Kenya (Masai Mara)

Kenya (Masai Mara) – What you should know

The Masai Mara lies at around 1,500 metres, which is why it never gets oppressively hot despite being close to the equator: 26–29°C by day all year, but only 14–16°C at night. Morning game drives starting before sunrise call for a jacket — one of the most common planning mistakes on a first trip to Kenya.

The year is shaped by two rainy seasons: March and April at 117 and 162 mm, November and December at 138 and 126 mm. The dry season from July to September, at 15 to 44 mm, is the clearest phase — and simultaneously the best time for wildlife viewing, because the vegetation is low and animals gather at the remaining water sources.

The great migration falls into exactly this window: between roughly July and October, the wildebeest and zebra herds cross the Mara River from the Serengeti. The precise timing varies each year with the rains and cannot be guaranteed. Anyone seeking fewer visitors and lower prices will find a second, shorter dry spell in January and February, with equally good visibility.