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Located in the south-west of Kenya bordering Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, the Masai Mara is a justifiably world-renowned game reserve famed for its big cats and as a stage for one of the planet’s greatest wildlife spectacles; the annual wildebeest migration. The Mara is a haven for large numbers of animals and a quite staggering variety of species including Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles, topi, eland, impala, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, elephants, and black rhinos. This is your chance to enjoy a Masai Mara safari holiday and see prides of lions and cheetahs hunting on the open plains and leopards stalking in the forests, as Masai Mara safaris are known to consistently deliver fantastic sightings of these big cats.
The Masai Mara the perfect place to experience the great migration. Every year between July and October, vast herds of migrating wildebeest, along with hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelles, arrive from the Serengeti to feed on the Masai Mara’s grass plains. The exact timings of this natural phenomenon are dependent on rainfall and grass growth, but one thing is for sure: if your Masai Mara holiday coincides with the migration you will have a truly spectacular safari with huge numbers of animals grazing on the plains and plenty of predator action. The very fortunate may also witness the herds braving a crossing of the Mara River, where crocodiles wait patiently for their prey.
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Masai Mara holidays are all about enjoying and experiencing the great outdoors. The Wildebeest migration is obviously a big draw-card but even an ‘ordinary’ game drive can be filled with wonder and the completely unexpected. Bush walks are a wonderful way to get out of the safari vehicle and up close in the African bush, with hot air balloon trips the things of travel bucket lists, and definitely an activity to be ticked off. For something totally different, saddle up and see the wildlife from the back of a horse.
Safari holidays to the Masai Mara are possible during most months of the year. The early part of the year is generally wet but in June and July the rains break and the plains become a spectacular carpet of green, bringing all manner of wildlife and birdlife out to enjoy the lush grasses, and this is an excellent time for predator sightings as well.
August and September are regarded as the peak time for Masai Mara safaris as the herds congregate and cross over into the Serengeti and back. This is the best time of year to see the iconic river crossings. Warm days and cool nights are common and it tends to be very dry at this time of year. October to December is another good time of year for a Masai Mara safari holiday although there can be some rains in November - however this does make safaris after the rains very good.
Although they can mean long days, driving safaris (with your own private guide) offer a chance to see the wonderfully varied landscapes of the Masai Mara.
Don’t be afraid to travel at the end of the rains in June - this is still a fantastic time of year to enjoy the Masai Mara. Take advantage of the direct flight which now operates between the Masai Mara and Mombasa to enjoy an ultimate bush & beach Kenya holiday.
Don’t forget to book your hot air balloon safari in advance – these are very popular and often get booked up well in advance.
Don’t despair if your flight schedules mean that you have to stay overnight en-route in Nairobi; there are now some superb properties in the city – such as Giraffe Manor & the House of Waine – and an excellent Crowne Plaza Hotel right at the airport.
Wherever you’re planning to visit for your Masai Mara safari holiday, Africa Travel will make sure you stay in comfortable and luxurious accommodation that is tailored to your requirements. Our dedicated staff listen to each of your needs and preferences before recommending the best Masai Mara lodges for you, which is always based on their own personal experiences.
There is a wide range of accommodation including the famous and long-established Governors’ Camp, which has an enviable position on the Mara River and Naibor Camp; located in the heart of the action, close to the confluence of the Mara and Talek Rivers. Bordering the main reserve are conservancies where you can enjoy your game viewing without the crowds, to truly immerse yourself in the Masai Mara landscape and exclusive safari experiences. In these areas, bush walks and night drives are also possible – activities which are not permitted in the main reserve. Elephant Pepper Camp and Kicheche Bush Camp offer an authentic tented camp experience, while Cottar’s 1920s Camp provides colonial-style luxury in their own private corner of the Mara.
With over 30 years’ experience in creating dream trips to Africa, there is no one more qualified to organise your Okavango Delta safari than Africa Travel. We have a wealth of specialist resources to help you book your Masai Mara safari holidays and as all of our staff have travelled the continent themselves you can trust that our personal recommendations will deliver the holiday you have always dreamed of. We even have staff living in Africa to ensure your trip runs as smoothly as possible. Our years of knowledge mean that we can give personalised recommendations for your trip, including the best time of year to go on safari, the best safari camps or lodges to stay at, and the best African safari guides, experts and tour guides to assist you.
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Read moreSales Director & Conde Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist
Chris joined Africa Travel directly from university in 1992 and knows both the company and Africa extremely well.
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Julia’s love for travel began at a young age. Born in Cape Town, she spent many a holiday exploring Southern Africa with her family before starting her career in travel.
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Felicity, who joined Africa Travel in 2004, has worked in the travel industry for over 30 years and originally comes from South Africa's KwaZulu Natal province
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Christine fell in love with Africa over 30 years ago, and has been managing the Cape Town office since 2008, and is looking forward to exploring Namibia more.
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Shaun joined the travel industry just over 10 years ago, working first for an online travel booking portal and an ecotourism company, specialising in sustainable travel in Southern and East Africa.
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Debbie joined Africa Travel in May 2009 and has been in the travel industry for over 20 years, enjoying a number of roles, from airline ticketing to accounting.
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Christine first came to Africa as a young woman and immediately felt a connection which has never allowed her to leave. She lived in Johannesburg and in Knysna on the Garden Route, but came to Cape Town 22 years ago and realised it was where she wanted to be!
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Alyson grew up in Zimbabwe and it was her parents who influenced her a great love of the African bush. It was not just a love of the wildlife but the plant and bird life and everything that is associated in the wild spaces of Africa.
Read moreAfrica Travel is the UK's premier specialist dealing with travel to Africa, but we aren't just a website or a call centre, we are a boutique, owner-run company with personal connections to many of the owners of the properties we feature.
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