Which is better for an African safari, the Serengeti or the Masai Mara? When it comes to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, there is no “better” or “worse.” These two well-known safari locations share many similarities in terms of their animals and scenery, and they are both a part of the same cross-border ecosystem.

However, there are also distinctions. Which reserve is best for you depends depend on the time of year you visit as well as your priorities and tastes. Read on for the key comparison points to help you decide where to go on safari.

The Great Migration

A remarkable wildlife display in Africa is the yearly migration of over 2 million grazers, primarily wildebeest but also zebras and gazelles. It is understandable why so many tourists like to schedule their trip to East Africa to see it. The great migration in the Serengeti lasts longer than in the Masai Mara because of its greater expanse.

The Southern Serengeti is a fantastic place to go on safari in January and February. At this point, the wildebeest pause their journey to give birth. Thousands of calves are born here every day at the busiest time of the year, which draws a lot of predators. The wildebeest and their companions begin their northward migration in long, cacophonous columns towards the end of April, when the calves are robust enough to begin their first migration.

Another highlight of the migration is when they cross the Grumeti River in the Western Corridor of the Serengeti, which occurs in June to July. In July or August, the survivors continue north until they arrive at the Mara River. From the Masai Mara and Serengeti sides of the ecosystem, one may observe this river crossing, which is arguably the most thrilling part of the great migration. After crossing over, the wildebeest spend roughly two months in the Mara before moving south once more to the Southern Serengeti.

Landscape and Habitat

Despite being two major parts of the larger Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, the Masai Mara and Serengeti have different landscapes. They differ greatly in size, to start. At 14,760 km²/5,700 mi², the Serengeti is enormous, whereas the Masai Mara is minuscule at 1,510 km²/583 mi². Although open grassland predominates in the Serengeti, a wide variety of other habitats are also preserved there, including deciduous woodland, evergreen riverine forest, and kopjes (rocky outcrops). The scenery changes in the Serengeti as you move from south to north. As you approach the Northern Serengeti and eventually the Masai Mara, the landscape progressively gets hillier and more forested.

 

Animals

The Serengeti and Masai Mara both provide amazing opportunities to see wildlife. Their most well-known feature is the seasonal movement of wildebeest between Tanzania and Kenya. However, there is also a lot of native animals. In addition to cheetahs, giraffes, and a variety of other creatures, lions, leopards, buffalo, and elephants are frequently sighted in these Big Five parks.

Although they are rare throughout the entire ecosystem, rhinos are much more likely to be spotted in the Masai Mara. In particular, you have a great possibility of running into one of these giants in the Mara Triangle, which is located in the western region.

Compared to the Serengeti, the Mara is smaller and has a higher concentration of hotels and lodges, making it harder to escape the crowds. However, more vehicles on game drives in the Mara do result in more observations being shared, which facilitates wildlife watching.

Options for Accommodations

There are many different types of hotels in the Masai Mara and the Serengeti to accommodate different types of visitors. Tented camps (both low-cost and high-end), tiny, rustic lodges, and larger chain hotels and resorts are among the lodging options. Tent camping are particularly well-liked. These might be simple standing tents with twin beds and minimal furnishings, or they can be fully equipped units with canvas walls.

Many of the best lodges are surprisingly grounded and make an effort to blend in with the surroundings. In terms of mod cons, they might not have much to offer. Rather, they strive to be environmentally conscious while providing a unique experience with excellent food, service, and guidance. Mobile camps are even more simple but extremely exclusive. These makeshift camps move with the flow, leaving no trace.

Both parks offer accomodation at every level, but the Serengeti may have the largest assortment of tiny, upscale hotels. There are numerous inexpensive lodging alternatives immediately outside the reserve, as well as a few more mid-range choices in the Masai Mara. Unlike low-cost camping excursions in the Masai Mara, which typically take place outside the reserve, camping excursions in the Serengeti typically take place inside the park.

 

Ideal Time to Travel

The driest months, which are roughly June through October, are often the best times to visit either park. At this point, animals are attracted to water sources like rivers and waterholes. The vegetation shrivels away as the dry season goes on, making it easier to see wildlife, particularly predators, which can occasionally be hard to notice when the grass is high.

But in the Masai Mara and the Serengeti, the optimal time to witness the wildebeest migration varies. Rainfall determines the precise time, but from January until July or August, you have a decent chance of witnessing the migration in the Serengeti. July or August through October is the ideal time of year to witness the Masai Mara migration.

 

Prices

In general, a safari in the Masai Mara is less expensive than one in the Serengeti. First of all, compared to the Serengeti, the Mara offers more affordable lodging alternatives, many of which are located outside the reserve. Staying outside the Serengeti and visiting the park during the day is not a feasible option due to the immensity of the Serengeti and the fact that the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the primary access point.

The eastern side of the reserve is home to the majority of the reasonably cost lodging options within the Masai Mara, which can make the experience crowded, particularly during the busiest times of the year. Staying on the center plains and the more sedate western side of the Masai Mara will typically cost a little extra. You should think about booking a room at one of the private conservancies north of the national reserve if you want to truly escape the crowds. The cost of a safari in the Serengeti and the Mara is comparable when comparing these options.

 

How to Get There

Nairobi, one of Africa’s major transportation hubs, is typically the starting point for trips to the Masai Mara. From Europe and North America, there are numerous affordable flights to Nairobi, from which a scheduled flight to the Masai Mara takes less than an hour. Additionally, Mombasa and the majority of other Kenyan safari sites have frequent flights to the Masai Mara. It takes roughly five to six hours to drive from Nairobi.

Arusha is the entry point to the Serengeti. Kilimanjaro International Airport serves all international and some domestic flights, whereas Arusha Airport serves solely domestic flights. Road safaris that cover the Northern safari circuit are also quite popular, even though it is possible to fly into and out of the Serengeti from Arusha.

You might choose to explore the Ngorongoro Crater during the trip from Arusha, which passes through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara are two additional parks that are accessible via the same route.