The Masai Mara's Unparalleled Wildebeest Migration - Where to Stay on Safari

[African Travel Hub]

When thinking African wildlife safaris, many agree that one of the most exciting spectacles on earth is the great wildebeest migration that occurs between  Tanzania’s national park and Kenya’s  Masai Mara.  The wildebeest, zebra and antelope make the  constant migration from one end of the wilderness to the other. This movement is driven by their need for pasture and drinking water.  And as the over 1.9 million animals move northwards from the Serengeti into Masai Mara, they are hunted all the time by the predators.  Many of them get killed by the crocodiles, lions, cheetah, hyena and may other predators .


Many will be planning safaris to Kenya and Tanzania to witness wildebeest migration. An important part of the planning  the  wildebeest migration safari is the choice of the lodge, which should be situated at the best position to enable you experience  the migration of the wildebeest.

Going by current movement and previous Serengeti – Masai Mara migration patterns, we predict where the migratory herds will be enabling you to choose the best spot book your accommodation and view the animals at this time.

Beginning from the month of July, we follow the migration pattern and suggest on the best safari lodges and camps to stay in while in Masai Mara for great migration safaris.

Where to Stay in Masai Mara From  late July into August for the Migration
By late July, the animals move northwards in the direction of Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve. At this time, the grass in the western Serengeti is drying up and the fresh, green grass in the Maasi Mara beckons.  The migrating herds push on towards the Mara Triangle. Mara triangle is the north-western part of the Masai Mara national reserve.  But before the animals get access to  the fresh grass, they must cross the Mara River. Hungry crocodiles lie in wait while the predators get ready.  

The best lodges and camps to stay in and see the annual wildebeest migration in July are Sanctuary Olonana Camp, Kichwa Tembo Camp, Mara Serena Lodge  and Bateleur Camp. Others are Kilima Camp, Mara Siria, and Mara West Camp.

Where to Stay in Masai Mara September and  October for the Migration
The entire Masai Mara plains is filled with large herds of wildebeest, zebra and other antelopes, of course followed closely by predators.

At this time of the migration, there are many options to choose from in terms of accommodation both  inside the  Masai Mara game reserve and on the conservancy just outside the reserve.

The safari lodges to stay at while the migration is in the Mara between September and October  include the Governors Camp, Mara Intrepids Camp, Il Moran Camp,  and Mara Serena Safari Lodge. Others are Keekorok Lodge, Ilkeliani Camp, and Sarova Mara Tented Camp. The above are all located inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

The camps and lodges just on the periphery  of the reserve that will offer good viewing of the migration would be Mara Simba Lodge, Mara Leisure Camp, Mara Bushtops and Porini Lion Camp.

Masai Mara Hotels to Masai Mara in November
Any lodge and safari camp should be swamped with herds of migrating animals. Conservancies and private sanctuaries on the northern part of Masai Mara offer fantastic game viewing.

Towards November, it has begun to rain again in the southern part of the larger Serengeti ecosystem.  The migrating animals start their journey back to the Serengeti plains to give birth to  young ones who will make another trip the following year perpetuating this amazing cycle of life.