Planning notes
When to visit the Maasai Mara
The Mara is a year-round destination, but each season offers a different safari.
July to October: the migration
The wildebeest and zebra herds usually arrive from the Serengeti around July and August, and river crossings are most likely from August into October. Exact timing changes every year, so we plan around a window, never a promise.
January and February: dry and calm
Short grass and dry weather make wildlife easy to spot, and the plains are quieter than in peak season.
November and December: short rains
Brief afternoon showers turn the landscape green and bring migrant birds. Rates are often lower before the festive period.
March to May: long rains
This is the quietest and best-value time. Roads can be slow and some camps close, but the light is dramatic and the park is yours.
Planning notes
Reserve or conservancy?
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is the famous core of the ecosystem. Around it sit private conservancies, owned by Maasai landowners and leased to camps.
In the reserve you will find the largest open plains and the river crossings, along with more vehicles at popular sightings. In a conservancy, the number of beds and vehicles is limited, and camps can offer night drives, walking safaris and off-road viewing that the reserve does not allow.
Many of our itineraries combine both: a conservancy for the quiet, personal days and a reserve day for the river. Tell us what matters most and we will balance them.
Planning notes
Packing for your first safari
- Layers in neutral colours. Mornings are cold on an open vehicle and afternoons are hot.
- Dark blue and black can attract tsetse flies in some areas, so earthy tones are the safer choice.
- A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Binoculars. Even a small pair changes what you see.
- Soft-sided bags if you will fly between camps. Light aircraft have strict luggage limits, and we will confirm yours.
- A plug adaptor. Kenya uses the three-pin type G socket at 240 volts.
We send every guest a full list before travel, matched to the season and the camps you will visit.
Planning notes
Ending a safari at the coast
After early mornings in a vehicle, a few days by the Indian Ocean is the easiest way to finish a trip.
Diani has long white beaches and warm, calm water. Watamu is known for its marine park and turtles. Lamu is a car-free island town of dhows and narrow streets.
The weather is generally calmest from December to March and from July to October. April and May bring the heaviest rains. Most coast hotels can be reached from the Mara by a short flight with a connection, which we arrange.
