Masai Mara

The Masai Mara needs little introduction. Each year between roughly July and October, over a million wildebeest and zebra cross its rivers in pursuit of rain-fed grass, drawing crocodile, lion, and cheetah to the water’s edge in scenes that have come to define the popular idea of an African safari.

But the Mara rewards a longer look. Beyond the crossings, its private conservancies — bordering the reserve proper — offer walking safaris, night drives, and off-road access that the national reserve itself does not permit, along with a fraction of the vehicle traffic.