When To Visit Maasai Mara National Park : Maasai Mara National park is located in the Southwestern region of Kenya which was first gazette as a national reserve in 1948 and it was officially established as a national park in 1961 with the main importance of protecting all the wildlife animals in the park due to the fact it is a home of about 5 mammal species and also harbours around 570 bird species which can be spotted within different areas of the park. Maasai Mara national park covers a total surface area of about 1510 square kilometers and exploring around this game park always grants you opportunities to go through many tourist destinations such as; the Narok Museum, the Mara river, the private Masai conservancies, the Musasira swamp, the Mara triangle and many others. In addition, before travelling to Maasai Mara national park, tourists research about the annual climate within the park in order to see if it favors them.
Best season to see The Great Migration in Masai Mara National Park.
Undoubtedly, the Great Migration is ranked to be one of the most popular attractions in the Masai Mara region. In addition, this activity always happens between the of months July to October, the Mara is the epic destination where the annual trek of one, 5 million wildebeest from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara region. During this time of year, the savannah is awash with wildebeest, zebras and other herbivores. More so, it is also the time of year known for the dramatic Mara and Talek River crossings. Since its drier this time of year, there is less vegetation, making wildlife viewing much easier.
Although you can travel to the Masai Mara year-round for excellent wildlife viewing, many travelers plan their trip around the Great Migration. The Masai Mara National Reserve, and the popular areas in it, can become rather crowded this time of year. You may even end up tail to tail in a safari vehicle queue at some point or another. If you get in enough traffic jams on your commute to work and want to avoid them on holiday, you can either travel to the Masai Mara during another time of year or perhaps opt to stay at one of the more exclusive and less crowded Masai Mara conservancies. Learn all about the Great Migration.
Lion season
After a bountiful rainy season and an abundance of food and water, the Masai Mara baby boom kicks in. When the plains are brimming with life and young wildebeest, zebra and other herbivore calves are seen dashing through the plains, along come the big cats. It is the circle of life. And the months when tourists can be able to spot the lion species in large numbers is between January to March which are considered to be the ‘Lion season’. More so, with the disappearance of the rains, the grasses become less plentiful and wildlife becomes easier to spot. Therefore, this is the perfect time of year to spot individual lions, or even a pride of lions, out.
Green season
The green season is always between months of March to May mark the arrival of the ‘heavy rains’ in the Masai Mara. The spring rains resemble a paintbrush, bringing the dry African savannah to life and painting the landscape in new shades of green, gold and other vibrant hues. The dusty savannah makes way for swaying grasses and the vast plains are a maternity ward for young impalas, antelopes and other herbivores. The new arrivals attract predators in all shapes and sizes, so do not be surprised if you see a few high-speed chases on the plains this time of year. The green season is also the best time of year for bird watching. Colorful swarms of migrant birds take to the savannah in thousands, flocking to the newly awakened blooming trees brought to life by the rains. This rainy season is also accompanied by lower accommodation rates at safari lodges and tented camps. Since most choose to visit the Masai Mara during the Great Migration, Maasai Mara lodges and camps lower their prices significantly during this time of year. Learn all about Maasai Mara weather & climate.
MAASAI MARA CLIMATE OVERVIEW.
- From January to February, they are the months when the weather seems to be hot and dry. Since water is more scarce this time of year due to the fact that less rainfall is received during this period of time and between these months, tourists always get to overlook at many wildlife species as they drink water from lakes and rivers. More so, bird lovers get to sight see many birds.
- In addition, from months of March to May, it is considered as the rainy seasons when the long rains are received and during this season, this grass vegetation is always giving the shades of green and considered as the bird migration season.
- During months of June – September to October always have Pleasant temperatures which are warm hence considering it a dry season. In addition, during this season always happens to clear blue skies above. More so, this this period of time is seen as a Perfect weather for wildlife safaris and therefore a popular time for safari travel to the Masai Mara.
- From November to December which are well known as the last two months of the year ring in the ‘short rains’ or less intrusive of the two rainy seasons. Expect overcast, cloudy skies and rain showers in the afternoons. More so, during this period, the temperatures are still high, although the mornings can be rather chilly which makes it a perfect time for wildlife viewing and when tourists can engage in several activities like; hiking, boat cruise, guided nature walks and many others.
Therefore, tourists planning to visit Maasai Mara National Reserve more especially when on an adventurous safari should be able to note that the dry season is considered the best time compared to the rainy season.
Contact our trusted tour operators for more information and inquiries about when one should visit in Maasai Mara national park and book with our tours and travel companies such as; Achieve Global Safaris who offer the best tour packages while on your safari in Kenya.
