Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
The Masai Mara National Reserve borders Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, creating one contiguous ecosystem of riverine forests and expansive savanna. Between July and October vast herds of wildebeests and zebras surge up from the Serengeti plains in search of sustenance, creating the annual spectacle known as “The Great Migration”.
Wildlife viewing is excellent year-round though, with resident populations of lions, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos, Cape buffaloes, wildebeests, giraffes, zebras, and many other species. Following the ‘short rains’ of November and December, the Mara springs to life with baby animals, as many plains game species synchronize their births to coincide with this time of plenty. As the little ones trail behind their mothers, predators are never far behind and you may observe lions in big coalitions. This ‘green season’ is prized by photographers for lush vegetation, a lack of crowds, and plentiful predator action.
While in the Masai Mara, we recommend including a visit to a Maasai community for insights into traditional and contemporary tribal life. Or take to the sky in a hot-air balloon for a unique perspective of the plains below.