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South-west Kenya

Masai Mara National Reserve

Open plains, thorn trees and the big cats. From July the wildebeest cross the Mara River, and the herds stay until about November.

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Sun at Masai Mara today Sunrise 06:18 Sunset 18:29

A cheetah standing on a termite mound, with a cub beside it

Masai Mara at a glance

2
Trips that visit here
06:18
Sunrise at Masai Mara today
18:29
Sunset at Masai Mara today
12.2hours
Of daylight today
  • Name “Mara” means “spotted” in Maa, the Maasai language
  • Size About 370,000 acres, with unfenced conservancies on its edges
  • Migration About two million wildebeest cross the Mara River from around July until about November
  • Big Five Lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo are easier to find than rhino
  • Cheetahs The flat, open plains make this a good place to see them
  • Conservancies Mara Triangle, Olare Orok, Naboisho and Ol Kinyei
A male lion walking through grass, with a safari vehicle behind

What you do there

What to do in Masai Mara

From first light to last, with today’s real sunrise and sunset at Masai Mara to mark the day.

  1. Sunrise at Masai Mara today

    06:18

  2. Game drives

    Elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, hyena, eland, gazelle and the big cats on the open plains.

  3. See the migration

    The river crossings are hard to predict. Book accommodation at least nine months ahead, and go private.

  4. Stay in a conservancy

    Conservancy land is more exclusive and intimate than the national reserve, especially at the peak of the migration.

  5. Meet the Maasai

    Conservancies are Maasai land, so you may pass a manyatta and the cattle herds.

  6. Sunset at Masai Mara today

    18:29

A herd of wildebeest on green plains Two cheetahs licking each other in green grass

Best time

When to go to Masai Mara

There is no single best time for general game viewing: the Mara is a year-round destination. The period we do not recommend is the long rains, April to June, when some camps and hotels close.

The wildebeest are in the Mara from about July to November.

In pictures

Masai Mara as our guests see it

  • Wildebeest and zebra crossing a river below a steep bank
  • Two cheetahs drinking at a pool
  • Zebras huddled together on green grass
  • A lion pride close together, one of them roaring

Request a trip

Trips that visit Masai Mara

Every trip is request-to-book: choose one, send your dates, and we confirm.

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