Masai Mara

Kenya’s legendary Maasai Mara is one of the most famous game reserves in the world. Home to the Big Five, as well as the millions of migrating wildebeest and zebras who thunder across the plain during the Great Migration each year, a luxury Maasai Mara safari is a truly unforgettable experience.

At some point between July and October, the herds pour into the Maasai Mara from the dry plains of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. The wildebeest must cross the Mara River on the border, marking the most treacherous point in the journey, with hungry crocodiles waiting patiently beneath the surface.

The sound of millions of clattering hooves and the spray of the water as they crash through the river is an incredible sight and one of Africa’s premier wildlife experiences. Our preferred way to experience the Great Migration is from one of the more remote areas, such as the Mara Triangle, where camps such as Wilderness Mara endeavour to offer an immersive wildlife experience in a quieter location, with positive impact at the forefront.

The landscapes here are characterised by seemingly infinite stretches of golden savannah – a quintessential safari landscape that lets the imagination soar with thoughts of the majestic animals that roam here. The Maasai Mara has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife year-round. The Big Five can all be observed here, along with huge pods of hippos basking in the rivers, cheetahs racing across the savannah and giraffes ambling between the acacia trees.

The reserve itself is named after the Maasai people, who inhabit the area, and you’ll have opportunties to learn about their traditions and lifestyle duirng your trip. The Maasai have been grazing their cattle on these lands for hundreds of years, and this is still common practice for many, while others use their in-depth knowledge of the land to work as guides in some of the Maasai Mara lodges.

Get in touch with our Africa travel designers to start planning your bespoke Maasai Mara safari.