The best time to visit Masai Mara National Reserve

Written by: Joseph Mbotte, Local Expert

What time of year should I visit Masai Mara?

Due to its abundance of wildlife and temperate climate, Masai Mara National Reserve is an excellent year-round safari destination. Its open savannah plains mean there is fantastic wildlife viewing all year round – no matter what time of year you visit. However, for those looking for an opportunity to witness the Great Wildebeest Migration, the best time to visit the Mara is from July to October.

Varying rainfall patterns mean the exact timing of the migration varies year to year. Some years the rains might be early, and the herds will arrive and depart sooner, while other times the late rains mean the wildebeest arrive later and you’ll still find stragglers.

Ideally, the best time to visit Masai Mara is July to October as these are the driest months. This, of course, is also the peak season. Wildlife is easier to see because vegetation is thinner, and animals gather around rivers and water holes. The Mara does offer good game viewing throughout the year, but the rainy seasons (March, April, November, and December) make some roads difficult to navigate.

The wildebeest migration and the river crossings are difficult to time, but your best opportunity to observe this spectacle as it unfolds is in late July to late August.

What can I expect when I visit Masai Mara?

Masai Mara National Park, also known as the Mara, is one of the most renowned wildlife conservation and wilderness areas in Africa, famous for its diverse wildlife including outstanding populations of lion, leopard, cheetah, and African bush elephant. It also hosts the Great Migration, known to wildlife enthusiasts the world over as The Greatest Show on Earth.

The terrain of Masai Mara is open grassland and rolling hills crossed by the Talek River and the crocodile infested Mara River. In the southeast region of the reserve, the unique acacia tree dots the landscape. “Mara ” actually translates as “spotted” in the Masai language – the area was so named as a result of the number of trees peppered throughout the plains.

June in the Mara marks the end of the period known as the rainy season and the start of the busy season. It is a dry month, and the days are cooler than any other time of the year. Vegetation is lush from the rainy season and even though the animals can sometimes be difficult to spot, it’s still considered one of the best times to visit Masai Mara. The wildebeest have yet to gallop forth and preparations are underway for their pending arrival.

During July and August, the wildebeest herds arrive in the Mara after their journey from the Serengeti. It is the driest month of the year which keeps the wildlife within reach of their watering holes. This is the best time for a Masai Mara safari with excellent wildlife viewing, but it’s one of the busiest months of the year.

August is a popular month to see the famed Mara River crossings but arrival varies. Sometimes the herds stay put for weeks, other times they could cross three times in a single day.

September features higher average daytime temperatures still with chilly mornings and cold nights. It’s still the dry season, which makes for exceptional game viewing and it’s still a great month to see the Migration. Things begin to heat up in Masai Mara during October and it is one of the hottest months of the year with dry weather. Most wildebeest are also still present in the Mara during October.

How many days do I need to visit the Masai Mara?

It’s best to spend a minimum of four days and three nights at the Masai Mara in order to enjoy the full scope of wildlife throughout the reserve. Four days and three nights allows you to have four early morning game drives for the length of your stay and gives you ample time to rest when you arrive at the park.

The Greater Mara ecosystem encompasses several different areas including Masai Mara National Reserve, the Mara Triangle, and a handful of Masai Conservancies including Koiyaki, Lemek, Ol Chorro Oirowua, Mara North, Olkinyei, Siana, Maji Moto, Naikara, Ol Derkesi, Kerinkani, Oloirien, and Kimintet.

If you book with Natural World Kenya Safaris, we will advise you on which areas to visit for optimal wildlife viewing. So, you can relax, sit back, and concentrate on having a memorable safari in Kenya.