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Sunrise over the Masai Mara, with a pair of low-flying hot air balloons and a herd of wildebeest below in the typical red oat grass of the region
Home/Destinations/Africa/Kenya/Masai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara National Reserve Tours and Vacation Packages

Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Overview

Take a trip to Masai Mara National Reserve on your Kenya Vacation

Known simply as “The Mara” to locals, Masai Mara National Reserve is a large reserve located in south-western Kenya. The area was named after the Maasai people who were the traditional inhabitants of the land to be discovered on a Kenya safari.

The reserve was established in 1948 as a wildlife sanctuary that covered 520 square kilometres/200 square miles. Today, the reserve covers an area of 1,510 square kilometres/583 square miles and is bordered by the Serengeti Park of Tanzania to the south, the Siria escarpment to the west and Maasai pastoral ranches to the north, east and west. Unlike other national parks in Kenya, Masai Mara is not administered by the Kenya Wildlife Service but rather by local authorities and the Maasai people.

Masai Mara is not the largest conservation area on a Kenya vacation but it is certainly the most famous. This is due to the annual Great Migration which is one of the most impressive natural events in the world. Each July approximately 1,300,000 wildebeest, 500,000 Thomson’s gazelles, 200,000 zebras, 97,000 topi and 18,000 elands migrate north from the Serengeti plains to the Masai Mara in search of fresh pasture. These animals then return to the Serengeti in October.

Whether witnessing the Great Migration on a Kenyan safari or experiencing the traditional semi-nomadic pastoralist lifestyles of neighbouring Maasai tribes, the reserve is a must-see on any visit to Kenya. 

At a Glance

Languages

English, Swahili

Currency

Kenyan Shilling (KES)

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Odysseys by Goway

Elephant in Samburu National Reserve
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Kenya Odyssey

Masai Mara National Reserve, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru National Park, Mount Kenya National Park, Samburu National Park, and Nairobi
Discover Kenya on a Goway-exclusive small-group safari, exploring Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara on select departures.
8 days
From US$4,049/p.p.
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Escorted Tours

Lion playing with very young cubs, Masai Mara
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Highlights of Kenya: Masai Mara to Amboseli

Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve, Masai Mara, and Nairobi
Experience Kenya on a small-group safari through the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli, with unforgettable wildlife and landscapes.
7 days
From US$2,975/p.p.
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Escorted Tours

Plains Zebra, Ngorongoro Crater
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East Africa Explorer

Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve, Masai Mara, and Nairobi
Experience the best of Kenya and Tanzania on a small-group safari through the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and more.
13 days
From US$8,116/p.p.
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Stays of Distinction

Xanadu Luxury Villas
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Deluxe Safari & Island Romance: Kenya & Zanzibar

Zanzibar, Masai Mara National Reserve, Masai Mara, and Nairobi
Experience the perfect blend of adventure and romance with a Deluxe Kenya safari and Zanzibar escape, combining wildlife with Indian Ocean relaxation.
9 days
From US$12,127/p.p.
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Leopard hunting in savannah
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The Best of Kenya: Nairobi, Masai Mara & Amboseli

Amboseli National Park, Nairobi, Masai Mara National Reserve, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru National Park, Mount Kenya National Park, and Samburu National Park
Experience the best of Kenya on an epic safari through Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Tsavo West, Amboseli and more.
13 days
From US$8,105/p.p.
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Odysseys by Goway

Leopard in the Masai Mara, Kenya
+1

East Africa Odyssey

Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru National Park, Mount Kenya National Park, Samburu National Park, and Nairobi
Discover Kenya and Tanzania on a Goway-exclusive small-group safari through Samburu, the Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and more.
14 days
From US$10,979/p.p.
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Masai Mara
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Masai Mara Safari & Seychelles Island Escape

Praslin Island, Nairobi, Masai Mara National Reserve, and Masai Mara
Explore the wonders of a Masai Mara safari paired with a relaxing Seychelles island escape on Praslin.
11 days
From US$11,257/p.p.
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Lions in the Serengeti
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Classic East Africa: Kenya & Tanzania

Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru National Park, Amboseli National Park, and Nairobi
Experience the best of Kenya & Tanzania on an unforgettable safari featuring Amboseli, the Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Naivasha.
11 days
From US$10,989/p.p.
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What do the experts say?

David Wong

David Wong

Team Lead
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Goway guests can enjoy unforgettable moments like bush breakfasts, night game drives, and personalized safaris in luxury tented camps
David Wong

David Wong

Team Lead
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The Samburu Reserve is one of the most colourful game-viewing areas in the country, home to species found nowhere else—like the reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra
David Wong

David Wong

Team Lead
Learn More About This Expert
In peak months like August, the migration draws huge crowds to the river crossings. But conservancies around the Mara limit vehicle numbers, so you still get intimate wildlife moments
David Wong

David Wong

Team Lead
Learn More About This Expert
Kenya offers the best wildlife viewing with the world-renowned Masai Mara, plus unique species only found in places like Samburu.
Bijal Kana

Bijal Kana

Destination Specialist
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I wouldn’t recommend self-driving as Kenya’s roads can be tricky, and they drive on the left side, which can confuse visitors used to North American systems

The Great Migration

The Great Migration is the name for the movement of over 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle during the dry season on the East African savanna. The herds move around 2,000 kilometres/125,000 miles from the southern expanse of the Serengeti Plains and Ngorongoro Crater to the Masai Mara National Reserve and back down to the southern Serengeti again in search of food and water. Many visitors come for the Wildebeest Migration and the best time to visit the Masai Mara for this famous spectacle is between July/early August and the end of November although due to varying rainfall patterns, the exact timing varies from year to year.

Witnessing the Great Migration is one of the greatest experiences a person can have on their African vacation. Everyone who has the chance to stand up in their jeep and gaze out on thousands of animals moving across the plains should take that opportunity. 

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