The Masai Mara

Nowhere is the great migration more spectacular than in the Mara, where the animals gather from July to October. At this time, the vast herds are not only in enormous concentrations, but they are forced to cross rocky and crocodile-infested rivers. Mara is a national reserve and does not offer off-road driving, but there are many roads, so this is not usually an issue. Also, be aware that the main crossing points near public roads often attract 100s of day visitors. If you treasure the wilderness feeling, seriously consider avoiding these areas during the migration. In March or April, there are far fewer people and you can still enjoy the wonderful landscapes and excellent predators. Large numbers of lion, leopard and cheetah can be seen remarkably easily thanks to the openness of the terrain. Elephants, buffalo, black rhino and the distinctive Masai giraffe also occur here along with a diversity of antelope including Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, impalas, duikers, Coke’s hartebeest and large herds of zebra.