Game drives in the Masai Mara National Reserve are the heart of any Kenya safari. Exploring the rolling golden plains in an open-sided 4×4 with an expert Maasai guide, you journey into one of Africa’s greatest wildlife arenas in search of the Big Five and much more.

Morning and afternoon drives

Morning drives set out around dawn, when predators are most active and the light is beautiful for photography. Afternoon drives run into the golden hours before sunset, when animals gather at waterholes. Across both you can expect lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, cheetah and, with luck, leopard and the elusive black rhino – the Mara is one of the best places in Africa to see big cats on the hunt.

Night game drives

Available in the private conservancies bordering the reserve, night drives reveal a different world – leopard, hyena and nocturnal species active under the African sky, guided by a spotlight and an experienced ranger.

The Great Migration

Between roughly July and October, game drives place you alongside the Great Migration, as vast herds and dramatic Mara River crossings unfold across the plains.