The Masai Mara reserve covers 1,500 square kilometers. It is truly the Garden of Eden where one can experience a real African safari adventure. Drive time southwest from Nairobi is around 5 hours or 45 min by plane. The Mara ecosystem is without a doubt one of the world’s most famous parks and at certain times of the year you will be able to see the 8th wonder of the world, the Great Migration. Almost two million wild animals move as one unit made up of wildebeest, zebra, topi and Thompson gazelle running the gauntlet of lions, leopard, cheetah and of course monster crocodiles. This phenomenal spectacle is the cycle of life that has been repeated annually for thousands of years.

The riverine forest hosts some of the most beautiful birds on the planet as well as incredible fauna and flora. More than 470 species of birds have been identified in the park, many of which are migrants, with almost 60 species being raptors. Not only does the Mara have the great migration in wildlife but it also has another great migration from Europe that not many people know about, up to two million barn swallows at certain times of the year who roost in certain swamps.

The Mara is generally known for its large savanna plains dotted with Balanites trees, abundant wildlife but also for the number of blue-chip nature documentaries filmed there, some of which we have had the pleasure to work on including Big Cat Diaries and Planet Earth.

The main park is surrounded by private conservancies where the Maa tribe live in harmony with the wildlife as they have done for hundreds of years and these conservancies hold large numbers of lions and plains game that are closely protected. Safaris to the Mara can be done throughout the year although June-July-August are usually the best times to visit as the herds are in from Tanzania.