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Kenya masai mara safari elephants
Kenya masai mara giraffe
Kenya Mara rivercrossing

The king of Kenya safari, the sweeping grass plains of the Mara (as it’s usually referred to) are home to the densest concentration of large mammals on the planet. This is the place to see large prides of black-manned lions, bellowing elephants, grumpy buffalo and a pick ‘n’ mix box of antelope and gazelles. And that’s before we even touch on the smaller creatures and huge array of birds.

But, above and beyond all else, the Mara is renowned for the spectacular wildebeest migration. From about June to early-October each year, around two million wildebeest and other herbivores leave Tanzania’s Serengeti and splash across the crocodile infested waters of the Mara River in search of fresh, rain-fed grass in the Masai Mara. It’s a spectacular phenomenon and a classic safari experience.

In high seasons (July-September and the Christmas period) there can be hundreds of safari vehicles in the park at any one time, and park rules about approaching animals and sticking to the roads are sometimes ignored by less scrupulous guides (this is a particular problem with super-low budget safaris operating out of Nairobi). I once interviewed a biologist who told me she’d seen about 70 vehicles crowding around one cheetah!

But the Mara is a big place. If you stay in the more remote corners and move your focus away from chasing the big cats and elephants, you can still find tranquillity even in high season.

The other way to avoid the crowds is by visiting in mid-season. Personally I love June when everything is fresh and green after the rains, the wildebeest are starting to arrive but not the tourists, and temperatures are cool and pleasant. There can also be some spectacular thunderstorms at this time. And if the focus of your interest is birdwatching, then the rainy seasons of November and April-May are excellent.

My biggest Mara tip: look beyond the reserve itself. Nowadays the Mara is almost completely surrounded by a series of community-run wildlife conservancies. Offering almost complete exclusivity, if you can afford the often high prices then these are by far the best areas to stay. These conservancies have vastly expanded the amount of land under some kind of protection and they’ve brought real benefits to both wildlife and local communities as well as one of the worlds finest safari experiences for visitors. I can highly recommend Mara North, Naboisho, Nashulai Maasai Conservancy and Ol Dereski, though you’ll likely have an amazing time in any of them.

Safari in Kenya

Kenya's best safari reserves and camps

My single most important tip for Kenya safari first-timers is to avoid the mistake of non-stop game drives. Standard tour operator itineraries shuttle you from park to park with a gruelling schedule of game drives. Yes, this is the best way of seeing large mammals up close, but the bumpy tracks, early starts and long hours quickly exhaust even the most ardent wildlife-watcher...read more

3 days

Fly-in Masai Mara safari

See the Mara’s Big Five
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6 days

Laikipia and Mara safaris

Kenyan safaris north and south
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5 days

Fly-in Masai Mara safari plus Great Rift Valley

The Big Five and Kenya’s lakes
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Mara, Laikipia and Great Rift Valley

Kenya’s wildlife hotspots
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Kenya for all ages

Family-friendly safari route
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Amboseli, Masai Mara and Lake Naivasha itinerary

See the Kenya safari highlights in 8 days
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Kenya’s wildlife conservancies

Explore the national parks saving Kenya’s wildlife
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  • Mara North Conservancy

    Mara North Conservancy

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  • Naboisho Conservancy

    Naboisho Conservancy

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  • Olare Motorogi Conservancy

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  • Ol Derikesi Conservancy

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Masai Mara National Reserve Tours

Nairobi, Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park (and 1 more)

Highlights Of Kenya Private Safari

See the very best of Kenya on this exclusive adventure

8 daysFrom $2,950
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Visit the gems of East Africa: the Masai Mara & the Serengeti

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Exclusive safari on the edge of Africa's Great Rift Valley

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Kenya's most exclusive safari experience

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Essential Kenya Safari

See the best of Kenya in one week

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Masai Mara National Reserve Travel Companies

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Take Me To Africa

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Beyond Travel

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