Game Reserve0 ToursMaasai Mara National Reserve
Maasai Mara National Reserve in south-western Kenya is the best known wildlife area in the country and the Kenyan end of the wildebeest migration. It suits first-time safari guests, families and photographers who want big cats on open grassland, and it is the usual choice for a classic Kenya safari. A game drive day starts at sunrise and returns for a late breakfast, with a second drive in the late afternoon. Lions, cheetahs and leopards are seen on most days, along with elephants, giraffes and large herds of zebra. Some guests add a sunrise hot-air balloon flight [ADD: balloon operator and price]. The honest trade-off is crowds in the migration months. The herds usually arrive around July and leave around October, and the river crossings can draw many vehicles. Private conservancies next to the reserve limit vehicle numbers and allow night drives and walks, but cost more. Pick the area for your month. Most guests fly from Nairobi to a Mara airstrip, which takes under an hour, or drive for most of a day. A Mara safari fits well before a flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar for a week on the beach (direct flights take about 1 hour 30 minutes).