Masai Mara National Reserve

Wildlife & Animals

Expert

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya’s flagship park. Lion, elephant and buffalo are commonly seen. Leopards are more elusive, although most travelers see at least one during their visit. Black rhino is difficult to find, but they can sometimes be spotted in the northern section of the Mara Triangle. The reserve is one of the best in East Africa for big cats. Smaller predators, such as bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal and spotted hyena, are also present. Antelope include impala, reedbuck, Thomson's gazelle, eland and topi, while giraffe are relaxed and easily spotted.

ElephantCommon

GiraffeCommon

HippoCommon

BuffaloCommon

ZebraAbundant

WildebeestAbundant

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoRare

LionCommon

LeopardOccasional

CheetahCommon

HyenaCommon

Wild DogVery Rare

Wildlife Highlights

The legendary wildebeest migration is one of the world’s most amazing wildlife encounters. Every year is different, but sometime in July and August (and even as late as September), millions of animals leave northern Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and head into the Masai Mara. The crossing of the Mara River along the way is one of the most spectacular moments of the migration. Around October, the migration slowly heads back into Tanzania again.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife viewing in the Masai Mara is good throughout the year, but the months from June to October are relatively dry and offer the best general wildlife watching. The best months for the wildebeest migration are August to October. It should be noted that, although the pattern is well known, the exact timing of the migration varies from year to year as the animals move with the rain looking for greener pastures.