Activities in Masai Mara Reserve -Top 10 Things To Do, Kenya Safari

Discover the best safari activities in Masai Mara National Reserve. Top 10 things to do or unforgettable adventures to enjoy on Kenya safaris in Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Step into a world where nature’s raw beauty comes alive –the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s hidden wildlife jewel invites you to embark on unforgettable adventures.

Ever imagined the thrill of tracking lions as they prowl the golden savanna under the vast African sky or witnessing the Great Migration where millions of wildebeest and zebras traverse the plains, painting a moving landscape of life and survival?

From the intimate encounters with the iconic Big 5 to the serene experiences on aerial hot air balloon tours above breathtaking vistas at sunrise, every moment in the Masai Mara National Reserve promises great wilderness adventures.

Book a Kenya safari to Masai Mara with premium Africa safaris, a subsidiary of Flawless Adventure Planners Limited to awaken your travel spirit.

Masai Mara National Reserve tours beckon different categories of visitors including the seasoned explorers and curious visitors. Here, we have provided the ultimate guide to exciting safari activities in Masai Mara Reserve.

Top Activities to Experience in Masai Mara Kenya

On a captivating safari in Maasai Mara National Reserve, expect to indulge in several experiences. The amazing activities in Masai Mara include game drives, nature walks, hot air balloon tours, the Great Migration Experience, birding, and community visits or cultural tours.

About Masai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most explored destinations in Kenya. Nestled in the far Southwestern Kenya just close to the Tanzania border, Masai Mara is an extensive nature reserve. Masai Mara extends up to 1510 sq. km and shares a lot of its ecosystem with Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.

Overall, Masai Mara Reserve protects up to 95 mammal species, 570 species of birds, and more. The Greater Maasai Mara ecosystem comprises the Mara Triangle and Private Maasai Conservancies. The Mara Triangle divides the reserve by the Mara River and overall, the reserve supports all the Big 5 game.

Unforgettable Adventures –Top 10 Activities in Masai Mara National Reserve

1. Game drives
2. Great Migration
3. Birding or Bird-watching
4. Nature walks
5. Hot air balloon tours
6. Picnic Viewing
7. Cultural experiences
8. Camping
9. Horseback riding
10. Photography

Game drives

Masai Mara National Reserve is most popular for its enriching guided Big 5 game drives. A visit to Masai Mara for game viewing involves exploring the Big 5 game in a single habitat and many other wildlife. The popular encounters on a game drive in Masai Mara include lions, leopards, cape buffaloes, rhinos, giraffes, elephants, zebras, cheetahs, gazelles, hyenas, elands, oribis, crocodiles, hippos, and more.

A typical game drive in Masai Mara takes you through the early morning game viewing or afternoon. All the two sessions offer unique encounters with wildlife in the savanna wilderness. The nocturnal species are often encountered during the late afternoon game viewing or night game drive.

Birding or bird-watching

A birding expedition in Masai Mara allows you to search for numerous birds including the rosy-throated long shrikes, rufous-billed herons, cattle egret, long-tailed cormorants, African fish eagle, Kori bustards, Usambiro barbet, Rupell’s vultures, ostriches, martial eagles, and sacred ibis.

Additional birds to find on birding tour in Masai Mara include the purple grenadier, lazy cisticola, giant kingfisher, cinnamon-breasted bunting, African wood owl, Abdim’s storks, Jackson’s widow birds, grey-crested helmet-shrike, red-throated tits, Swahili sparrow, white-bellied go-away birds, Tabora cisticola, saddle-billed storks, rufous-bellied heron, woolly necked stork, Temminck’s courser, and secretary birds. During the birding excursion, expect to be led by an experienced guide from Masai Mara.

Witness the Great Migration

The Great Migration is the most powerful event and experience awaiting any enthusiastic nature lover. The Great Migration occurs between June and September allows you to observe over 1.5 million wildebeest embark on a journey to search for pasture and water. This journey includes other grazers or mammals such as zebras, and Thompson’s gazelles.

The most migration of the Great Migration experience is the Mara River crossing. The Mara crossing happens when these mammals cross from the Serengeti ecosystem to search for greener pastures in Masai Mara. They cross the infested crocodile Mara River and after crossing, they encounter yet another challenge as the predators patiently wait to hunt them down.

The calving season shouldn’t also be missed on a tour of Masai Mara. The calving period is when several of the wildebeest give birth and predators can be spotted in large numbers as they hunt for calves and mothers.

Nature walks

Guided walking safaris are best done in Masai Mara and the amazing bit is that you have a chance to immerse yourself deep into the areas hardly reached by a 4×4 safari vehicle. A nature walk offers a close interaction between a client and the attractions in Masai Mara.

Horseback riding

Guided horseback riding is one of the activities in Masai Mara Reserve. Through horseback riding, you can get insight into different animals including hartebeest, giraffes, leopards, leopards, elephants, lions, and more. Horseback riding tours offer an eco-tourism experience or a better alternative to promote sustainable or responsible travel.

Hot air balloon

Do you enjoy aerial game viewing? If yes, then consider embarking on the hot air balloon excursion. Expect to enjoy aerial views of Masai Mara wildlife rather than using a 4×4 safari vehicle. You can opt for the sunrise or sunset balloon tours.

Camping & photography

Masai Mara is known for its unique camping experiences. Camping tours in Masai Mara take you through deep immersion in nature. On a camping excursion, you get whispers of the wild including the roars of the lions.

Cultural experience

Visit the Maasai people in their community adjacent to the Masai Mara Reserve. A cultural tour of the Maasai community allows you to explore more about the Maasai people and their distinct traditions.

Best time to visit Masai Mara

July to October offer excellent weather conditions for tourists to explore the Maasai Mara Reserve. These are the dry months of the year when you can experience the unforgettable wildebeest Migration experience, and game drive to see the Big 5 game and other mammals. The dry season also marks the peak season of the year meaning crowds are recorded in the reserve and accommodation properties.

In the wet season (from November to March), the number of tourists visiting Masai Mara reduces. It is around the wet season when heavy rain is recorded in Masai Mara and it is best for budget travelers.

Where to stay

Accommodation options present in and around Masai Mara National Reserve include budget, mid-range, and luxury. They include Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, Soroi Private Wing, Sand River Masai Mara, Sarova Mara Game Camp, Sentinel Mara Camp, Talek Bush Camp, Mara Chui Resort, and Jambo Mara Safari Lodge.

Travel Plan to Masai Mara National Reserve