Best time to visit Masai Mara -How to avoid crowds on my holiday in Masai Mara? – When to see the Wildebeest Migration?
Best time to visit Masai Mara – One of the most popular safari destinations on the planet Earth, Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve provides traveller/tourists with an authentic African safari experience. Expect picturesque scenery and regal Maasai people clad in striking red garb, and of course the Mara is best known for the annual Great Migration of millions of wildebeest and thousands of zebra.
But, when is the real best time to go to Masai Mara?
If you try to ask around before your travel, everyone will have a different opinion on when is the best time to visit the Masai Mara. This is because everyone has their own preferences and ideal safari activities in Mara.
Being an African child, and a safari guide, I have personally visited the Masai Mara in all seasons and I can purely guarantee that the Reserve is fruitful all year round, so you can visit at any time of your wish. Each and every month of the year offers something wonderful and different, with a memory changing experience.
At the end of the day it’s all going to boil down to what safari experience best suits you, and you make up your mind to make a choice with Great Adventure Safaris month by month holiday experience in Mara.
January safari in Masai Mara
You can expect lush green valleys and great animal sightings during January. The game is plentiful and the skies are beautifully clear, day and night. With fewer tourists, you’ll feel that you have the Masaai Mara all to yourself!, This is also the time of the lesser known “Loita” or northern migration which is predominantly a wildebeest and zebra migration into the Olare Motorogi and Mara North Conservancies, with the animals often remaining until March each year. While the daytime temperatures are hot, the evenings and nights are comfortably cooler.
February Safari in Masai Mara
This is a time of clear skies and plentiful game, when the short-grass animals head to, and congregate, around the remaining permanent waterholes in our area, often attracting predators. Fewer tourists mean an “almost exclusive” feel to the Masaai Mara and the game viewing remains excellent.The “Loita” wildebeest migration remains in the Olare Motorogi and Mara North Conservancies. Daytime temperatures are hot and conditions dry – perfect game-drive weather.
March Safari in Masai Mara
Widespread and plentiful game is what March is all about. Again, fewer tourists mean that the Masaai Mara is your “private playground” with the “Loita” wildebeest joined by additional zebra in the Olare Motorogi and Mara North Conservancies – this all a precursor to the larger herds heading northward from the Serengeti, which usually arrive toward late July. Rivers are beginning to run lower, so waterholes are usually rich with wildlife of all kinds. Predators tend to focus on the wildlife congregating here, resulting in superb natural and dramatic photographic opportunities. Daytime temperatures are hot, with evenings remaining nice and warm with very nice sunset.
April Safari in Masai Mara
April means our rain starts to arrive, resulting in the land transforming into a green and magical paradise. Flowers blossom and life all around us is reborn, with frogs breeding in scattered pools of water, migratory birds arriving and dung beetles emerging. It is a time of plenty with amazing game viewing. The “Loita” wildebeest and zebra migration remains in full swing in the Olare Motorogi and Mara North Conservancies.
The rains can be persistent at this time of year and the roads may be in poor condition. Wildlife viewing can be a little more challenging at this time of year as the vegetation is more overgrown.
May safari in Masai Mara
We start to see topi returning to our areas now, and the black widow birds begin their courtship displays and castle-building to attract mates.
By now the grass is beautifully tall, meaning the grazers are having a wonderful time! The “Loita” wildebeest and zebra are in full force within the Olare Motorogi and Mara North Conservancies by now. Occasional rain keeps the grasslands lush and filled with game. The rains can be persistent at this time of year and the roads may be in poor condition. Temperatures are pleasant in the day and cool in the evenings.
June safari in Masai Mara
It is elephant time in the Masai Mara, with the start of the breeding season. Expect to see large concentrations of these magnificent animals, with lots of breeding herds being shadowed by large bulls.
There is also excellent general game viewing and the occasionally cloudy sky offers the chance for great landscape photography. The “Loita” migration tends to depart the area now in preparation of the southern migration’s arrival next month.
July in the Masai Mara (Great Wildebeest Migration)
The great annual or southern migration most often arrives in the Maasai Mara by mid to late July, so this is the chance to see those legendary wildebeest river crossings! The grass is low by now, which means great game viewing throughout the region. Masai Mara National Park tends to get crowded at this time of year. You may wish to consider staying in one of the bordering private conservancies, where you still have the same quality of wildlife viewing without the crowds, this is the peak and best time to visit Masai Mara National park in Kenya.
August safari in Masai Mara
August means wildebeest everywhere! This is the peak migration period, which sees the wildebeest rutting, with bulls fighting over females. Constant river crossings mean a lot of predator action from crocodiles and lions shadowing the herds. Masai Mara National Park tends to get crowded at this time of year. Private conservancies offer the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle.
September safari in Masai Mara
The migration results in short, cropped grass as the wildebeest and zebra eat their fill. This makes September a great time to see predators.
It is also the time that warthog and topi give birth. The river crossings are slowing down by now. Masai Mara National Park tends to get crowded at this time of year. Private conservancies remain a haven of peace.
October safari in Masai Mara
October sees the migrating wildebeest and zebra beginning to run back southwards towards the Serengeti, so it is a good time for more river crossings and continued predator action.The general game viewing remains brilliant.
November safari in Masai Mara
It is the start of the short rains, which means lush grass, lots of babies, and clear morning skies with stunning sunrises. With fewer tourists you once more feel that you have the area to yourself, with amazing game viewing par for the course. Although the southern migration has departed, resident antelope as well as predators remain ensuring fantastic wildlife sightings for guests.The northern or “Loita” migration starts trickling back in to our area again from around the middle of the month. Wildlife spotting can be a little more challenging at this time of year as the vegetation is more overgrown.
December safari in Masai Mara
The summer thunderstorms are here again ensuring lush, green grass, flowers of every hue and lots of baby animals. The game viewing is superb as they enjoy the flush of new grasses. A great place to spend Christmas and New Year! The rising temperatures give way to occasional spectacular lightning storms and welcoming rain, heralding a new life cycle across the plains.
The above month by month experience can help you choose the best time to visit Masai Mara all year round and you can contact Great Adventure Safaris to organize a life time holiday vacation in East Africa.
