The Maasai Mara is Kenya's premier safari destination and the northern terminus of the Great Migration. Its open grasslands offer exceptional predator sightings year-round.
The Maasai Mara is synonymous with African safari. This iconic reserve�named after the Maasai people and the Mara River that winds through it�offers wildlife encounters that have defined our collective imagination of wild Africa for generations.
Great Migration river crossings
Every year between July and October, the Mara plays host to one of nature's greatest spectacles: the Great Migration river crossings. Over a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras must brave the crocodile-infested Mara River to reach fresh grazing lands. The drama of these crossings�the hesitation, the chaos, the triumph, and the tragedy�is wildlife television brought to vivid, heart-pounding life.
But the Mara's appeal extends far beyond the migration months. Its open grasslands support exceptional predator densities year-round. Lion prides here are among the most studied in Africa, and cheetahs use the terrain to hunt with remarkable success. Leopards patrol the riverine forests, while hyenas emerge at dusk to begin their nightly activities.
The Maasai people add cultural depth to any safari experience. These proud pastoralists have coexisted with wildlife for centuries, and visits to traditional manyattas (villages) offer insight into a way of life that continues to honor ancient traditions while adapting to the modern world.
Why Visit
Highlights of Maasai Mara
Great Migration river crossings
Exceptional big cat sightings
Maasai culture
Hot air balloons
Open savannah landscapes