Call us on
    Exit
    Exit
    Jacada Travel Gold pawprint icon

    The Great Migration

    Watch magnificent wildebeest migrate

    Jacada Travel Gold elephant icon

    The Big Five

    Spot all of the big five roaming the plains

    Jacada Travel History icon in gold line art work

    Maasai People

    The inhabitants of this beautiful land

    Jacada Travel vector art of a river, drawn in bold, gold line

    Mara River

    The huge body of water central to life in the plains

    Wildlife as far as the eye can see

    Kenya’s legendary Maasai Mara is one of the most famous game reserves in the world. Home to the Big Five, as well as the millions of migrating wildebeest and zebras who thunder across the plain during the Great Migration each year, a luxury Maasai Mara safari is a truly unforgettable experience.

    At some point between July and October, the herds pour into the Maasai Mara from the dry plains of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. The wildebeest must cross the Mara River on the border, marking the most treacherous point in the journey, with hungry crocodiles waiting patiently beneath the surface.

    The sound of millions of clattering hooves and the spray of the water as they crash through the river is an incredible sight and one of Africa’s premier wildlife experiences. Our preferred way to experience the Great Migration is from one of the more remote areas, such as the Mara Triangle, where camps such as Wilderness Mara endeavour to offer an immersive wildlife experience in a quieter location, with positive impact at the forefront.

    The landscapes here are characterised by seemingly infinite stretches of golden savannah – a quintessential safari landscape that lets the imagination soar with thoughts of the majestic animals that roam here. The Maasai Mara has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife year-round. The Big Five can all be observed here, along with huge pods of hippos basking in the rivers, cheetahs racing across the savannah and giraffes ambling between the acacia trees.

    The reserve itself is named after the Maasai people, who inhabit the area, and you’ll have opportunties to learn about their traditions and lifestyle duirng your trip. The Maasai have been grazing their cattle on these lands for hundreds of years, and this is still common practice for many, while others use their in-depth knowledge of the land to work as guides in some of the Maasai Mara lodges.

    Get in touch with our Africa travel designers to start planning your bespoke Maasai Mara safari.

    Highlights

    Experience the phenomenon of the Great Migration from a quieter perspective at Wilderness Mara or Angama Mara, in the Mara Triangle

    Tick off each of the Big Five: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and African buffalos on an expert-led game drive

    Learn about Maasai culture and traditions from your knowledgeable Maasai guide

    Float above the plains on a hot air balloon ride, witnessing the remarkable wildlife and scale of the savannah from above

    Your local guide will help you to spot a range of other animals including hippos, crocodiles, giraffes and cheetahs

    Our Africa expert Jamey describes the kind of breathtaking wildlife, including elephants, lions and black rhinos, that make the Maasai Mara one of the greatest wildlife destinations on earth.

    Jamey Lowis

    Jamey Lowis

    Travel Designer

    Luxury Maasai Mara safari lodges

    There are many incredible places to stay in Maasai Mara. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our safari experts:

    Why book with Jacada?

    Safari expertise illustration image

    Safari expertise

    Our experts bring decades of first-hand expertise. They’ve lived and travelled across Africa and are regularly on the ground reviewing the most exclusive camps and experiences. You’ll also have the support of a personal concierge, based in region.

    Unforgettable guides illustration image

    Unforgettable guides

    We handpick the most knowledgeable guides, who bring each destination to life with care and passion. They’re chosen for their ability to provide unrivalled insight into the region’s wildlife and landscapes as well as a genuine, memorable experience.

    Responsible travel illustration image

    Responsible travel

    By travelling with us, you directly support a range of initiatives spanning wildlife conservation to community engagement. Our luxury trips are designed to prioritise experiences that are positive for you and the places you visit.

    Ready to plan your adventure?

    Whatever you want from your Maasai Mara safari, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

    Discover more of Kenya

    Amboseli thumbnail

    Amboseli

    Amboseli is famous. Everyone wants to experience the magnificent views over the border to Kilimanjaro, and feel the romantic atmosphere that comes from being in her presence.

    Discover more
    Borana Conservancy thumbnail

    Borana Conservancy

    Found at the foot of Mount Kenya and located within the vast Ewaso ecosystem, you’ll find the rugged savannah of the Borana Conservancy.

    Discover more
    Chyulu Hills thumbnail

    Chyulu Hills

    Nestled between Tsavo and Amboseli National Parks are the Chyulu Hills – one of the world’s youngest volcanic mountain ranges. Stretching for 150km and reaching an altitude of just over 2,000m the landscape is characterised by lush green hills covered in dense cloud forest, solidifed lava flows spilling down the slopes giving away its explosive history.

    Discover more
    Kenyan Coast thumbnail

    Kenyan Coast

    There are few better ways to finish of a Kenyan safari than with a few final days relaxing on its golden coastline.

    Discover more
    Laikipia Plateau thumbnail

    Laikipia Plateau

    The high plains of Laikipia sit to the north east of the Great Rift Valley, the snowcapped peak of Mount Kenya towering in its southern corner. It is regarded as one of Kenya‘s premier wildlife destinations with big cats, huge herds of elephants and endangered black rhinos roaming the plains.

    Discover more
    Lake Nakuru thumbnail

    Lake Nakuru

    Nakuru is the second major Rift Valley Lake that you will encounter when driving out onto your safari from Nairobi.

    Discover more
    Lamu Archipelago thumbnail

    Lamu Archipelago

    Authentic yet beautifully exclusive, the Lamu archipelago is the undisputed choice for seasoned travellers who wish to experience the off the tourist radar Kenyan coastline.

    Discover more
    Lewa thumbnail

    Lewa

    Lewa is a private conservancy with diverse mix of habitats from grassland plains, forest, wetlands and hills.

    Discover more
    Loita Forest thumbnail

    Loita Forest

    Lying between the two greats of the Serengeti and Maasai Mara parks on the western edge of the Great Rift Valley, this relatively unknown forest “of the lost child” (Loita Naimena Enkiyio) is a microcosm of diverse habitats spanning 330 square kilometres of rolling hills of indigenous forest.

    Discover more
    Mara Conservancies thumbnail

    Mara Conservancies

    For those seeking a more exclusive safari experience, the conservancies bordering the Maasai Mara National Park offer exceptional game viewing and far fewer visitors.

    Discover more
    Meru National Park thumbnail

    Meru National Park

    Very much like the Samburu, Meru became famous through Joy Adamson’s novel ‘Born Free’ which was published in 1960 and later became a well known movie.

    Discover more
    Nairobi thumbnail

    Nairobi

    The capital city of Kenya is a busy one, and can be slightly overwhelming after a long flight but is often a necessary stopover for you to visit the special places this beautiful country has to offer as a safari destination.

    Discover more
    Samburu thumbnail

    Samburu

    North of the Laikipia Plateau is the scrubby open bushland of the Samburu National Reserve. This is the homeland of the Samburu people who were drawn here by the Ewaso Nyiro River which provided a reliable water source for their cattle.

    Discover more
    Solio Private Reserve thumbnail

    Solio Private Reserve

    Nestled in a valley between the dramatic slopes of Mount Kenya and the rolling peaks of the Aberdare Mountains is Solio Private Reserve. Within the 45,000-acre wildlife sanctuary, 19,000 acres have been set aside as a conservancy geared towards conservation. Solio is Kenya‘s leading rhino breeding sanctuary and it has been so successful, rhinos have been transferred from here to other reserves across the country.

    Discover more

    Meet your Africa team

    When to visit the Maasai Mara

    The best time to visit Kenya depends on what you’re after.

    If you’re in search of the Great Wildebeest Migration, July to October is the best time to go. If you’re looking to spot some rare migratory birds, go between October and April. December to March is the warmest time to visit, and it’s a great time to go on a Maasai Mara safari in search of the Big Five.

    The Great Migration main icon

    The Great Migration

    July - October

    Rare Migratory Birds main icon

    Rare Migratory Birds

    October - April

    The Big Five main icon

    The Big Five

    December - March

    When is the Best Time to Visit Kenya?

    When is the Best Time to Visit Kenya?

    Read more

    Plan your trip to Maasai Mara

    Whatever you want from your adventure in Maasai Mara, our team of safari experts are ready to help.

    Herd of zebra in the grasslands in the golden light, TanzaniaHot air balloon over Marrakech in the sunset light.

    Your trip, your story

    We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.

    Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.

    Find Out More 

    Where would you like to travel?
    Ariel view of waves breaking on a forested shoreline