The Masai Mara has lions, cheetah, elephant and plains game all year, so there is no bad time to go. The best month depends on what you want:
In most years, large herds of wildebeest and zebra arrive from the Serengeti in July and stay until around October. This is when Mara River crossings are possible. It is also the busiest period: camps fill early, prices are highest, and popular river crossing points can attract many vehicles.
Crossings happen when the herds decide, not on a schedule. Allow at least two full days if they are your priority. Our migration guide explains the wider pattern.
Short afternoon showers turn the plains green. The big herds have usually returned to Tanzania, but the resident wildlife remains, prices fall and the reserve is quieter.
A very good time for predator viewing, with short grass and warm days. The Christmas and New Year holidays are busy; January and February are calmer. The migration herds are calving in the southern Serengeti at this time, so wildebeest numbers in the Mara are lower.
March can still be pleasant. April and May are the wettest months, with heavy showers, some muddy roads and some camps closed. In return, you get low rates, green scenery, newborn animals and very few other vehicles.
Dry weather returns, the grass is still long in places, and prices are often below peak. In some years the first herds arrive late in the month.
Yes. In peak season, staying in one of the private conservancies around the reserve means fewer vehicles at sightings and activities like night drives. In quieter months, the main reserve feels much less busy. See our Masai Mara destination guide for the difference.
Two nights is the minimum; three or four nights gives you the best chance of varied sightings and, in season, a crossing. Our 3-day Masai Mara safari is the most popular starting point.
Go July to October for the migration and book early. Go outside those months for value, space and excellent resident wildlife. Either way, the Mara rarely disappoints.
April and May, during the long rains, when many camps lower their rates.
Usually not. In January to March the herds are mostly in the southern Serengeti in Tanzania.
August is a good month for crossings, but they are never guaranteed on a given day.
Tell us when you can travel and we will advise on the season and suggest the right camp area.
