Nestled in southern Kenya, on the border with Tanzania, Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya's premier wildlife reserve. Made famous by the migration phenomenon, it is also a paradise for birdwatchers and a playground for numerous carnivores. Discover the list of animals you can observe on a Masai Mara safari.

Did you know?

Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the few reserves in Africa where you can see the Big 5 during a single safari. The Masai Mara Big 5 includes lions, African elephants, rhinoceroses, Cape buffalo and leopards.

The animals of the great migration that you can see in Masai Mara

Masai Mara is known for offering one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world: the Great Migration. Every year, between July and October, millions of animals move between the Serengeti plains in Tanzania and the Masai Mara savanna in southwestern Kenya.

Among the main actors in the Great Migration in Kenya, there are three types of herbivorous mammals:

• Wildebeest: major figures of the Great Migration, an estimated 1 to 2 million wildebeest undertake the migration;

• Antelopes: among the different antelope species you can observe in Masai Mara, you can find crescent-horned cobes, Coke's hartebeest, topis, impalas and Grant's and Thomson's gazelles.

• Zebras: members of the equid family, these mammals also migrate in thousands.

Beyond herbivores, the Great Migration is an ideal hunting ground for hungry carnivores (see the section on predators).

Other herbivores you can see in Masai Mara

In addition to the herbivores you can see during the Great Migration, Masai Mara is home to other herbivore species that you can encounter year-round:

• Masai giraffe,

• African elephant,

• Eland,

• Oribi,

• Steenbok,

• Dik-dik,

• Warthog,

• Hippopotamus (which can be seen in the Mara River waters),

• Black rhinoceros.

Good to know:

Masai Mara is the only Kenyan national park where you can find an indigenous population of black rhinoceroses (meaning their presence is natural and did not require human intervention). It should be noted, however, that they are very few in number because populations have been decimated by poaching. In other words, it is very rare to spot them.

Predators you can see in Masai Mara

Felines

Masai Mara National Reserve is home to several feline species:

• Lion;

• Leopard,

• Cheetah,

• Serval,

• Caracal.

Lions are the most common felines in Masai Mara, although their numbers have decreased significantly in recent years. You can notably see them hunting near the Mara River during the Great Migration. Leopards are increasingly observed during the day in the reserve. Cheetahs, on the other hand, are very difficult to observe. As for servals and caracals, they are rather rare felines.

Other carnivores

The herbivores that inhabit the reserve also attract other types of carnivorous predators, such as:

• Spotted hyena,

• Jackal,

• Bat-eared fox,

• Mongoose (banded mongoose and dwarf mongoose),

• Nile crocodile...

Worth noting:

The Nile crocodile is one of the most observed predators during the Great Migration. They patiently wait for herbivores to cross the Mara River to feast. Fair warning: sensitive souls may find the spectacle difficult to watch!

Primates you can see in Masai Mara

Although Masai Mara National Reserve is not the kingdom of monkeys, there are still a few primate species including:

• Baboon,

• Green monkey,

• Black-and-white colobus (a very rare species).

Birds you can see in Masai Mara

With its vast wild spaces and variety of landscapes, Masai Mara National Reserve is one of Africa's finest birdwatching sites and one of Kenya's best bird-watching areas.

With nearly 500 recorded species, it's impossible to list them all, but here are some to give you an idea:

• Ostrich,

• Pelican,

• Marabou stork,

• Herons and egrets (grey heron, little egret, Goliath heron, black-headed heron, intermediate heron...),

• Crowned crane

• Lilac-breasted roller,

• African grey hornbill,

• Southern ground hornbill,

• Secretary bird,

• Crowned lapwing,

• Sacred ibis,

• Red-headed weaver

• Eurasian spoonbill,

• Egyptian goose,

• Jabiru stork,

• Secretary bird,

• Raptors (fish eagle, martial eagle, kingfisher, African hawk eagle, messager sagittaire, African dwarf falcon...)

• etc.

Code of conduct for a safe safari in Masai Mara:

As with any safari, it is important to follow certain rules to preserve the environment, respect the tranquility of animals and ensure the safety of visitors. Here's what you need to know:

• Never exceed the 50 km/h speed limit when doing a self-drive safari;

• Always stay on designated tracks;

• Never leave your vehicle outside authorized areas (such as viewpoints and picnic areas);

• Never block a river crossing during the Great Migration;

• Avoid crossing herds of animals (it is advisable to slow down and let the animals pass or disperse naturally);

• Always maintain a safe distance from animals (minimum 25 m);

• Do not make noise or large gestures to avoid frightening and disturbing the animals;

• Never feed the animals;

• Collect all your waste and never leave any litter (even biodegradable) during your visit;

• Never collect anything from the reserve (bones, feathers, stones, plants...): what belongs to nature must stay in nature!