By May, the rain has generally ceased although the grass remains high until about July and game can be trickier to see. By July, visitors are pouring into the Masai Mara in the hope of seeing wildebeest cross the Mara River. There is no way to predict when they will do so: they can remain on the water’s edge for days at a time and have even been known to turn back into Serengeti National Park. This unpredictability is what makes the crossings so exciting – you never know what will happen!

Dry season also means cooler weather and fewer bugs. As the wildebeest arrive, the predators are on high alert and you may be treated to high-octane sightings. Animals can be found not far from the remaining sources of water as the Kenyan winter wears on, making them easier to track down.

The ‘short rains’ usually occur in November. Thundershowers turn the brown savannah green, waterholes fill up and grazing is replenished to the relief of resident giraffe, zebra, buffalo, Thomson’s gazelle, kudu and other grazers. The first of the migratory birds arrive from the northern hemisphere and the wildebeest are generally leaving to cross back into the Serengeti.

There are resident wildebeest that don’t join the circular annual journey. Visitor numbers drop but that means photographers especially can often have sightings to themselves. The ‘long rains’ settle in for March and April. These tend to be localised deluges and skilful guides can often ‘drive around’ the downpours. Green season is a wonderful time to see baby ungulates and enjoy a landscape bursting with life.

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Want more detailed information or advice about visiting Masai Mara?

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