Wildlife of the Maasai Mara
The Kenya Tourism Board names five animals for the Mara: lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino. These are the Big Five. The cheetah is not one of them, although many visitors count it as a highlight. The administration of the Mara Triangle lists cheetah, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe and rock hyrax as present.
That is a list of what lives here. It is not a chance of seeing it. The Triangle administration describes seeing all five of the Big Five as something that can happen on a lucky day. No operator can promise it, whatever the length of the trip.
The animals at a glance
Presence in the reserve, not a sighting guide.
| Animal | Big Five | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lion | Yes | One of the five named for the Mara |
| Leopard | Yes | One of the five named for the Mara |
| Elephant | Yes | One of the five named for the Mara |
| Buffalo | Yes | One of the five named for the Mara |
| Rhino | Yes | Black rhinos live in the Mara Triangle |
| Cheetah | No | Listed as present in the Triangle |
| Wildebeest | No | Listed as present; the herds follow the migration |
| Zebra | No | Listed as present |
| Giraffe | No | Listed as present |
| Rock hyrax | No | Listed as present |
Game drives and wildlife tours in the Mara
Compare safaris by length, vehicle and what is included.
Big cats, elephants and rhinos
What to know about the animals people ask about most.
Lions and leopards
Both are among the five. Neither is guaranteed on a drive. A guide can choose a good spot, but cannot make an animal appear.
Cheetahs
Cheetahs are listed as present in the Triangle. They are outside the Big Five, so ask what a promise of big cats includes. No offer can guarantee a sighting.
Elephants and buffalo
Both belong to the five. Keep to the rules on distance and stay in the vehicle. A guide decides how close is safe.
Black rhinos
Black rhinos live in the Mara Triangle. Treat a rhino sighting as a bonus and do not plan a trip around one.
Rules at a sighting
These rules protect the animals and your view.
Mara Triangle
When more than 5 vehicles wait at a sighting, the viewing time is limited to 10 minutes. Waiting vehicles keep 100 m away. Big cats may be approached to 25 m in low-use zones, with a return on the same track. Driving off the track is excluded in high-use zones.
Mara North Conservancy
At most 5 vehicles at a sighting, a minimum distance of 20 m, and waiting vehicles 100 m away.
Olare Motorogi
This conservancy limits density. It lists at most 94 beds in 5 camps and calculates one viewing vehicle per 2,100 acres.
More on these areas is on the conservancies page.
Night drives and walks
The rules depend on the area.
Night drives
Mara Serena advertises night game drives at $85 per person and drive. Conservancies such as Naboisho list night drives too, and Mara North allows them only in designated areas with a red filter and a return by 22:00. A night drive in one area does not mean they are allowed everywhere in the reserve. Ask which area yours takes place in.
Walking safaris
Naboisho lists guided walking safaris. A guided walk in a conservancy is an activity of that camp, not a general permission to walk. Leave the vehicle only where it is allowed.
The migration herds
The wildebeest herds usually arrive in a window from June or July to November. The migration page explains the months and the river. For the Tanzanian half of the herds, see the Serengeti wildlife guide.
Driving rules that protect the animals
Seen in the Mara Triangle and typical for the area.
Speed
The limit is 50 km/h on well-kept main roads and 30 km/h on other tracks. Animals have the right of way, so slow down and let them cross.
Stay on the tracks
Stones or logs across a track mark it as closed. Closing tracks can protect the soil and the vegetation. Off-road driving for big cats has strict conditions and is not a general permission.
Quiet and patience
Turn off the engine at a sighting if your guide advises it, keep your voice low and do not block the path of the animals.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where to see them, and how.
Maasai Mara wildlife: frequently asked questions
What are the Big Five in the Maasai Mara?
Lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino, as named by the Kenya Tourism Board. The cheetah is not one of them.
Can I be sure to see lions?
No. Lions, leopards and cheetahs live in the Mara, but no trip can promise a sighting.
Are there rhinos in the Mara?
Black rhinos live in the Mara Triangle. Treat a sighting as a bonus, not as something to plan on.
How close can vehicles get to big cats?
In low-use zones of the Triangle, up to 25 m, with a return on the same track. In high-use zones, driving off the track is excluded. Conservancies set their own limits.
Can I get out of the vehicle to take photos?
Leave the vehicle only where it is allowed. At river crossings that means designated points. Ask your guide.
Are night drives allowed in the Mara?
It depends on the area. Some conservancies list them with rules such as a red filter. Ask where your drive takes place.