Open grasslands, big cats and the Mara River crossings of the great wildebeest migration in south-western Kenya
The Maasai Mara is the northern end of the Serengeti ecosystem: wide, gently rolling plains of red-oat grass, scattered with lone trees and croton thickets, cut by the Mara River and its tributaries the Talek and Sand. The name honours the Maasai people, and mara is usually explained as the Maa word for spotted, describing the patchwork of bushes and trees across the grassland.
Resident wildlife is plentiful all year, and all of the Big Five can be seen, but the reserve is best known for big cats and for the migration. From around July, herds of wildebeest, zebras and antelopes move north out of the Serengeti, and their dramatic crossings of the Mara River, watched by crocodiles and predators, draw visitors from around the world before the animals head south again later in the year.
The area was first protected as a sanctuary of about 520 square kilometres in 1961 and soon enlarged into a game reserve. National reserve status followed in 1974, when part of the land was returned to local communities, and after further changes the boundaries were settled at roughly 1,510 square kilometres in 1984. Unlike Kenya's national parks, the reserve is not run by the Kenya Wildlife Service but by the county: the eastern Narok sector is managed by the County Government of Narok, while the western Mara Triangle has been run on the county's behalf by the non-profit Mara Conservancy since the early 2000s.
Around the reserve, Maasai landowners have leased their land to a ring of community conservancies, which together with the reserve make up the Greater Mara ecosystem. These conservancies limit vehicle numbers, allow activities such as walking and night drives, and pay lease fees directly to Maasai families.
The land around the reserve is Maasai country, and many guides, rangers and camp staff come from local families. Pastoralism remains central to life here, with cattle herded between villages and seasonal grazing. Visits to a Maasai village (manyatta) introduce traditional homes, beadwork and the jumping dance known as adumu; choosing a visit organised through a conservancy or community project helps make sure the money reaches the families involved.
Most visitors explore on morning and afternoon game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, often with a full day out on the plains and a picnic lunch when the herds are near the river. Dawn balloon flights followed by a bush breakfast are a popular extra. Staying in one of the private conservancies on the edge of the reserve allows guided walks, night drives and fewer vehicles at sightings, and many travellers split their stay between a conservancy and the reserve itself. Light aircraft from Nairobi land at several airstrips in and around the reserve, which saves a long drive.
The dry season from July to October is the peak time, when the migrating herds are in the Mara and river crossings are most likely, although their exact timing changes from year to year. January and February are also dry and quieter. The long rains, roughly April and May, make some tracks muddy, but the plains are green and resident wildlife remains good.
Checked against the sources on 29 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.
General guidance from our specialists, not official information.
The Mara Triangle lies west of the Mara River, with the Oloololo escarpment rising above it, while the eastern sector is reached from Narok town via Sekenani and Talek gates. Community conservancies such as Olare Motorogi, Naboisho and Mara North border the reserve to the north and east. Across the Tanzanian border the plains continue into the Serengeti, though there is no tourist crossing within the parks. Nairobi is a long drive away, and many visitors fly in on light aircraft from Wilson Airport instead.
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Kenya · 7 nights4★ LodgeKenya · 9 nights4★ ResortThis guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 29 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.
