Masai Mara Migration Safari Tour, Kenya - 8 Days

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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