Great Migration Kenya | Masai Mara Wildebeest Safaris
Witness the Great Migration in Kenya’s Masai Mara. Wildebeest crossings, Big Five safaris, and luxury lodges. July–October tours available.
Witness the Great Migration in Kenya’s Masai Mara. Wildebeest crossings, Big Five safaris, and luxury lodges. July–October tours available.
Each year, over 1.5 million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles embark on an epic journey across East Africa — from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya’s legendary Masai Mara National Reserve.
This is the Great Migration, a breathtaking wildlife drama of courage, instinct, and survival. It’s one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, and there’s no better place to witness it than in Kenya’s Masai Mara — the migration’s northern climax.
At Tropical Wild Expeditions, we take you to the heart of this spectacle with expert-guided safaris, strategically located lodges, and customizable migration packages that let you experience it up close, ethically and comfortably.
The Great Migration in Kenya typically happens between July and October, when massive herds cross the Mara River in search of greener pastures.
June – July: Herds begin arriving from Tanzania into the Mara.
July – September: Peak migration and dramatic river crossings at the Mara and Talek rivers.
October: Herds start moving south again toward the Serengeti.
Mara River: Epic river crossings filled with tension, crocodiles, and chaos.
Mara Triangle & Olare Orok Conservancy: Quieter areas with excellent game viewing.
Talek River Region: Known for dense wildlife and predator action.
Verified Great Safari Experience Everything is perfect! Exceeding expectations. Thank you very much!and I will recommend you to my friends,definitely!Posted on Anna AVerified Perfect vacation The whole trip was amazing very well organized, kept us informed, lots of wildlife, lodges on their recommendations were fantastic. Will definitely recommend and already planning next trip.Posted on wambui mVerified Excellent Safari I really enjoyed the safari organized by Susan, the agency picked me up at my hosts and dropped me off at the train station so I could continue my adventure.I had the chance to make 2 large parks and 2 lakes during my adventure. I saw the big five. Our guide John has been very proactive so that everyone can take pictures of the animals choosing the best place. Each hotel or camp was well chosen and allowed us to have a pleasant stay even with the economy version. I highly recommend this agency.Posted on Tour786996Verified I think a fair rating would be 3.7* POSITIVE POINTS:- Susan always got back to us quickly while we were booking the safari via Whatsapp, which made the process easier.- The drivers who took us from the airport to meet Susan and from Lake Nakuru to Nairobi were friendly and professional.- We did the 4-day safari in Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru, it was wonderful, we saw lots of animals, all the Big 5, we loved it.- The safari guide, Moises, was very experienced and helpful. - A real and trustworthy company.NEGATIVE POINTS:- I misunderstood the price of the safari and while speaking to Susan I mentioned the wrong price, she didn't correct me, she probably didn't notice. When I met her in Nairobi to make the payment, I didn't have enough dolars in cash, so she let me pay the remaining amount via Pesapal, which was great. However, I think the communication could have been clearer when booking the safari.- On the 3rd day of the safari, we went from Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru. The morning was spent on the road and in the afternoon we’re given two options for activities, which had an extra cost. This wasn’t mentioned in the itinerary that was sent to us and I think it should because, if we didn't want to do the activities, that day would just be on the road and at the hotel.- It would be interesting to include in the itinerary an average time for each trip, from one place to another, so that we have an idea of how long we are on the road and how long we are on safari. I know it is difficult to predict the duration of the trip because of the traffic, but an average time would help.- On two of the days the hotel prepared a lunch box and on the other two days we stopped at restaurants for lunch. The restaurants were very simple and had very few food options, especially for vegetarians.SUGGESTIONS:- During the entire time we are on safari there is free water inside the jeep, which is great. If they could find some way to keep some water fresh it would be even better. I don't know if this idea is doable, but I'll leave the idea here anyway.I think the company has all the conditions to grow, they need to improve some things, but everyone we had contact with seemed committed and hard-working. I was undecided between giving 3* or 4*, but I think 3* is too low, and overall we were satisfied so I will give it 4*, but I hope some improvements are made.Posted on BárbaraVerified Responsive, reasonable price, perfect trip Before the Safari trip, I was hesitant and contacted several companies to search for information. Susan is the only one made me feel confident about the whole trip. She responded to my emails in a timely manner and answered every question organized.The whole trip was very pleasant. The first half of the trip was spent with our guide Ken in Masai Mara and Nakuru. We loved Ken so much, he was professional and passionate about his work, he socialized with other drivers, he had a walkie-talkie to contact other drivers and made sure we saw the most amazing scene - lions hunting buffalo. Huge respect to him.The second half of the trip was spent with David in Amboseli, he was more reserved, but also very good.Our accommodation, vehicles and everything were arranged in accordance with our itinerary. I was very satisfied with this trip.HIGHLY RECOMMEND Tropical Wild Expeditions AND Susan :)Posted on Demitri WVerified Brilliantly organised I had a superb time! Susan from Tropical Wild did such a great job organising my trip & was excellent with communications throughout.A couple of things to be aware of:1) If travelling solo in off-peak season then you are likely to be in a 4x4 with people who booked through other companies, so you might not be staying in the same accommodation as them. They also might be on a shorter trip, so the people in the car may change (& even the driver/guide!). It all worked out well for me though as the changes spiced things up.2) My first tented camp didn’t have any soap in the bathroom, so remember to pack your own!Posted on engrob84Verified Exceed expectations There was some fear of Africa at first, of fraudulent deposits, of local hygiene and eating conditions, of infectious diseases such as malaria, and afterwards everything proved redundant. The local hotel's own bottled water is best not to drink, we drank it and threw up all night, wasting the day travelling. This has nothing to do with travel agencies. The little red book says this travel agency is not very good, but we feel okay, no unpleasantness happened. In the middle of the remittance, the Bank of China got it wrong, and they patiently communicated and ran away from the local bank for nothing. The driver, David, is an old driver, looks for spaces when looking at animals and is patient. Susan was patient.Posted on 章明Verified 6 day safari tour: Masai Mara NP, Nakuru, Amboseli NP I did the low budget 6 day group safari tour from Masai Mara to Amboseli NP. It was amazing! The tour was very well organized and we had plenty of game drives. We got to see the big five in Masai Mara, which I highly recommend. Accomodation in tented camps was basic, but you could surely find anything you needed. Moreover, the campsites were really close to the entrance of the NPs, which was really convenient. Staff were super friendly and food was great, definitely beyond our expectations. The highlight of the tour was the driver, Albert, who would do his best to show you the wildlife and tell you everything about it. It was good value for moneyPosted on Valentina MVerified Tropical Wild Expeditions Solo Travelling Experience Review: 5-Day Safari Experience (Nairobi - Masai Mara - Nakuru - Naivasha)I recently joined a 5-day, 4-night safari tour covering Nairobi, Masai Mara, Nakuru, and Naivasha. While the trip had some wonderful moments, there were significant issues that left me feeling disappointed.The Positives:1. The first three days were fantastic! Our group consisted of friendly travelers from all over the world, and the guide, David, was knowledgeable and approachable.2. The safari drives in Masai Mara were an incredible experience, with excellent wildlife sightings.3. The accommodation was clean and functional, and the Apex Resort in Naivasha stood out for its stylish retro vibe.4. The tour included meals, drives, and almost all entrance fees, making it convenient and mostly hassle-free.The Negatives:1. Poor Communication:On Day 2, I was informed that I would need to switch vehicles in Nakuru because the rest of my group had a different itinerary. This was never communicated prior to the trip and felt like a surprise disruption.The guides rarely provided updates on the itinerary, such as where we were headed, how long the drives would take, or when breaks were scheduled. Clear communication is a basic expectation for such tours and was noticeably lacking.2. Day 4 Disorganization: After being transferred to another vehicle and group in Nakuru, I felt like an afterthought. The transition was poorly handled and felt uncomfortable.The activities in Nakuru were repetitive. We did a similar game drive to what I had already experienced, and the boat ride, which cost an additional $20, was underwhelming and felt unnecessary. This day could have been cut short or replaced with a more meaningful experience.3. Concerns About the Second Driver:On the morning of the final day, I was shocked when the second driver turned to speak to me and smelled strongly of alcohol. It was alarming and made me feel unsafe.Thankfully, he received a four-hour break before our Hell's Gate National Park tour, which allowed him to sober up, but this situation should never have happened.4. Accommodation Mismatches:I stayed in different hotels from my group on most nights, as it became clear that each participant had booked through different operators. This fragmented approach made the experience less cohesive.5. Meals:Despite requesting vegetarian meals, I was often served dishes with sausages. The food variety was limited, with rice and cabbage being a staple meal. Catering to dietary preferences and offering more variety would enhance the experience.6. Cleanliness and Preparation:While the safari truck offered a good view, it wasn’t clean when we departed, which was surprising for a professional tour.Overall Impression:The safari had its highlights, especially the first three days in Masai Mara, but the lack of organization, poor communication, and repetitive activities on Day 4 left a bittersweet taste. The situation with the second driver further dampened my confidence in the tour operator's professionalism. There’s significant room for improvement in coordination between operators, clear communication, and ensuring driver conduct meets safety standards.Rating: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐Recommendations:I suggest the operator improve transparency during the booking process, ensure cohesive group experiences, prioritize communication throughout the tour, and enforce stricter safety protocols for their drivers. Addressing these issues would turn a good experience into a great one.Posted on Anne OVerified Fantastic Family Trip My family, wife and 3 children ages 14,11 and 9 could not be happier with Tropical Wild. First class treatment from airport pick up to the drop off. David was an amazing guide and so knowledgeable about everything. Suzy was a sweetheart from the first email and even gifted us with Maasai blankets and Tropical Wild safari hats on pick up. We let them choose our accommodations and they were super, food quality and comfort. Thank you David, Suzy and the Tropical Wild team!!! We will be back again and definitely telling our friends about you!!!!Posted on Danny D
Kenya’s Masai Mara offers the most accessible and dramatic stage for the migration. Here’s why travelers worldwide choose Kenya:
Front-row seats to the wildebeest river crossings.
Big Five encounters – lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos.
Luxury lodges and camps near migration routes.
Fly-in options from Nairobi, Mombasa, and Diani.
Unbeatable photography with golden savannah backdrops.
Whether you want a budget camping safari or a luxury fly-in experience, we tailor each journey for unforgettable viewing and comfort.
Here are our most popular safari itineraries designed around the migration season.
Hot-Air Balloon Safari: Float above herds at sunrise — one of Africa’s most iconic experiences.
Champagne Bush Breakfast: Enjoy breakfast in the wild after your balloon flight.
Sundowner Evenings: Toast to the golden sunset as herds graze nearby.
Maasai Cultural Visits: Meet the guardians of the Mara and learn their traditions.
Photography Workshops: Private sessions with wildlife experts for perfect migration shots.
We select lodges and camps located strategically along migration corridors for maximum game viewing and comfort.
Mara Sopa Lodge – classic comfort, ideal for families and couples.
Basecamp Explorer – eco-luxury camp supporting Maasai communities.
Ashnil Mara Camp – riverfront location near prime crossing points.
Olare Kempinski – exclusivity, fine dining, and private game drives.
Governors’ Camp – historic safari elegance overlooking the Mara River.
We offer both road safaris (perfect for scenic adventurers) and fly-in safaris (ideal for luxury and convenience).
Fly-In Migration Safaris: Quick flights from Nairobi or Diani direct to Masai Mara airstrips.
4×4 Road Safaris: Travel through the Great Rift Valley with photo stops en route.
Tropical Wild Expeditions promotes eco-conscious tourism by:
Supporting local Maasai conservancies.
Partnering with eco-lodges and responsible guides.
Minimizing vehicle congestion near crossings.
Donating to wildlife protection projects in the Mara ecosystem.
Your migration safari helps preserve this wonder for generations to come.
Don’t just watch it on TV — be there. Witness the thunder of hooves, the rush of the river crossings, and the timeless rhythm of nature in Kenya’s Masai Mara.
Let Tropical Wild Expeditions create your unforgettable Great Migration experience.
Departures: Nairobi, Diani, Mombasa, Malindi & Lamu
+25721 411044| info@tropicalwildexpeditions.com
Book Your Kenya Beach Holiday Today
Get a Custom Coastal Itinerary
It’s the annual movement of over 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra between Tanzania and Kenya — a continuous cycle of life and survival.
July to October is the peak migration season in Kenya, with dramatic river crossings in the Masai Mara.
Stay near the Mara River or Mara Triangle for the best views of herds and predator activity.
The migration follows natural rainfall cycles, so timing varies slightly each year. Our expert team tracks herd movements for real-time updates.
Yes — we customize safaris for all travelers, from family groups to romantic couples, with comfort options to suit your needs.
Light clothing, neutral colors, sun hat, binoculars, camera, and a spirit of adventure. Warm layers for early morning drives are essential.
© Tropical Wild Expeditions
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
Manage your cookie preferences below:
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
These cookies are needed for adding comments on this website.
Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us understand how visitors use our website.
Marketing cookies are used to follow visitors to websites. The intention is to show ads that are relevant and engaging to the individual user.