Maasai Mara

The Maasai Mara is East Africa's most celebrated wildlife destination, and it earns that reputation every single day. This vast savannah stretching to the Serengeti in Tanzania is home to extraordinary concentrations of predators and prey year round, not just during the famous wildebeest migration. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, and hippos are regular sightings on a typical game drive.

The Great Migration, when over two million wildebeest and zebra cross from the Serengeti into the Mara between July and October, is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth. The river crossings, where herds plunge into crocodile filled waters, are dramatic and unforgettable. But the Mara is outstanding in every month. The resident wildlife does not migrate, and the big cats are arguably easier to find outside peak season.

Accommodation ranges from luxury tented camps with gourmet dining and spa treatments to budget friendly campsites inside the conservancies. The surrounding private conservancies offer night drives, walking safaris, and cultural visits to Maasai communities that the national reserve does not allow. A three night stay gives you a solid introduction, but you could spend a week and still see something new every day.