Every year during July and August, one of nature's most fanstic sights takes place across the Masai Mara. The Great Migration sees almost two million animals - wildebeest, zebras and gazelles - migrate north en masse from the Serengeti in search of pastures new.
It is an incredible sight that not only draws thousands of tourists to Kenya's most famous game reserve, but also large numbers of predators too, including lions, hyenas and cheetahs. Which makes the Masai Mara the perfect place to go on safari.
The Masai Mara covers an area of 1,510 km² in south-west Kenya and is named after the Masai people who live there and the Mara river that divides it. To the immediate south it borders Tanzania and the Serengeti National Park game reserve. Much of the Masai Mara is open grassland, with seasonal riverlets, making it ideal terrain for the animals that call it home.
With 20 or so resident prides, the Masai Mara is a great place to see lions in the wild. Indeed this is where the BBC films the Big Cat Diary series, an intimate look at the lives of lions, cheetahs and leopards in the reserve.
The ungainly wildebeest is the most common animal in the Masai Mara with an estimated 1.3 million taking part in The Great Migration every year. Thomson's Gazelle and other antelopes as well as zebras are also seen in abundance and you will also almost certainly see giraffes too in their natural habitat. Elephants, hippos and rhinos also call the Masai Mara home.
Bird watchers are in for a treat too with over 450 species of birdlife having been identified in the park, including vultures, marabou stork, ostriches and eagles.
The Masai Mara National Reserve is normally reached by plane from Nairobi Wilson Airport or from Samburu, Lewa Downs, Nanyuki or Mombasa. Planes land on one of the small Mara airstrips and from here you need to transfer by car to your particular lodge. The flight from Nairobi only takes about half an hour. You can do the journey by car from Nairobi, but it will take five hours (longer in the rainy season).
Accommodation in the Masai Mara takes the form of lodges and camps and these are the only places where you can safely walk around. Whenever outside of these areas you should remain in a vehicle at all times because of the potential dangers.
Many camp sites and lodges offer game drives with experienced drivers and skilled, well-informed guides. These are well worth the money as they will provide you with priceless knowledge and help you spot animals you wouldn't see on your own. Also make sure you go on safari at different times of the day so that you have the best opportunity to see as much as possible of the wildlife.
And if you want a totally unique perspective of life on the Masai Mara take to the skies in a hot air balloon - your travel agent or tour operator will have more details.
When to visit? Well remember that April, May and November ar traditionally the rainy seasons and are best avoided. July to October is the dry season and that's when to go - if only to witness The Great Migration.
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