Masai Mara Game Reserve is divided into conservation and reserve portions. It is also home to the famous Maasai tribe who call the lands home. Masai Mara Game Reserve is so well-known that it is often called simply ‘the Mara’.

Kenya is nestled along what is sometimes called the ‘spine of Africa’. It is located centrally, along the eastern strip of the continent. Despite common adages and popular conceptions, this part of Africa is dominated by the broad and open expanses of grassland commonly called ‘savanna’, interspersed with groves of trees, miles-wide lakes, and mighty rivers.
Kenya’s neighbor Tanzania sits just to the south. The Masai Mara National Reserve is located in the southwestern corner of Kenya, sharing a border with an equally world-famous wildlife refuge in Tanzania, the Serengeti National Park.

Under the fierce sun, heat prevails, and the world-renowned wildlife of the African plains shuttle from watering hole to watering hole and from one rainy season to another. Each year, between the months of July and October, more than a million Wildebeests escorted by large numbers of Zebras and Gazelles congregate and migrate northwards from drier parts of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve.

The wildebeest trek, which is driven by nature’s instinct in search of food and water, is naturally synchronized. The early stage of this migration spectacle is pieced together and ‘flagged-off’ from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which makes part of the bigger Serengeti – Mara Ecosystem.

The Wildebeests making up the migration spend most of their time in the open plains of Serengeti National Park before starting the greatest and longest journey from Tanzania to Kenya’s Masai Mara at the end of the rainy season when Mara’s Savannah is decorated by green-browning grass.

Best Time to Visit Masai Mara

Having said that, one may naturally ask: when is the best time to visit the Masai Mara?

The Masai Mara is one of the greatest game reserves in the world. It is a year-round safari destination and you can always find Kenya safari packages to take advantage of. However, knowing the best time to visit Masai Mara based upon what you want to see and what your budget is can help you to have a more impressive safari vacation.

When is the right time to Travel to Masai Mara? This is a matter of opinion. There is both a high season (Wildebeest Migration) and the low season.

High Season – Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration

The Wildebeest Migration is often referred to as The Great Migration due to the sheer number of wildebeests that you will see at once. This is considered the best time to visit Masai Mara if you have a chance to do so. This happens between late July and early August as well as the end of November. The timing can vary from year to year due to rainfall patterns.

The Masai Mara Migration at the River is considered a highlight. This takes place at the Mara River Crossing as they come from the Serengeti and then cross into the Masai Mara National Reserve. The brown waters of the river are treacherous for the wildebeest due to the crocodiles waiting for them – some of which are five meters long. The survivors will cross into the reserve and by September, the large mass of animals has broken into smaller groups.

One thing to be aware of during the Wildebeest Migration is that, due to it being high season, there are going to be more vehicles and more people. This means that views may be blocked by other vehicles and there will simply be more of a wait everywhere you go. However, being able to be a part of the migration can be a once in a lifetime experience and you are sure to get some breathtaking photos.

Low-Season – Masai Mara

Tented Camps and Lodges in Masai Mara are open years round and this is the chance to customize an African safari to meet your needs. Any time outside of the summer months is considered low-season. You can see lions, elephants, hippos, and much more. There are so many things to see while you are at the reserve, so it’s all about the animal watching.

It provides the ultimate backdrop for an African safari. Whether you want to camp outside, skydive, go hot air ballooning, or enjoy some gold, the options are plentiful.

Many times, during the low season, the African Safari Packages are going to be considerably more affordable and that is because there won’t be as many people. The lower accommodation pricing is to lure more people out to the gorgeous African Reserve – and it works, year after year.

The Masai Mara National Reserve allows you to go out on the drives and you can camp in the wilderness with a guide for an overnight, three nights, and longer. This is your chance to see the zebras up close, watch as the cats take down a kill and various other parts of nature that you won’t see just anywhere.