The Maasai Mara

The Maasai Mara is the jewel of Kenya's safari country and one of the greatest wildlife reserves on earth, a vast expanse of golden, rolling savanna dotted with acacia trees in the southwest. It teems year-round with lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs and abundant plains game, but is most famous as the stage for the climax of the Great Migration, when millions of wildebeest and zebra cross its crocodile-filled rivers in a dramatic spectacle.

What you actually see

• The big cats - the lions, cheetahs and leopards of the Mara.
• The Great Migration - the river crossings of wildebeest and zebra in season.
• The Big Five - lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino.
• A balloon safari - the dawn flight over the savanna.

When to go

July to October is the classic season, when the Great Migration is in the Mara and the dramatic river crossings happen; wildlife is superb year-round, though, and the green low season is quieter, cheaper and good for birds and newborns.

Honest expectations

The famous river crossings of the migration are unpredictable and never guaranteed on any given day, so patience and a few days help. In peak season, popular sightings can draw a crowd of safari vehicles. It ranges from budget camps to luxury lodges, and the private conservancies bordering the reserve offer a less crowded, pricier experience.

Nearby

The Serengeti in Tanzania adjoins across the border; Lake Nakuru and Amboseli are elsewhere in Kenya.