BEST TIME TO VISIT MASAI MARA

The best time to visit Masai Mara is for the world-famous Great Wildebeest Migration, from Mid-July to Mid-September. Due to varying rainfall patterns, the exact timing varies year to year depending on climate change. Some years the rains might be early, and the herds will arrive and depart sooner, while other times the late rains make the wildebeest arrive later and you`ll still find strangers.

However, the pioneer grazers are zebras they usually arrive first to clear the top grass leaving the nutritious layer of grass to wildebeest.

The Masai Mara is widely regarded as a fantastic year-round safari destination. Its wide and open plains mean there is virtually always something to see- no matter what time of the year you visit.

January

January is one of the year’s warmest months in the Masai Mara. It`s not as rainy as December, with an average of 15 days of rainfall through the month, and if it does rain it`s usually just a short-burst shower in the afternoon. This is the best time to visit Masai Mara if you are a birding enthusiast as the migratory species from North Africa, and Europe can be spotted frequently in the area. January is also birthing season and is the time when new life is abundant

February

In February thousands of baby animals are born a day, and the birthing season goes on until March. This is when to visit the Masai Mara Game reserve for a safari to avoid the crowds, and to witness Africa`s big cats stalk the plains game. Plus, it is a fantastic time for a photography tour because you`ll often have massive tracts of Land and sightings all to yourself.

March

 March is a rainy month in the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Most days will have afternoon thundershowers, and these conditions can cause flooding, and some cams begin to sell low-season deals.

April

April is a low-season month and has more rainfall than any other time of the year. It`s slightly cooler than in March but it`s still warm. This is the period of the long rains and few Masai Mar Lodges and Camp May close over this time to attend to general maintenance and refurbs, and to give staff a long, and well-deserved break.

May

May has less rainfall but it`s still one of the wettest times of the year in the Masai Mara. This period does mark the start of some slightly cooler months in Kenya which usually last until September. If you want to visit the Mara during May we recommend a fly-in Safari.

June

June Marks the end of long rains and the start of the busy season. It`s a much drier month, and the days are far cooler than any other time of the year. The vegetation is still lush and dense from all the rainfall and even though the animals can sometimes be hard to spot, it`s still considered one of the best times to visit the Masai Mara Game Reserve. Most of the great Migration herds are yet to arrive, and preparations are well underway for their imminent appearance.

July

In July the wildebeest herds may start to arrive in the Masai Mara Game Reserve after their journey from Serengeti. The daytime conditions are very pleasant with warm weather, but it can get cold in the evenings and on early morning game drives. It is the driest month of the year which keeps the wildlife within reach of their watering holes. This is the best time to spot the big five in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, but it`s one of the busiest months of the year – prices go up, and sightings can become crowded in the national reserve.

August

August is another dry month of the year in the Masai Mara game reserve has the same cooler temperatures as July, especially at night. August is a popular month to witness the daily spectacle of the Great Migration, as well as the famous Mara river crossings. But these crossings cannot be predicted- sometimes they delay.

September

September is slightly warmer than August with high daytime temperatures and cold nights. It`s still the dry season, which makes for exceptional game viewing and it`s still a great month to spot the great migration in full swing.

October

Things begin to heat up in the Mara during October, and it is one of the hottest months of the year. Most of the wildebeest herds are still in and around the Mara.

November

November`s short summer rains trigger the last leg of the Great Migration when the wildebeest move south to Serengeti calving grounds. The only downside can be the rain, but the rains are usually short.

December

December is less busy at the start of the month than during the peak season months but can get busy in the national Reserve over the festive seasons. ( During Christmas, and New Year)

Visit Adventure Maasai Mara for more details.