Masai Mara National Reserve

🇰🇪 Kenya

🐆 Cheetah Chase During Migration

🌍 #34 Global · 4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #22 in Africa #23 in Savanna & Grassland

East Africa, Kenya 1402 spp. recorded

Masai Mara National Reserve sits in southwest Kenya as a protected expanse of tropical savanna, defined by wide rolling grasslands and scattered acacia trees. Unlike densely forested parks, this open terrain offers unobstructed views across the plains where golden grasses sway in the wind.

-1.442° S 35.091° E

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Lion

Panthera leo

70–80% · Very likely

Blue Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

50–60% · Likely

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

60–70% · Likely

Leopard

Panthera pardus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

East African Giraffe

Giraffa tippelskirchi

60–70% · Likely

African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana

60–70% · Likely

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

60–70% · Likely

Topi

Damaliscus korrigum

60–70% · Likely

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

50–60% · Likely

Plains Zebra

Equus quagga

50–60% · Likely

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

50–60% · Likely

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

50–60% · Likely

African Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

50–60% · Likely

Cape Turtle Dove

Streptopelia capicola

50–60% · Likely

Rüppell's Glossy-starling

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

50–60% · Likely

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Lion

Panthera leo

70–80% · Very likely

Blue Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

50–60% · Likely

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

60–70% · Likely

Leopard

Panthera pardus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

East African Giraffe

Giraffa tippelskirchi

60–70% · Likely

African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana

60–70% · Likely

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

60–70% · Likely

Topi

Damaliscus korrigum

60–70% · Likely

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

50–60% · Likely

Plains Zebra

Equus quagga

50–60% · Likely

African Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

50–60% · Likely

Thomson's Gazelle

Eudorcas thomsonii

50–60% · Likely

Impala

Aepyceros melampus

50–60% · Likely

Common Warthog

Phacochoerus africanus

40–50% · Likely

Common Eland

Taurotragus oryx

40–50% · Likely

Banded Mongoose

Mungos mungo

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

50–60% · Likely

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

50–60% · Likely

Cape Turtle Dove

Streptopelia capicola

50–60% · Likely

Rüppell's Glossy-starling

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

50–60% · Likely

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

50–60% · Likely

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiaca

50–60% · Likely

Common Bulbul

Pycnonotus barbatus

50–60% · Likely

Common Ostrich

Struthio camelus

50–60% · Likely

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Macronyx croceus

40–50% · Likely

White-backed Vulture

Gyps africanus

40–50% · Likely

Marabou Stork

Leptoptilos crumenifer

40–50% · Likely

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

50–60% · Likely

Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama

Agama mwanzae

40–50% · Likely

Nile Monitor

Varanus niloticus

30–40% · Possible

African Striped Skink

Trachylepis striata

20–30% · Possible

Leopard Tortoise

Stigmochelys pardalis

10–20% · Possible

Flap-necked Chameleon

Chamaeleo dilepis

10–20% · With luck

Helmeted Turtle

Pelomedusa subrufa

10–20% · With luck

Tropical House Gecko

Hemidactylus mabouia

0–10% · With luck

Black-necked Spitting Cobra

Naja nigricollis

0–10% · With luck

Gregory's Blue-headed Agama

Acanthocercus gregorii

0–10% · With luck

Puff Adder

Bitis arietans

0–10% · With luck

Boomslang

Dispholidus typus

0–10% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Common Reed Frog

Hyperolius viridiflavus

10–20% · With luck

African Common Toad

Sclerophrys gutturalis

0–10% · With luck

Anchieta's Ridged Frog

Ptychadena anchietae

0–10% · With luck

Crowned bullfrog

Hoplobatrachus occipitalis

0–10% · With luck

Peters' Foam-nest Tree Frog

Chiromantis petersii

Insufficient data

Senegal Kassina

Kassina senegalensis

Insufficient data

Red-Banded Rubber Frog

Phrynomantis bifasciatus

Insufficient data

Mababe puddle frog

Phrynobatrachus mababiensis

Insufficient data

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog

Chiromantis xerampelina

Insufficient data

Sharp-nosed ridged frog

Ptychadena oxyrhynchus

Insufficient data

Marsabit Clawed Frog

Xenopus borealis

Insufficient data

Howell's Reed Frog

Hyperolius howelli

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Mid-Year Predator Peak and Concentration

Jun

As dry conditions set in, resident herbivores like African buffalo and territorial topi concentrate near permanent water sources, drawing heightened focus from top-tier predators.

African Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

50–60% · Likely

Topi

Damaliscus korrigum

60–70% · Likely

🦌

Wildebeest Calving Season

Feb

A synchronized birthing period on the short-grass plains that simultaneously triggers intense predation pressure from spotted hyenas and opportunistic plains zebra herds sharing the nursery grounds.

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

60–70% · Likely

Plains Zebra

Equus quagga

50–60% · Likely

🦌

The Great Migration Arrival

JulAugSep

Massive herds of blue wildebeest cross the Mara River, braving strong currents and waiting Nile crocodiles in one of nature's greatest spectacles.

Blue Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

50–60% · Likely

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

50–60% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

50–60

70–80

Blue Wildebeest

40–50

50–60

40–50

50–60

30–40

50–60

70–80

70–80

60–70

50–60

30–40

40–50

50–60

60–70

60–70

70–80

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

70–80

50–60

40–50

50–60

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

30–40

East African Giraffe

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

African Bush Elephant

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

50–60

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

50–60

50–60

50–60

70–80

60–70

50–60

50–60

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

50–60

40–50

70–80

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

Common Hippopotamus

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

40–50

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

60–70

40–50

50–60

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

Superb Starling

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

60–70

50–60

40–50

Lilac-breasted Roller

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

40–50

African Buffalo

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

Cape Turtle Dove

50–60

50–60

40–50

60–70

60–70

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

60–70

60–70

Rüppell's Glossy-starling

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

Crowned Lapwing

30–40

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

Animal Events

🦌 Mid-Year Predator Peak and Concentration

🦌 Wildebeest Calving Season

🦌 The Great Migration Arrival

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class

🐆 Cheetah Chase During Migration

🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

961

🐒 Mammals

279

🦎 Reptiles

118

🐸 Amphibians

44

1402 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

49 Threatened 8 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

62%

📊

Coverage (258 species at ≥5% of 1402 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

18%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (10 mammal, 2 bird)

47% Global avg

37%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

193

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

38

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

36

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