Masai Mara National Reserve

One of Africa’s top safari destinations, the Masai Mara is known for its open plains, iconic big cats, and the dramatic Great Migration between August and November...

The Masai Mara National Reserve is a highly-regarded safari destination in Africa known for its vast open plains and diverse wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, hyenas, and the famous big cats like lions, leopards, and cheetahs. The Maasai Mara shares a border with the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, and the wildlife move freely between the two. Every year from August to November, it serves as a resting place for large herds of wildebeest during their perilous 2,900-kilometer (1,800-mile) migration in search of water and food. Widely touted as the 'greatest show on earth', the chance of a ringside seat for a perilous river crossing draws thousands of visitors every year. The popularity of the Maasai Mara attracts a lot of tourists, which results in large crowds. To address this, private conservancies have been established around the main reserve over the past 15 years, offering a more intimate and exclusive safari experience. Nine of these conservancies are dedicated to wildlife conservation, and they are collectively nearly the same size as the Mara reserve itself. Staying in a private conservancy can make a safari more enjoyable, while supporting conservation efforts too.