You must be planning or preparing for a Masai Mara safari and you are wondering what to pack. I have been a local guide in Maasai Mara for the last 7 years and I believe I know exactly what to pack for Masai Mara whether you are a local or international traveler. In this guide am going to am going to outline the items you are not supposed to miss in your Maasai Mara packing list. This packing list is also the Kenya safari packing list as Maasai Mara is the main safari destination in Kenya. What to Pack for Masai Mara Safari: 13 Necessities Appropriate Safari Clothes This is more than obvious that you should not miss your safari clothes in your packing list. But what exactly are you supposed to wear on a safari? Your safari clothes should have dull colours like beige and khaki and not bright colors. This is to prevent attracting wild animals and insects like tsetse flies (but these are very rare in Mara). Also consider wearing light and loose long sleeves which will keep you cool in the African heat. It is highly recommended to carry a mixture of light and heavy clothes as the weather in Kenya can be quite hot during the day and chilly at night or when it rains. You can use light clothes during the day when it is hot. If you are wondering what to wear on safari evenings,  heavier long sleeve clothes are necessary as it can get a bit cold (as per African standards not like winter ). If you are not sure what to wear on safari in Kenya in July, you can carry more light clothes for the day and few warmer clothes for the evening as this month is generally hot with little or no rain. July is considered among the best time to visit Maasai Mara just The Great Migration of wildebeests and zebras. You may also carry a swimming costume if your camp or lodge has a swimming pool especially the comfort and luxury options. If you are wondering what shoes to wear on safari in Kenya, be sure to have dull colored shoes because most safari terrains are dusty. The shoes should also be light and breathable because of the hot weather. It is highly advisable to carry extra clothes in your carry-on bag that can last you like 3 days in case your luggage delayed with the airline. Also go for shoes that have a nice grip if your itinerary has a walking or trekking or hiking part. For a safari in a tour van or jeep, light or open shoes are okay for comfort. Portable Phone Charger or Powerbank It is highly recommended to carry an extra source of power to juice up your devices. Most of the camps and lodges in Maasai Mara do not have mains electricity. They either depend on solar power or generator where power rationing is very common during certain hours of the day which is usually communicated by the hotel in advance. You can also carry an extra phone to keep connected when the charge in your main phone runs out. Sometimes in you can be out for a game drive for a whole day without a power outlet nearby and you need to take those photos for your memories. Torch or Rechargeable Lamp It is highly recommended to have a torch whether rechargeable or the one that uses batteries. This is for the same reasons above of lack of mains electricity in most camps in Maasai Mara. You can use the torch to find something in your tent or room at night or find your way to the washroom as some camps switch of their lights slightly before midnight till early morning. If you need more comfort during your Maasai Mara safari, especially for ladies, you can consider carrying a battery-powered fan to cool yourself during safari. Sun Hat or Cap You should also have at least a wide brim sun hat or cap to protect you from the scorching sun. This will protect you from sunburns and other issues. At Kifaru Discover Safaris we usually give free African safari style sun hats for all our clients and thus you don’t have to worry about this if you are traveling with us. Sun Screen The sun in Africa can sometimes be unforgiving to the skin especially if one’s skin is not used to it. If you are planning on spending more time exposed to the sun either sunbathing, walking or swimming, consider carrying sunscreen. This adds a layer of protection for your exposed skin to protect it from sun burns. Sunglasses Have you ever wondered why the cheetahs have black lines under their eyes? This is to reduce glare which is very prevalent in the African plains. Sun glasses will protect your eyes from sun glare. Be sure to obtain quality sunglasses with the proper UV rating for direct sunlight. Insulated Reusable Water Bottle For sustainability reasons and Eco-friendliness, a good number of hotels and tour companies like Kifaru Discover Safaris are only offering refillable drinking instead of plastic bottles. This is a measure to reduce plastic pollution in the national parks and the surrounding environment. The water is very clean water bought from the store (locally known as supermarket) in one large reusable container and thus very safe for drinking. Consult with your tour agency and lodge about this arrangement. An insulated bottle is good to either keep your water cold during the day and warm during the night. Drinking Water and Snacks It is highly advisable to carry some extra drinking water (in your insulated bottle), some snacks, energy drink, and maybe some soft drinks (or hard drinks if that is your vibe, just don’t over do it). These can be bought once you arrive in Nairobi or any other city in Kenya. You can always request your driver for a stop over at as supermarket(store) to

You probably know Maasai Mara is found in Kenya and is a well-known attraction. It has been one of the best safari destinations in Africa due to its Great migration wonder of the natural world. But when is the best time to visit Masai Mara? In this guide we are going to advise you on the best time to visit Maasai Mara so that you can enjoy the best of your Kenya safari.We have been planning Masai Mara Safaris for many years and always strive to our clients the best travel experiences. Maasai Mara got its name from the Maasai people who inhabit the region in their native language of Maa, Mara means dotted. Masai means plain, in full Maasai Mara means dotted plains. It is not a park but a national reserve that belongs to the Maasai people under the management of the County Government of Narok. Maasai Mara has an area of 1920km in Mara region and it is located in the southern part of The Great Rift VaIIey and is in south west of Nairobi city and it’s approximately 7hrs drive from Nairobi passing through the great Rift Valley. It is the most famous place to find almost every kind of animals including the big five (African Elephants, Lions, Rhinos, Leopards, and Buffalo). Other animals found in Masai Mara include cheetahs, gazelles, wildebeests, ostriches, serval cats, giraffes, and hundreds of bird species (look out for the colorful national bird of Kenya the Lilac-Breasted Roller  which also happens to be my favorite bird). The Best Time To Visit Masai Mara From experience, the best time to visit Masai Mara is definitely during the Great Migration between June and October where about 1.5 million wildebeests and zebras migrate between Kenya (Maasai Mara) and Tanzania (Serengeti). You can witness this amazing spectacle, which one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, on the Maasai Mara side. For good scenes be sure to visit the Mara River to witness herds and herds of wildebeests braving the deep fast moving waters and hungry crocodiles. The migration of wildebeest takes place in month of June, July, August, and September, and that is the time that travelers are able to see the migration. It involves about 1.5 million wildebeests, 0.3 million zebras and various antelope species where predators like lions, cheaters, and crocodiles lay in wait. They cross the heavily infested Mara River. The best time to visit Masai Mara for migration is the month of September when most herds are grazing on the Sekenani regions of the Mara. During this month there is almost no migratory herd in Serengeti. The best time to visit Masai Mara and Serengeti as a single safari is in the months of July (when Wildebeest are migrating North from Serengeti to Maasai Mara) and November (when wildebeests are migrating Southwards from the Mara towards Northern Serengeti). This answers those people who are wondering ‘is November a good time to visit Masai Mara? ‘. You can inquire more about Maasai Mara Safari or book your safari with us as local guides at Maasai Mara and Nairobi. INQUIRE OR BOOK Here are a few months in which a number of our clients are usually asking what is happening in Maasai Mara and our responses as local guides: Masai Mara in December December is a dry season in Maasai Mara and only experiences a few days (less than 10) of short rains. The short rain usually happen in the afternoons do not affect game drives significantly. However, you will still be able to see several herds of wildebeests which are usually resident in the Mara region. The less and short vegetation also makes it easier to spot other animals like lions, cheetahs, serval cats, gazelles , or even leopards among others. If you are a bird watching enthusiast, December is a very ideal month to visit Maasai Mara because it experiences flocks of migratory birds which fly across the Mara. Species of birds which can be spotted during this period include Rufous-bellied Herons, White Storks, Double-Toothed Barbets, Black Storks, and Spoon-Billed Storks. Some plants like Teclea bushes produce fruits during this season and the Bullbuls and White Casked Hornbills birds love these delicacies making it easy to spot them. We thus recommend December as bird watching safari month in the Masai Mara. December is also the best time to visit Masai Mara and Serengeti because wildebeests are migrating South from Maasai Mara towards northern Serengeti. Masai Mara in January If you have been wondering what Masai Mara in January looks like, January is a dry month in most parts in Kenya including the Mara Triangle. January is usually drier than December. This means less green vegetation which means you expect to see less grazers like wildebeests but still a good opportunity to see other animals like Cheetahs and Lions as the grass and other ground vegetation are short and sparse. In January, the temperatures in Masai Mara usually average around 20°C  during the day but can go as high as 32°C  especially during midday. The humidity is usually low and can go as low as 20% and sometimes as high as 70% when there is cloud cover.  If you are wondering, ‘is February a good time to visit Masai Mara?’, it is also the same dry season like January but you will still witness all the big 5 animals and smaller herds of wildebeests.   The Maasai People The Maasai people are the dominant tribe that lives around Maasai Mara. They are nomadic people moving from one place to another in search of water, pasture and food for their cattle. There is also the Maa culture which is the best culture in Kenya. The Maa culture has may sectors e.g. dances, tools/craftsmanship, housing, circumcision as a rite of passage, ornaments like necklaces. The Maa culture is one of the most hospitable communities in Kenya, they are very welcoming. Maasai Mara has some of the best luxury safari camps and