Masai Mara Migration Safari Tour, Kenya

Kenya Masai Mara Migration Safari

Masai Mara Migration Safari is an eight-day set-departure safari in Kenya. If you are a wildlife enthusiast, this migration safari has to be top of your list. There's no doubt that East Africa's Wildebeest migration is one of the most incredible events in nature anywhere in the world.

More than 2 million head of game, made up mostly by White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus), complete a roughly circular journey through the Serengeti / Masai Mara ecosystem of Tanzania and Kenya, following a primal urge to seek out fresh grazing grounds. It's a clockwise route and by October they are on their way south through the Mara as they set their sights on the short-grass plains of Ndutu and the Serengeti.

Their Masai Mara Migration Safari is by no means rigidly structured though, as they follow signs of rain anywhere in the area, so it's hard to predict events such as the famously chaotic crossings of the Mara River. And even if one misses these, just witnessing the ordeal of the massive herds trekking through the vast open plains of the Masai Mara, followed by predators such as Lion and Spotted Hyena, will be a safari (and even a lifetime) highlight that's honestly hard to beat.

This itinerary kicks off with a night in Nairobi to settle in, followed by an early flight the next day into the Mara, and you can be game viewing by lunchtime! This costs a bit more but avoids the grueling 5 - 6-hour road transfer from Nairobi, so you arrive fresh and ready for your first excursion.

We then have 6 nights in the Masai Mara, divided between two camps in different areas: Mara Serena in the Mara Triangle Conservancy, and Entim Camp in the Masai Mara National Reserve. The camps are located on different sides of the Mara River and together will give us prime locations within the greater Masai Mara conservation area. Full, exciting days out on safari, evenings discussing the highlights around a fire before a wonderful evening meal, followed yet again by an exciting day out in the field - this is an epic African wildlife experience in every way.

Please note: this tour is listed in ZAR (on the Blue Sky Wildlife website only), but will be charged in US Dollars: USD 3,990 $ per person sharing for a full group of 6 participants; USD$ 4,125 for 5 participants; USD $ 4 370 for 4 participants; USD $ 4,770 for 3 participants; USD $ 5,580 for 2 participants; USD $550 single supplement option.

Top 6 Highlights:

A fly-in / fly-out itinerary means that you avoid the long road journeys to and from Nairobi - arrive at your first camp relaxed and ready to start the game viewing!
Experience two different parts of the Masai Mara - the Mara Triangle Conservancy and the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Have unlimited game drives at both camps, maximizing the time spent out looking at all forms of wildlife.
Enjoy stunning views over the Mara from your room at Mara Serena Safari Lodge.
Spend glorious nights under canvas in your luxury tent at Entim Camp.
See the migration, one of the world's most spectacular wildlife events (note though that the timing and route of the migration is impossible to predict with 100% accuracy, and each year is slightly different).

Alternative Tour Name: Masai Mara Migration Safari

Day 1

Day 1 - Arrival in Nairobi

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and get a private transfer through to Eka Hotel, where we'll have a chance to relax and get acquianted before the exciting safari to come. Dinner is for your own account tonight.

Day 2

Days 2 to 4 - The Mara Triangle

Today we'll have time for breakfast before we get a transfer to Wilson Airport for our flight to the Masai Mara. We'll be sending our main luggage by road to bypass the small plane weight restrictions. On arrival in the Mara we'll be met by a camp guide and vehicle to drive through to Mara Serena Lodge for lunch. Our safari guides and touring vehicles will arrive from Nairobi in time for our afternoon game drive, when we'll set out for our first views of the herds and other wildlife of the area. All in all it's going to be an exciting start to the safari! On our full days here we'll have unlimited drives in the Mara Triangle. We'll leave camp early, taking packed meals with us, ranging across the plains in search of the herds of Wildebeest, Zebras and other Gazelles, and their predators such as Lion, Leopard and Cheetah. We'll return to camp in the late afternoons, tired but elated after wonderful days out in the field. In the evenings we'll meet up for drinks and a chance to discuss the day's highlights before a wonderful dinner.

Day 3

Days 5 to 7 -The Masai Mara National Reserve

Today we'll have a morning drive followed by breakfast and a game viewing transfer through to Entim Camp, located on the opposite side of the Mara River in the Masai Mara National Reserve. We should arrive in time for lunch followed by an afternoon drive in the reserve, once again searching for the wonderful wildlife at home in the Masai Mara. Our full days here will be similar to those spent at Mara Serena, with full day game drives, good food and wonderful nights under canvas in exquisite luxury tents listening to the calming sounds of the night.

Day 4

Day 8 - Departure

Today, our final day, we'll have a morning game drive in the reserve with picnic breakfast, before a drive through to Ol Kiombo airstrip for flight with Air Kenya Aviation departing at 11h15. We'll arrive in Nairobi at approximately 13h00. There we'll have a meet & greet

by our Kenyan partners to assist us with a private transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for our outbound flights.

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Why book with Lawson’s Birding, Wildlife and Custom Safaris?

In 2020 we are celebrating our 30th year of running birding and wildlife safaris in Africa. So we have plenty of experience in the game and pride ourselves in creating incredible wildlife holiday experiences for our clients from across the globe. We offer quality wildlife experiences through set-departure and custom safaris, guided by fun and experienced birding and wildlife guides. Like our motto says, "you'll want to return to Africa with us time and time again!" See more on our website.

How does the payment process work?

A deposit will secure your place on the tour, with full payment due 8 weeks before the tour starts. Terms and Conditions apply, we'll give you all the info during the inquiry process.

Is this tour for me?

This tour has mammals as the core focus, but of course there's a lot more to see so it will suit anyone with an interest in natural history, as well as birders (of all levels of skill) and photographers.

What does a tyical day on the tour involve?

With three nights at each camp we've kept the moving around to a minimum to maximise our time out in the field looking for the large herds of animals. We'll generally leave camp first thing in the morning and return in the late afternoon, taking packed meals with us.

Is the tour suitabe for children?

There generally aren't any age limits on the tours, so children are welcome. However, given the nature of the tours (long periods spent in vehicles looking for birds / animals, and not always finding our target species, despite the effort put in), our set-departures probably aren't suitable for children. For families we'd rather recommend a custom-safari, where you can dictate the pace and level of interest, and include more child-friendly accommodation venues. Speak to one of our consultants for advice.

Credit cards or cash?

In general credit cards are widely accepted, though Diner's Club is the exception (Visa and Master are better options). It is a good idea to have some US Dollars on hand for smaller purchases or times when card machines may not be working, and to have small-denomination notes on hand for tipping porters etc. Speak to one of our consultants for more info.

Can we arrange pre-tours and extensions to our set-departures?

Most certainly! We usually recommend coming in a day early to acclimatize and reduce the risk of missing out a day or two due to flight delays or other travel problems, and we are happy to arrange this accommodation for you. And if you would like to extend your time in the country, our consultants are happy to help with suggestions and bookings.

What should I pack?

We send out more detailed packing lists as part of every safari info pack, but basically you'll need comfortable clothing, preferably in neutral colors. In general clothes dry quite quickly for self-washing, and most private places have laundry services, so it's not necessary to over pack. We do recommend some warm gear for all safaris, just in case of cooler weather coming through, and especially for safaris entailing open-vehicle drives. Even at 20 degrees Celsius it can start getting a little chilly on a moving vehicle when you are exposed to the wind. Hats and sunglasses are essential. A torch / flashlight is also essential, and we strongly recommend socks and closed shoes after dark. Adapters - make sure you have the right adapters to be able to charge your devices.

What level of fitness is required?

Unless otherwise stated, our set-departures do not require any advanced degree of fitness, as most of the activities are vehicle-based. Where there is any walking involved this is normally an optional activity so you are welcome to sit it out, and for the most part birding walks are slow and involve frequent stops, more like strolls than hikes.

Can we cater for special dietary requirements?

In general yes - when using restaurants you are able to order whatever item on the menu suits you. When using lodges doing their own catering then advanced warning will usually enable them to cater for your needs. Please indicate any special needs to us well in advance. Note that the food is very good in general on our trips so you don't need to indicate that you are vegetarian just because you are worried about what meat may be served - for the most part it's beef, pork, lamb and chicken, though game meat may be available as an option. Speak to our consultants if you have any specific questions.

What are the expected weather conditions?

The weather in the Masai Mara in October is relatively mild, with highs in the upper 20's (81F), and lows of around 12 - 15 degrees Celsius (54 - 55F). It's still dry generally, though the first showers of the short rain season can be expected.

What's the tour tempo like?

This tour is fast paced. As this is a short tour, we'll pack a lot into our time to make the most of the area. Expect full day safaris on days we aren't in transit, but there should be a bot of time to relax before dinner, and early nights will allow enough time to catch up on sleep before the next day starts.

What's the mammal viewing and birding like?

Mammal viewing: basically, as good as it gets! Expect large herds of Ungulates, and good sightings of a range of predators. Birding in brief: although birds aren't the main focus of the tour, there's a nice array of impressive, colourful and photogenic species to be seen, including vultures and other raptors.

Can I add extra days and destinations to this tour?

Definitely! One can easily add on more time in the Masai Mara, or a visit to Samburu or other parks in Kenya.

What's the accommodation like?

It's of a high standard, comprising safari lodges (one with rooms and another with safari tents).