Masai Mara

Wide open spaces never looked so good!  The Masai Mara is one of Africa’s pinnacle reserves and arguably the best safari destination in the world.  It’s a place where you’ll find spectacular skies, tons of wildlife, Africa’s top predators, a unique culture that is the Maasai people, and of course, The Great Migration. 

The Masai Mara is located in southwest Kenya and connects with Tanzania’s Serengeti to form the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.  Every year when the Great Migration arrives in Kenya, two million wildebeest and zebra dot the landscape and fight their way through the trenches of the Mara River and its ferocious crocodiles, hoping to live another day and enjoy the riches of the nutritious grasses that await them.  Of course, other predators are always lurking just around the corner.  The best time to experience the Great Migration is usually between July and October.  Seeing this quest for survival play out before you is unforgettable, and you never know which way it’s going to go.  Will the wildebeest make it across or will the crocodiles catch their dinner?   

Even though the Masai Mara is known for the Great Migration, it’s also a tremendous year-round safari destination that continually produces epic wildlife sightings even in “off-peak” times.  Predators are still hunting (even more so since there is less food around), cubs are still playing, the vegetation is greener and the crowds have died down.  If you want to check out the beautiful Masai Mara from a really unique vantage point, take flight in a hot air balloon ride and cruise above the wildlife-speckled landscape for a journey like no other. 

Visiting the Masai Mara isn’t just about seeing the animals, it’s also about getting to know the local people, learning who they are, what their life is like and what they’re about.  Developing an understanding of other people and cultures that are different from your own brings us closer together as one and makes the world a better place.  

The Maasai people are one of the few tribes that have maintained much of their cultural traditions.  They are known for their colorful clothing, beaded jewelry, chanting songs and high-flying jumps.  The Maasai live a humble, semi-nomadic lifestyle and welcome sharing their culture with visitors.  But don’t just read about their culture, experience their culture alongside tribal members around a camp fire or on a visit to a local village.  Embrace this opportunity because connections are ready to be made, and a Maasai experience will for sure be a treasured jewel of your African journey. 

Trust me, the Masai Mara is a place you don’t want to miss.  Dramatic skies from sunrise to sunset – every shade from baby blue to oranges and reds to purple is on tap in the Mara, the intensity of the legendary Mara River during the Migration, the edge of your seat excitement when you stumble upon big cats on the hunt, crossing paths with the Big 5 & company as they roam the grasslands around you, and engaging with the Maasai people, all woven together to create a truly epic African experience.