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Three zebras ( Equus quagga boehmi ) in tall yellow grass, with flocks of zebras in the background. Masai Mara National
Photo: Volodymyr Burdiak, CC BY-SA 4.0

Safari · Kenya

Masai Mara Animal Checklist

The Masai Mara (also spelled Maasai Mara) in south-west Kenya is best known for big cats and for the Mara River crossings, when the great migration arrives from July to October. It has all of the Big Five, though black rhino is rare. This checklist covers 72 animals. Resident lions, leopards and cheetahs make it rewarding all year, with July to October the peak.

The national reserve is small, about 1,500 square kilometres, and is ringed by community conservancies where the Maasai lease land for wildlife. Staying in a conservancy adds walks, night drives and far fewer vehicles.

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See all 72 animals
The Masai Mara checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked
Animals to find
72
Where
Kenya
Best time
Jul to Oct
Big Five
All five (rhino rare)

The Big Five and big cats of the Masai Mara

  • Lion, one of the animals to look for in Masai Mara

    Lion

    The Mara has some of the highest lion densities in Africa. Large prides hold territory around the Musiara Marsh, the Talek River and the northern conservancies.

    Photo: Byrdyak, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Leopard, one of the animals to look for in Masai Mara

    Leopard

    Look in the riverine forest and lugga gullies along the Talek and Mara rivers, where leopards rest in thick trees. The Mara was home to the leopards of Big Cat Diary.

    Photo: Sumeet Moghe, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Cheetah, one of the animals to look for in Masai Mara

    Cheetah

    Best on the open plains in the south of the reserve and in conservancies such as Naboisho and Olare Motorogi, where the grass is short and vehicle numbers are capped.

    Photo: Hobbyfotowiki, CC0

  • African Savanna Elephant

    Family herds are common across the reserve and the conservancies. In the dry months they drink along the Mara River in the afternoon.

  • Cape Buffalo

    Found in herds across the reserve, with old bulls in the swamps and along the rivers. Treat them with respect on walking safaris.

  • Black Rhinoceros

    A small population lives under close ranger protection. Sightings are uncommon, so count one as a bonus, and never share its location.

  • Wildebeest

    The migration herds cross into Kenya from about July. Crossings of the Mara and Talek rivers are unpredictable and can happen on any day until October.

  • Hippopotamus

    Pods crowd the deeper bends of the Mara and Talek rivers, often close to the crossing points. They leave the water to graze after dark.

  • Rosy-throated Longclaw

    A Mara speciality, found on wet grassland. Males show a bright pink throat after rain.

All 72 animals to spot in the Masai Mara

Grouped the way you'll meet them. Tips show where to look.

The Big Five 5

Grazers and browsers 16

Hunters 9

Smaller mammals 7

Birds of prey 11

Big birds 10

Colourful birds 11

Reptiles and amphibians 3

  • Last reviewed September 2026.
  • Sources are listed below the questions.
  • Wild animals only. Please give them space.

Best time to see wildlife in the Masai Mara

July to October is the Mara's high season. The migration herds arrive from Tanzania in July and stay until October, crossing the Mara River back and forth as they follow the rain and grass. Crossings are never guaranteed on a given day, and August is the busiest month for visitors. January to March is dry and quieter, with short grass that makes cats easy to find, and the resident game is excellent. Kenya's long rains fall from about April to May, when some camps close and roads get muddy, but prices drop and the plains are green. The short rains come in November. The Mara is small and packed with resident predators, so a trip in any month usually brings lions and good cat sightings.

  • Jan-MarDry, quiet and good value; short grass, great for cats
  • Apr-MayLong rains; green, fewer vehicles, some camps shut
  • JunHerds building on the Tanzanian side; cats and early arrivals
  • Jul-OctMigration in the Mara; river crossings, peak crowds in August
  • Nov-DecShort rains; herds leave south, birding picks up

Tips for spotting wildlife in the Masai Mara

  1. Consider a conservancy

    Conservancies such as Naboisho, Mara North and Olare Motorogi cap vehicle numbers at each sighting and allow night drives and guided walks. In the national reserve, vehicles must keep to the tracks.

  2. Be patient at the river

    At a crossing point, herds may gather for hours and then turn away. Park well back, keep quiet and switch off the engine so you don't stop the animals from coming down to the water.

  3. Try the Mara Triangle

    The western section across the Mara River is managed separately by the Mara Conservancy. It has good roads, fewer vehicles and some of the best crossing points.

  4. Go out on a night drive

    In the conservancies, night drives turn up springhare, civet, bat-eared fox and hunting hyenas. The reserve itself does not allow night driving.

  5. Scan the riverine forest for birds

    The fig and olive trees along the Mara and Talek rivers hold Schalow's turaco. Listen for its call and look for a flash of crimson wings.

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The Masai Mara checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked

Masai Mara wildlife FAQ

What animals can you see in the Masai Mara?

You can see lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, hippos, giraffes, zebras, topi and wildebeest in the Masai Mara, plus more than 450 bird species. This checklist covers 72 of them. From July to October the migration adds huge herds of wildebeest and zebra, but the resident big cats and plains game are there all year.

Can you see the Big Five in the Masai Mara?

Yes, you can see all of the Big Five in the Masai Mara, but rhino is the hard one. Lion, elephant and buffalo are seen on almost every trip, and leopard is likely over a few days. Black rhinos are few and closely guarded. For a much better rhino chance in Kenya, Lake Nakuru and Ol Pejeta are stronger options.

When is the best time to see the river crossings in the Masai Mara?

The best time to see Mara River crossings is from late July to September, with crossings possible from July to October. The herds cross back and forth many times, often in the late morning. No crossing is guaranteed on a particular day, so allow at least three or four full days in the northern Mara or the Mara Triangle.

Is the Masai Mara or Serengeti better for animals?

Neither is better; they suit different trips. The Masai Mara is small, with dense resident big cats, and it holds the migration from July to October. The Serengeti is about ten times larger, holds the herds for the rest of the year, including calving in February, and feels wilder. Many people choose the Mara for a shorter trip and the Serengeti for a longer one.

Are there rhinos in the Masai Mara?

Yes, there are black rhinos in the Masai Mara, but only a small population, and they are rarely seen. They keep to thick bush, and rangers monitor them closely. There are no white rhinos in the reserve. Treat a rhino as a lucky extra rather than a promise, and don't share its location.

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026

Photo credits

All photo credits. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, resized.

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