Maasai Mara & Zanzibar Escape

Quick Facts

• Special Status: National Reserve with adjacent Private Conservancies
• Location: South-west Kenya
• Land mass: 1510 km² (excluding private conservancies)
• Mammal species: 95
• Bird species: 500+
• Big 5 reserve: Yes

Activities

• Game drives
• Night drives (private reserves only)
• Walking safaris (private reserves only)
• Hot air balloon safaris
• Cultural visits

Highlights

• Wildebeest migration (late July to November)
• Exceptional game viewing year round
• Amongst the densest populations of predators in Africa
• Phenomenal big cat populations
• Extremely habituated wildlife
• Superb photography destination

The mere mention of Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, or simply the Maasai Mara as it is more commonly known, immediately conjures up images of quintessential Africa. Its topography is indeed that of endless savanna punctuated with acacia trees and rivers, namely the Sand River, Talek River and famous crocodile-infested Mara River. It is a place where an unprecedented abundance of herbivores graze and predators stalk in the never ending cycle of life.

The Maasai Mara is undoubtedly Kenya’s premier wildlife reserve and one of the most famous in Africa. When asked, the majority of travellers who have experienced safari will have visited the Mara. Its appeal extends from first-timers, to photographers to experienced tourists.

Located in the South-west of Kenya its relative proximity and excellent road infrastructure with Nairobi ensure it is a relatively easily accessible place to safari. This coupled with the promise of outstanding game viewing and relatively low prices ensure it is a favourite amongst many.

The Mara is quite simply exceptional for game viewing. It boasts unprecedented game volumes and biodiversity. It has been estimated the reserve supports a phenomenal 240 large herbivores per square kilometre, this is truly remarkable abundance. Herbivores include impala, giraffe, wildebeest, both Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, common reedbuck, the beautiful Defassa waterbuck, Coke’s hartebeest and bushbuck. Less common sightings are the endangered black rhinoceros, common eland, and topi. The African elephant and common hippopotamus occur in large numbers and are guaranteed sightings on all safari trips to the Mara. A sighting we particularly enjoy is that of the beautiful Klipspringer, a small and shy antelope that prefers the safety of small rocky outcrops.

As an overwhelmingly positive consequence of all this potential prey is the largest density of predators in the whole of Africa. Lion, leopard, cheetah and spotted hyena stalk the plains whilst huge Nile crocodile’s wait submerged in the Mara’s rivers waiting for their next unsuspecting victim. As well as these iconic larger predators the reserve also supports a variety of smaller carnivores. The feline family are also represented by the caracal, African wild cat and serval. The dog family are represented by the bat-eared fox, side-striped jackal, black-backed jackal and the critically endangered African wild dog.

Nocturnal, and therefore more elusive, wildlife include the zorilla, honey badger, aardvark, springhare, Cape pangolin, striped hyena and aardwolf amongst many others.

The real wildlife spectacle is undoubtedly the famous wildebeest migration. Despite excellent marketing which may lead you to believe otherwise, the migration is not present in the Maasai Mara all year round. The animals usually rumble into the Mara in the most spectacular of fashion each year at the end of July. The frantic and dangerous Mara River crossing signals their arrival and those lucky enough to survive this treacherous obstacle are rewarded with fresh vegetation until the rains signal their return back south into the Serengeti. During these 3 or so months the plains are bursting with approximately 1,300,000 wildebeest, 500,000 Thompson’s gazelle, 200,000 zebra, 97,000 topi and 18,000 eland.

Best Time To Visit

The Maasai Mara is a year-round safari destination thanks to its equatorial climate and abundance of non-migratory resident wildlife. However, seasons can be divided into the dry season and wet season. Both seasons, and indeed the months within each season, offers you a different experience. There is no time of year that offers you the best of everything so we provide you with a balanced account throughout the year so you are able to make an informed decision on the best time to visit based on your preferences.

The temperatures in the Maasai Mara are relatively stable and unchanged throughout the year due to its location close to the equator. The coolest months of June to August see highs of 25 degrees Celsius and lows of 11 degrees Celsius. Even the hottest months of January and February only brings a 3 degrees Celsius increase for average highs and lows therefore providing comfortable safari conditions year round.

The dry season runs from June to October and is characterised by low rainfall and clear skies. These are the months with the best weather. The driest months are July and August with precipitation averaging less than 30 mm per month.

The wet season is considered to be November to May. Rainfall usually significantly increases at the beginning of November and through December. This period is known as the short rains. It will rarely rain all day and most safari activities will continue without interruption. There is a slight respite in rainfall in January and February before the onset of the long rains from March to May. The wettest month being April. Although rain is rarely persistent all day it is frequent and heavy making roads impassable and being disruptive to safari activities.

Wildlife viewing in the Maasai Mara is excellent year round due to the sheer abundance and variety of non-migratory resident wildlife. However, it is undoubtedly the best as the dry season progresses. The vegetation thins out and the grass is low, therefore making animals easier to spot. The lack of rainfall causes temporary water sources to dry out meaning wildlife have to congregate around permanent water sources. This makes their whereabouts much more predictable and hence game activities much more reliable. The other major advantage for a Maasai Mara safari in the dry season is the presence of the wildebeest migration. The herds usually rumble into the Mara via the treacherous Mara River in late July and can be observed on the plains until late October or even early November.

The wet season isn’t without its highlights however. As with many reserves baby animals are born during the wetter months and migratory birds flock in large numbers during the rains. Resident game remains abundant too.

Unfortunately, but maybe as expected, the premium wildlife viewing months are peak season and this brings higher prices and increased tourist traffic. The reputation of the Mara and the ease of accessibility, combined with its relatively small land mass, ensure it can get overrun with tourists during the peak months. This can certainly detract from the bush vibe and authenticity of your safari experience. If budget allows this can be offset by staying in one of the private conservancies around the main reserve.

The bush is at its most beautiful in the wet season as the bush is verdant, the flowers are in bloom and the animals are relaxed and content. This is certainly the best time of year to appreciate the natural beauty of the land.