional Maasai land. The reserve itself is managed by Narok County, while in the adjoining conservancies, the land belongs to Maasai families, who lease it to safari camps and continue to graze their cattle there under specific conditions.Boundless MigrationTo the south, the Mara merges seamlessly without a fence into Tanzania's Serengeti. Across this border, the herds of the Great Migration move every year, migrating northwards after crossing the border in the south of the reserve.
Getting There & Around
By PlaneSafarilink and Airkenya fly from Nairobi's Wilson Airport to airstrips in the Reserve and Conservancies. Flight time is approximately 45 to 60 minutes, varying by airstrip. Camps will pick you up there.By RoadVia Narok, the drive takes about five to seven hours, depending on your destination and the final kilometers' condition. The road is paved until Narok; beyond that, it can be bumpy.On-siteGame drives are mostly done with camp or operator vehicles; self-driving is not allowed in Conservancies.Safety and Health Information: Travel and safety advice from the UK FCDO, linked on the country page.
