Maasai Mara, Kenya: travel guide
Big-cat country and the river crossings of the Great Migration
Kenya's flagship safari destination — big-cat country and the stage for the Great Migration river crossings between July and October.
About Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara is a vast game reserve of open grassland in Kenya's southwest rather than a town, and it is the country's best-known safari destination. Lions, leopards and cheetahs hunt across the plains, with elephants, giraffes and large herds of plains game never far away.
From roughly July to October, wildebeest and zebra arrive from the Serengeti and cross the Mara River in dramatic columns, the spectacle most visitors have in mind. The Mara Triangle, the western sector bounded by the river and the Oloololo escarpment, is a favourite for game drives, and dawn and dusk drives are the classic way to see the wildlife.
It suits wildlife lovers of any age. The dry season from July to October is the main time to visit the Maasai Mara, though game viewing is good through much of the year.
- Country
- Kenya
- Currency
- KES
- Time zone
- Africa/Nairobi
Last updated
Top places to visit in Maasai Mara
Mara Triangle
conservancy · 4.7 rating · about 6 h · check the fee at the gate
The well-managed western third of the reserve below the Oloololo Escarpment — superb game viewing and Mara River crossings.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
national reserve · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
Kenya's most famous reserve — lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and, from July to October, the wildebeest of the Great Migration.
Things to do
- Full-Day Maasai Mara Game Drive Safari · 8 h · from KES 15,000 per person
- Hot Air Balloon Safari over the Mara Balloon · 4 h · from KES 60,000 per person
- Maasai Village Cultural Visit Cultural · 1.5 h · from KES 2,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Maasai Mara Full-Day Safari 10 h · from KES 15,000
Where to stay in Maasai Mara
Hotels
- Mara Serena Safari Lodge 4-star · KES 28,000 to KES 45,000 per night
- Sarova Mara Game Camp 4-star · KES 24,000 to KES 38,000 per night
- Keekorok Lodge 4-star · KES 20,000 to KES 32,000 per night
- Mara Sopa Lodge 3-star · KES 18,000 to KES 28,000 per night
Getting to Maasai Mara
Airport: Keekorok (Maasai Mara) (KEU)
Getting around
- Offroad Vehicle
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Budget-safari deposit scam
Booked from Nairobi / online
Unlicensed operators sell rock-bottom Mara safaris, collect a deposit, then cancel, downgrade or disappear.
How to avoid it: Use licensed, reviewed operators; confirm park fees, vehicle and lodge in writing; pay by traceable means.
More in Kenya
Frequently asked questions about Maasai Mara
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Maasai Mara?
- The highest-rated places in our Maasai Mara guide are Mara Triangle, Maasai Mara National Reserve.
- How do I get around Maasai Mara?
- Ways to get around Maasai Mara covered in our guide: Off-road vehicle, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Maasai Mara?
- Scams reported to us for Maasai Mara include Budget-safari deposit scam. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.