Best Time to Visit Masai Mara : Masai Mara National Reserve is a perfect world wilderness travel destination located in south-western Kenya that offer a unique climate and exceptional year-round game adventure.
The average daytime temperatures remain excellent while the nights are much cooler. For example; The average daytime temperature raises about 77 F ‘’25 degrees Celsius from June to August while the nighttime lows are around 50 F ‘’10 degrees Celsius.
Then, the average daytime temperature ranges from 79 F ‘’26 degree Celsius’’ in September through May and the temperature drop at night to lows of 55 F ‘’13 degree Celsius’’.
Well, Mara offers rewarding daylight of around 12 hours for all of your outdoor African safari vacation activities. Interestingly these conditions make for a perfect game viewing any time of year.
Like other locations in Kenya, Masai Mara National Reserve experiences two dry seasons and two rainy seasons. Though, the absence of rainfall affects vegetation and water sources hence affecting the movement and concentration of animals. When these resources scare, wildlife cross from the deep interiors to open areas in search of food and also converge to last remaining water sources most especially the Mara and Talek Rivers.
Game Viewing Safari in Mara; At this time of the year offers the greater wildlife visibility with less tracking time needed. More facts, roads and trails conditions are adverse to wet weather with the black cotton soil being a welcoming host to vehicles during the rain’s seasons.
The long cool- dry season from July to October are the busiest months of the year and best time to visit Masai Mari National Park in order to enjoy its beautiful endless plains. Note; they can be costliest season.
The absence of rain means that the flora is less dense and animals are easier to observe. To add to that, insect levels, including mosquitoes, are lower during the dry season.
Note; The long dry season is best time to visit masai mara for game viewing especially the Great Migration as the millions of wildebeest, hundreds of zebras, elands and gazelles arrives in Masai Mara national reserve from the Serengeti National Park. They cross the Mara River in the reserve in search of food and water though some of antelopes are eaten up by the crocodile. Their arrival varies from year to year, in general, the herds arrive in late July to August and also parts of September.
Road conditions are rewarding for game viewing that permits you to see varied terrestrial fauna including massive gnu herds up close and individual. There is highest concentration of prey animals speckled across the reserve and it can be a great time of watching predators while seeking out their next meal with the easiest catch along the riverside since the wildebeest and other antelopes can be crossed over. The most sought-after prey for feline cubs testing their hunting skills like the newborn gazelle, impala or another young mammal.
NB: Road conditions remains fair as the moisture evaporates quickly in equatorial Kenya ‘’heart of Africa’’.
The long dry seasons in the Mara has got a lot in its safari bucket to offer to the international tourists and locals who visits the reserve. Things to do includes; Game drive, Night game drive, Ballon safaris, Guided Nature walk, Picnic view, Cultural tour ‘’Masai people’’, Horseback safaris among others.
Recently, Masai Mara National Reserve opened up to private conservancies, so guests and vehicles are limited in these regulated, low ratio areas hence the effect is lessened. Take note, November and December experiences the short rainfall in Kenya. The rain brings new life to the plains in both food sources and water, for that matter animals return slightly more inland into the bush and forest wilderness.
