Best time to visit the Masai Mara

Go on a game drive. The Masai Mara’s raison d’etre is its incredible wildlife; it hosts the Big Five as well as the million wildebeest that thunder through on their annual migration from the Serengeti, joined by zebra and antelope. Vulture swirl menacingly above, while the Nile crocodiles – who only eat twice a year, during the river crossings – remain statue-still, awaiting their unlucky prey. Big cats are a Mara speciality – with cheetah joining leopard and lion in the savannah. Hippos snort in the rivers, while the highly endangered black rhino can be tracked up in the hills. While it can get busy along the Mara River at peak crossing times, there are plenty of meaning the wildlife experiences are exclusive and unspoiled by encroaching safari vehicles.

Bring some stories. Kenyan culture involves a lot of sitting around a fire and telling stories; this is a land of oral history and folklore, and if someone shares the gift of a story, the best way to thank one is to tell one in return. So swot up on your storytelling skills to show gratitude to your hosts!

Bring the kids! The Masai Mara is one of the most child-friendly safari spots in the whole of Africa, with family rooms in safe, welcoming lodges, wildlife experiences designed to inspire young minds, and the opportunity to learn how to track game through the bush. Children will also love meeting the Maasai and learning about their daily life, from milking goats to warrior spear throwing.

Ignore the locals. For too long, local communities have been shut out of both tourism and conservation in Africa, when in truth they have a very valuable contribution to make to both. Employment created through tourism creates sustainable income – which deters poaching. And in the conservancies surrounding the reserve, Maasai land is leased to safari companies, meaning the Maasai can earn money while continuing to practice traditions on their ancestral lands. What’s more, visitors have much to learn from these custodians who have lived alongside the Big Five for centuries, and meeting them is as memorable as encountering the Mara’s wildlife.

View it all through a lens, as Andrew Appleyard, from our supplier Exodus, explains: “My top tip for watching the migration would be to ban photography for an hour. Too many people just shoot Africa through a lens and come back with 7,000 images – but don’t actually just sit there and take it all in. So I make everyone put their cameras down, turn their engines off and just sit there and watch it.”

Stay in your vehicle. The Masai Mara’s status as a national reserve means that it’s not bound up in the same rules as a national park – and activities such as off-roading, night drives and walking safaris are permitted. You certainly can’t wander off into the bush alone – but a walk with a Maasai guide will let you experience the reserve from a whole different perspective, as you learn to track animals based on prints – and poo – and have the spine tingling thrill of being on foot around the Big Five.

“The balance between the culture and the game drives was perfect. It made us realise that there is more to Kenya than the wildlife. The highlight obviously for many would have been the game drives, of which we saw 2 kills and much more but for us the overall warmth and passion of all African people that we met will remain in our memories forever.” – Dorian Oates

“I would have to rate the interactions with the Maasai tribes people as being the most surprisingly meaningful and educational components of the trip. I was expecting our interactions to feel awkward and "touristy", but that part of the trip was an eye-opener about the current issues and concerns of these people. We had frank, meaningful and very interesting discussions.” – Shelley Munro

“Spend time talking to everyone you meet, especially during the cultural tours, everyone has an interesting story and they will make you think hard about what you thought you knew about Africa.” – Mark Collier

“Bring some pictures of you and your family back home to show to people. I found that the people we met were generally curious about what our home was like. During the homestay, we were given several pictures of the host family's extended family to bring home with us. Unfortunately, we had no pictures to return.” - Erik Hadley

“It is useful to stock up with a good supply of 100, 200 and 500 shilling notes before leaving Nairobi, because they are useful if you feel the need to tip people or even if buying beadwork etc from the Maasai or Kikuyo. They are unlikely to have change of very large notes.” – Raymond McEvoy

“Bring a wildlife guide book and have a look through before you arrive so you know what to look for (there is more to see than giraffes and big cats!). Bring a Swahili dictionary or phrase book. Just knowing a few words really helps relations with local people.” – Holly Foat

“Listen to your driver-guides! They are extremely knowledgeable and you will be amazed at how much you can learn from them, they have all studied for many years to be able to take groups out and tell you about a vast number of animals, birds and plants.” – Amelia Shepherd