Spanning 1,510 square kilometres of open savanna, rolling hills, and acacia woodland, the Mara is home to an extraordinary concentration of wildlife. It is best known for hosting the Great Migration between July and October, when over two million wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle cross the Mara River from Tanzania's Serengeti. Beyond the migration, the Mara offers year-round Big Five sightings — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino — along with cheetah, hippo, crocodile, and over 450 bird species.
The Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya's crown jewel and one of Africa's most celebrated safari destinations.
Discover the wild heart of Masai Mara
Explore Kenya Safaris →Best Time to Visit
July to October for the Great Migration. January to February for calving season in the southern Serengeti. The Mara offers excellent game viewing year-round, but the dry months (June–October) provide the best visibility as animals gather around water sources.
What You'll See
The Masai Mara is one of the few places in Africa where you can see all of the Big Five in a single day. The reserve has one of the highest lion densities in Africa, with over 850 individuals. Cheetah and leopard sightings are regular. The Mara River is home to enormous Nile crocodiles and hippo pods. During migration, the river crossings are one of nature's most dramatic spectacles.
Getting There
Fly from Nairobi's Wilson Airport to any of the Mara's airstrips (Keekorok, Mara North, Olkiombo) — flight time is approximately 45 minutes. Alternatively, drive from Nairobi via the Great Rift Valley (5-6 hours). Most safari packages include return transfers.
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Masai Mara, Kenya
Where to Go in Masai Mara
Mara North Conservancy
Night drives & off-road access — only 14 camps on 74,000 acres
A private 74,000-acre conservancy bordering the Masai Mara National Reserve, owned by over 800 Maasai landowners. Mara North limits vehicle numbers to just 14 camps, ensuring an exclusive, uncrowded safari. Night drives and off-road game driving are permitted here — both prohibited inside the main reserve. The conservancy sits directly in the path of the Great Migration, making it one of the finest places to witness river crossings with minimal competition from other vehicles.
Mara Triangle
Less crowded with the best-maintained roads in the Mara ecosystem
The western sector of the Masai Mara, managed by the Trans Mara County Council and the Mara Conservancy. The Triangle is often considered the most scenic part of the Mara, with the Mara River forming its eastern boundary and the Oloololo Escarpment providing a dramatic western backdrop. It is significantly less visited than the main reserve, yet offers equally spectacular wildlife — including the famous Mara River crossings. The road infrastructure is well-maintained compared to the eastern sector.
Olare Motorogi Conservancy
Highest big-cat density in the Mara — 12 beds per 1,000 acres
Often regarded as the Mara's most exclusive conservancy, Olare Motorogi covers 35,000 acres and maintains a strict limit of just 12 beds per 1,000 acres — one of the lowest tourism densities in East Africa. The conservancy was a pioneer in the Mara's community conservancy model, paying direct land leases to Maasai landowners. Its open grasslands are a predator paradise, with one of the highest concentrations of big cats in the entire ecosystem. Walking safaris with armed Maasai guides offer an intimate, ground-level perspective.
Naboisho Conservancy
Highest leopard density in Africa — 50,000 acres of connected wilderness
At 50,000 acres, Naboisho is the largest conservancy in the Greater Mara ecosystem and one of the most wildlife-rich. It is home to one of the highest leopard densities in Africa — sightings are almost guaranteed. The conservancy borders the reserve to the east and connects to the Olare Motorogi and Mara North conservancies, forming a critical wildlife corridor. Naboisho supports over 500 Maasai families through direct lease payments, making it a model for conservation-through-tourism.
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