Travel Checklist
Best times to visit
At Masa Mara you can see wildlife throughout the year. The best time depends on what you intend to achieve or your objective.
If you want to witness the “great migration”, please visit between the months of mid-July to 1st week of September. This is when the “great migration” takes place, when over a million wildebeests, also known as Gnus, migrate into Masai Mara from Serengeti and cross the Mara river in herds – a spectacle to behold. If you have patience and get lucky you can also see crocodiles taking down the Gnus when they cross the Mara river. However, this is when the entire world descends on Kenya, please expect hundreds of vehicles all over the park, and needless to mention, its more expensive.
Mid-December to the end of April in my opinion, is the best time to visit, if you are not that keen on witnessing the great migration. Please don’t get me wrong, “the great migration” is awesome. However, during this time Masai Mara generally does not have that many visitors and is perfect for photographers. During this period you can spend time with the wildlife of your choice and take great photos and videos without annoying vehicles spoiling your shot. Being a wildlife photographer, this is my favorite time to be in Mara.
