The Masai Mara is one of the best known and most popular reserves in the whole of Africa, situated in southwest Kenya. Famous for the abundance of lion, the Great Wildebeest Migration and the Maasai people, well known for their distinctive custom and dress, it is without a doubt Africa’s most famous safari destination.

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The Masai Mara lies in the Great Rift Valley, which is a fault line some 3,500 miles (5,600km) long, from Ethiopia's Red Sea through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and into Mozambique. The National Reserve stretches 1,510 sq km (580 sq miles) and raises 1,500-2,170 meters above sea level. The terrain of the reserve is primarily grassland and riverine forest with clumps of the distinctive acacia trees. It’s about 270 km from the capital city Nairobi and takes about 5-6 hours by road or 40-45 minutes by flight.

The Maasai Mara Ecosystem holds one of the highest lion densities in world and this is where over 2 million Wildebeest, Zebra and Thomsons Gazelle migrate annually known as the "Great Migration". Its hosts over 95 species of mammals and 570 recorded species of birds. 

All of the Big Five can be seen here: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. The major concentration of wildlife is between July and October when over 1 000 000 wildebeest and 250 000 zebra arrive from Tanzania. This is considered Kenya's largest population of lion. Other animals found here include: Bat-eared fox, Black-backed jackal, cheetah, gazelle, giraffe, hartebeest, hippo, mongoose, Roan antelope, serval, Spotted hyena, topi, warthog, wild dog, wildebeest and zebra.

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Over 500 species of bird species (including resident and migratory) have been recorded in the Masai Mara National Park. Large birds found here include Ground hornbill, Kori bustard, Secretary bird, and the ostrich. Often after rainstorms vast numbers of migrating Abdims and White storks alight in the grasslands to feast on the emerging termites and frogs. 57 species of birds of prey are represented in the Park.