Masai Mara

The best time to visit the Masai Mara is for the world-famous Great Wildebeest Migration, from about August to November. Due to varying rainfall patterns, the exact timing 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.

However, thanks to its abundant resident wildlife and temperate climate, the Masai Mara is widely regarded as a fantastic year-round safari destination. Its wide and open plains mean there is virtually always something to see – no matter what time of year you visit.

Masai Mara Safari: High vs Low Season

Tip: the Masai Mara is also great between January and the end of March. The weather is usually mild and dry, and most of the safari crowds are absent.

January is one of the warmest months of the year in the Masai Mara. It’s not as rainy as December, with an average of 15 days of rainfall throughout the month, and if it does rain it’s usually just a short-burst shower in the afternoon. This is the best time to visit the Masai Mara if you are a birding enthusiast as the migratory species from North Africa and Europe can be spotted frequently in the area. January is also calving (birthing) season and is a time when new life is abundant.

In February thousands of baby animals are born a day, and the birthing season carries through until March. This is when to visit the Masai Mara for a safari to avoid the crowds and to witness Africa’s big cats stalk the plains game. Plus, it’s a fantastic time for photographers because you’ll often have massive tracts of land and sightings all to yourself, especially in the Mara’s private conservancies.

March is a rainy month in the Masai Mara. Most days will have afternoon thundershowers and these conditions can cause flooding, and some camps begin to close for the low season.

June marks the end of the ‘long rains’ and the start of the busy season. It’s a much drier month, and the days are far cooler than any other time of the year. The vegetation is still lush and dense from all the rainfall and even though the animals can sometimes be hard to spot, it’s still considered one of the best times to visit the Masai Mara for a safari. Most of the Great Migration herds (and their entourage of tourists) are yet to arrive and preparations are well underway for their imminent appearance.

In July the wildebeest herds may start to arrive in the Mara after their journey from the Serengeti. The daytime conditions are very pleasant with warm weather, but it can get cold in the evenings and on early morning game drives. 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 Big 5 safari in the Masai Mara, but it’s one of the busiest months of the year – prices go up and sightings can become crowded in the national reserve.

August is another dry month of the year in the Masai Mara but has the same cooler temperatures as July, especially at night. August is a popular month to witness the daily wildlife spectacle of the Great Migration, as well as the famed Mara River crossings. But these crossings cannot be predicted – sometimes the herds stay put for weeks, other times they could cross four times in a day.

September is slightly warmer in the Masai Mara than in August with high daytime temperatures 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 in full swing. Things begin to heat up in the Masai Mara during October and it is one of the hottest months of the year. Most of the wildebeest herds are still in and around the Mara.

November’s short summer rains trigger the last leg of the Great Migration, when the wildebeest move south to their Serengeti calving grounds. The only downside can be the rain, but the thundershowers are usually short afternoon bursts followed by clear skies. December is less busy at the start of the month than during the peak season months, but it can get busy in the national reserve over the festive season period.

Ready to Start Planning your Masai Mara Safari?

Chat with someone who’s been there. Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts to help tailor-make a trip to the Masai Mara that’s right for you.

We take pride in providing our travellers with unbiased advice based on extensive, first-hand experience in the destinations we recommend. We’ve been tailor-making Masai Mara safari itineraries since 1998 – here are some of our top tips:

1. Book Early for the Migration

A year in advance is normal, as camps located near river-crossing hot spots get snapped up quickly. Talk to us about getting front-row seats during July to November.

2. Take to the Air

Hot-air balloon safaris are a Masai Mara specialty and deliver an unforgettable bird’s-eye view of the Wildebeest Migration. Not every lodge or camp offers them – get in touch with us to find out who does.

3. Meet the Locals, With Dignity

Make sure your Maasai cultural interaction genuinely benefits the local community and is an experience that is both meaningful and uncontrived. We’ll recommend accommodation and operators that do it the right way.

4. Go Private

The Masai Mara National Reserve can get very busy during the Migration’s high season (July to November). The Mara’s private conservancies offer low visitor numbers, excellent accommodation and game viewing as good as the main reserve. Off-road game viewing, night drives and guided nature walks – activities not permitted in the public section of the Masai Mara – are also on offer. Furthermore, by staying in the conservancies, you will contribute directly to local communities and conservation.

For general information on travelling to Kenya – like safety, climate, money and spending – visit our Kenya Travel Advice page. 

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi is Kenya’s major international airport for the Masai Mara. All safari trips depart from Nairobi’s smaller Wilson Airport and fly straight into the reserve by a short charter flight. You’ll land at one of the local airstrips and get transferred to your safari camp or lodge by 4×4.

Did you know you can book your flights through Go2Africa? For more information and frequently asked questions, please see our Flights section.

Safari Vehicles

Guided road transfers and game drives in Kenya are conducted in closed 4x4s with big windows and pop-up roofs. Most safari destinations in Kenya have extensive road networks and closed vehicles are therefore the norm when doing long-distance road transfers between airstrips, camps and lodges. A closed 4×4 game drive vehicle generally has three rows of seating and features a pop-up roof hatch that can be raised for game viewing and taking photographs. If you’re flying to one of the Masai Mara’s airstrips, your transfer vehicle could be open-sided.

Start Planning Your Trip of a Lifetime

Chat with someone who’s been there – get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts to help tailor-make your Masai Mara safari:

Home to an abundance of resident wildlife and the annual Wildebeest Migration (about August to November), Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve is without doubt one of Africa’s most authentic safari destinations. It’s extremely popular the world over, which is why we recommend booking your Masai Mara safari well in advance – especially if you want to see the migration.

We’ll be happy to recommend Masai Mara safari itineraries that put you at the heart of the migration action. Furthermore, a Masai Mara safari can also be a romantic and intimate escape to luxury tented camps nestled in private conservancies – ideal for honeymoons and special occasions. And if you’re on a budget, we have affordable scheduled group tours that offer comfortable safari accommodation.

We’d also suggest combining a Masai Mara safari with some time in Tanzania’s Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater for an immense wildlife experience. And if you’d like to crown your trip with a relaxing beach break, why not include one of Kenya’s beautiful beaches or even exotic Zanzibar?

Our Selection of Masai Mara Tours and Safaris Include:

• Family-friendly vacations.
• Romantic honeymoons.
• Unforgettable safari and beach combinations.

Browse our recommended trips below or get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts to help you tailor-make a Masai Mara tour based on your travel wishes:

The incomparable Masai Mara is one of the world’s greatest wildlife destinations. Not much can beat the delight of superb, year-round game viewing – let alone all the thrills of the Wildebeest Migration. Its popularity, however, means that several factors must be considered when choosing your Masai Mara accommodation.

Choosing which area to visit and when to go to the Masai Mara will impact your experience. The Masai Mara National Reserve’s central region is busiest during the migration season (about August to November) and its many lodges and safari hotels cater for large numbers of people. The private conservancies in the north offer more seclusion and tucked-away accommodation, such as luxury tented camps and decadent safari suites. Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy a greater selection of activities like guided walks, night game drives and stargazing. The eastern region of the national reserve is closest to Nairobi and the accommodation is consequently larger in scale, catering for scheduled tour groups and the like.

Remember, however, that the Masai Mara delivers great game viewing throughout the year and your safari experience will certainly be different during the quieter low season (about November to March). You might not get the Wildebeest Migration’s herds, but there’s plenty else to see and a wide range of places to stay; many of which offer discounted, out-of-season rates.

Browse our recommended Masai Mara accommodation below or simply get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts to help you find the one that’s right for you: