The Best Time To Visit Masai Mara in 2024

The legendary plains of Masai Mara are known for the ease of spotting wildlife. This blog will help you choose the best time to visit Masai Mara to see your favourite animals.

The best time to visit Masai Mara is a difficult thing to choose as everyone has their own expectations. Many people enjoy the game drives and seeing the wildlife. Some people may enjoy other activities in Masai Mara. This blog will help you decide which is the best time to visit Masai Mara for you.

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Best Time to Visit Masai Mara During Dry Season

DRY SEASON AT A GLANCE

Months Considered as the Dry Season: June – July – August – September – October

Advantages of the Dry Season: Great Migration in progress, easy wildlife spotting, Low chance of rain, low temperatures, low humidity.

Disadvantages of the Dry Season: Hotels are more expensive compared to Rainy Season, crowded due to high influx of tourists.

The Dry Season in Masai Mara is widely regarded as the best time to visit Masai Mara due to an incredible phenomenon known as the Great Migration.

The Great Migration is the time when herds of animals make their way from Masai Mara in Kenya to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to find new sources of food and water. Most of these animals will return to Masai Mara over the following months.

During the Great Migration, large herds can be seen travelling together. The largest herds belong to zebras and wildebeest. These animals stay together in large numbers to avoid predators.

One of the most thrilling experiences at Masai Mara are the river crossings. Watching the massive herds cross the river is a spectacle in itself, but the drama presented by the presence of crocodiles in the waters gives you a feeling of suspense as you see the crossings happen.

The other reason why the Dry Season is the best time to visit Masai Mara is the weather.

During these months, the temperature is lower than the rest of the year. Additionally, the relative humidity level is also lower. These make for a very comfortable Masai Mara safari experience.

The Dry Season has another advantage, giving it the reputation of being the best time to visit Masai Mara. Due to the lack of rain, particularly in August and September, the vegetation dries up. This makes spotting wildlife much easier.

All of these advantages, however, have a major drawback.

The Dry Season’s reputation for being the best time to visit Masai Mara draws massive crowds, perhaps even more numerous than the wildlife they are coming to see. This influx of tourists is accompanied by higher expenses at every step of your journey – from flights to hotels and transfers.

You will need to book your flights, rooms and tours well ahead of time to get the flight of your choice, the perfect camp, and access to the wide array of spectacular experiences available in Kenya.

Overall, the Dry Season is the best time to visit Masai Mara if it is your first time visiting the Reserve. The excellent weather is complemented with incredible opportunities for a wildlife viewing experience that you cannot find anywhere else on Earth.

Here is a month wise breakdown of the Dry Season In Masai Mara:

June, July and August – There are still chances of rain, however it is very uncommon. Temperatures during the day stay between 22 degrees celsius to 27 degrees celsius. From the night to the morning, the temperatures drop to as low as 12 degrees celsius.

September & October – The temperatures are slightly higher during these months, with daytime temperatures between 25 degrees celsius and 30 degrees celsius. Evenings and mornings are as chilly as before.

Best Time to Visit Masai Mara During Rainy Season

Months Considered as the Rainy Season: November – December – January – February – March – April – May

Advantages of the Rainy Season: Lower prices compared with Dry Season, greener surroundings, more variety of birds compared with Dry Season, higher chance of seeing baby animals, less crowd.

Disadvantages of the Rainy Season: Rain may cause tours and game drives to be cancelled, a few camps may be closed.

The Rainy Season in Masai Mara is often overlooked by people looking for the best time to visit Masai Mara. For those returning to these spectacular plains, this may actually be the best time to visit Masai Mara.

The main drawback of the Rainy Season is the high chance of rain, which has the potential to cancel your scheduled game drives and other experiences.

However, there are many reasons to prefer the Rainy Season over the Dry Season as the best time to visit Masai Mara.

The first reason is that the costs of accommodation during the Rainy Season are significantly lower than during the Dry Season, allowing a greater selection of choices.

The second reason is that this time is when the maximum number of bird species visit this part of the world. There have been over 500 different bird species recorded within Masai Mara during this time, a great opportunity for birdwatchers.

The third reason why the best time to visit Masai Mara may be the Rainy Season is the lush greenery that can be seen throughout the Reserve during this time. The rain clears all the dust out of the air as well, making everything seem even more beautiful.

Another reason to plan your Masai Mara safari during this time is the lower number of tourists. With fewer people and less noise, the animals are usually more relaxed during this season.

An added benefit of visiting Masai Mara during the Rainy Season is the chance of seeing calves, cubs and all forms of baby animals. Predators are also more active during this time, so catching shots of lionesses in action are far more likely during this time.

The Rainy Season is definitely an option that serious wildlife enthusiasts should consider. Although there are chances of rain spoiling your plans, this is also when the Reserve looks its best – and possibly the best time to visit Masai Mara.

Here is a month wise breakdown of the Dry Season In Masai Mara

November & December – During this time, daytime temperatures are between 25 to 32 degrees celsius. It usually rains in the mornings and afternoons in short, intense showers.

January, February, March, April & May – Daytime temperatures during this time are usually pleasant, between 20 to 26 degrees celsius. Mornings are chilly, with a temperature between 9 to 14 degrees celsius. The rain during this time is in the form of long showers of varying intensity.

Dry Season Or Rainy Season – Which is The Best Time To Visit Masai Mara?

The Equator divides Kenya into nearly equal halves. This position renders the traditional seasons of spring, summer, monsoon, autumn and winter ineffective at providing a clear idea of the weather there.

Instead of the aforementioned seasons, the year is divided into two seasons based on rainfall – the Rainy Season and Dry Season. Either one can be the best time to visit Masai Mara depending on your needs and expectations.

The Dry Season is the preferred time for most travellers. The temperatures are relatively low, and the clear weather is perfect for capturing timeless moments.

This time also coincides with the Great Migration, when massive herds of animals make their way to the greener pastures of Tanzania, south of Kenya. The association with the Great Migration is why this time is considered as the best time to visit Masai Mara.

Visitors should be aware that the Dry Season is widely known to be the best time to visit Masai Mara, and the park will be crowded with visitors from all over the world.

The Rainy Season is less preferred for travellers, specifically those visiting for the first time. The Rainy Season can be the best time to visit Masai Mara if you are familiar with travelling in Africa’s National Parks.

Due to the unpredictable nature of rain in Kenya, tours and game drives may be cancelled or cut short. Another issue is that most roads in Masai Mara are dirt roads, which become muddy and difficult to traverse during and after rainfall.

The Rainy Season in Kenya offers a magical experience – it is the time when the highest number of animal births happen in Masai Mara. Seeing the entire circle of life in one tour is a factor that makes this the best time to visit Masai Mara for certain people.

Find The Best Time To Visit Masai Mara With Flying Squirrel Holidays

The best time to visit Masai Mara is always the present, and Flying Squirrel Holidays will certainly be present with you at each step of your journey in Kenya.

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