Masai Mara versus Serengeti: Where should a first-timer go?

When one plans of going on a safari, especially for the first time, the destination usually boils down to Masai Mara in Kenya or Serengeti in Tanzania. Why? These popular parks are considered top African safari destinations and are arguably the world’s best safari parks due to diverse landscapes and strong wildlife focus. But if one has to choose, where should a first-timer go?

Before anything else, let us quickly discuss on where Masai Mara and Serengeti are…

Both parts of East Africa, Masai Mara Game Reserve is located southwest of Kenya while Serengeti National Park is on the northern safari circuit of Tanzania. Together, they form 30,000 square kilometers of Africa’s most diverse and most spectacular ecosystems, possibly even the world’s best safari big game-viewing destination.

Masai Mara and Serengeti share an unfenced border where animals can live freely. Both parks displays savannah habitats which are open grasslands peppered with varying amount of trees and thickets. There are also rocky outcrops called kopjes, inhabited by many wildlife including mighty lions observing their prey’s movements from above. This entire ecosystem of Masai Mara and Serengeti inspired the classic movie The Lion King.

Factor 1: Landscape

Expect to see vast rolling plains with lone thorn trees scattered across the savannas. You can also see distant purple hills that add magic to the landscape and help create some of the most stunning sunsets you can ever see. Compared to Serengeti, the Mara is quite hilly and it also has fewer trees because elephants have knocked them down centuries ago. The almost bare landscape also helps in making game-viewing a lot more easier especially during dry season.

 

The Serengeti is just like the Masai Mara but much, much bigger. It was named “Serengeti” because of its endless plains that Swahili describes as “the land that moves forever.” Aside from the vast open savannas, you can also expect to find acacia-studded grasslands, riverine woodlands, scrubby hills, various kopjes and some water holes including an incredible Hippo Pool.

Continue your journey into the heart of Africa >

Factor 2: Wildlife

The wildlife in both Masai Mara and Serengeti are incredible in many levels. Due to the array of habitats each park offers, animal concentrations differ.  

As the settings for the iconic Great Wildebeest Migration, the Mara and the Serengeti holds millions of wildebeests, Thomson’s gazelles, zebras and lesser kudus, all traversing both ecosystems in a pattern all throughout the year. The ecosystem also boasts of a mind-blowing wealth of predators including more than 3,000 lions, 8,000 hyenas and 1,000 leopards.

Other than the Big Five (lions, leopards, Cape buffaloes, African elephants and black rhinos) and the huge Nile crocodiles and hippos in the rivers that you can find in both parks, there are other resident animals that you can easily spot as well. In the Mara, sightings of smaller predators including black-backed jackals, spotted hyenas and bat-eared foxes can be ample. Giraffes, elands and topi are also very evident. Aside from these mammals, Masai Mara also exhibits incredible birdlife, displaying about 470 noted bird species including Kenya’s national bird, the lilac-breasted roller.

 

In the Serengeti, you can easily find herds of giraffes and many other hooved animals such as elands, kongoni, topi, impalas and gazelles, all of whom are residents all year-round. Big cats like lions, cheetahs and leopards can be seen as well. Lions are almost everywhere, cheetahs are usually in  the southeastern plains and leopards are usually lazing near trees along the Seronera River. There are rarely seen species of antelopes in the Serengeti, too. This includes dik-diks (you can easily find them near kopjes) as well as klipspringer, bushbuck and fringe-eared oryx. When it comes to birdlife, the Serengeti won’t disappoint. It has about 500 species of birds noted around the park.

Although both parks are very wildlife-ridden, a lot of travellers find it easier to spot the animals in the Mara given its smaller area compared to the Serengeti. The beauty of the Serengeti is, you can find different habitats in one huge park. If you’re looking into being an eyewitness of predator vs predator or predator-prey interactions, you can find more of these in the Serengeti.

 

Factor 3: Best time to go

The Masai Mara and Serengeti, being the flagship wildlife parks in their countries, offer amazing wildlife viewing all throughout the year. But, because of some change of events like the wildebeest migration, there are months that offer better game.

The Serengeti is spectacular during dry seasons particularly between June and September as well as between December and early March. In June and July, the migrant herds can be seen crossing the Grumeti River. This is one of the highlights during the migration as herds traverse the river while crocodiles and hippos await. The most intense part, however, is the feat they’re about to face further north: the Mara River crossing which starts around late August or early September. In December, herds start to prepare for the calving season which peaks at around February where about 8,000 baby wildebeests are being born each day. Of course, you can expect a lot of predators lurking around and attacking feeble babies and mothers.

Like the Serengeti, Masai Mara’s best general game-viewing months are during the dry seasons in June to October. For the wildebeest migration, September and October are the best months to visit the Mara because the herds crossing the Mara River arrives the Masai Mara plains where they continue to graze on the fresh grasses until November.

 

Factor 4: Accommodation options

 

Tented camps, budget tents and large resort-style lodges are all available in both Masai Mara and Serengeti. The costs vary depending on the season of travel and the level of service expected.

In Masai Mara, the central and eastern area are usually busy during Migration season and so if you want to stay by the Mara River, you have to book in advance so you’ll be guaranteed an accommodation close by. Otherwise, book an exclusive camp in the northern private concessions as these areas offer a more exclusive experience.

Book a tailor made safari to Angama Mara and get 10% discount>>

In the Serengeti, camps are often strategically located in paths anticipating the Migration. Mobile camps are also available for those who want to literally follow the movement of the mega herds. For budget tents, there are designated campsites around the park. So if you’re visiting to see the wildebeest migration, it is wise to book a year in advance because accommodations literally fill up fast. Compared to the Mara, the Serengeti’s prices are a bit steeper. But, the Serengeti also offers more diversity of options — from private hilltop villas to basic hotel-style lodges to honeymoon retreats complete with spa treatments and even yoga sessions.

Book a tailor made safari to Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti and get 10% discount>>

 

Factor 5: Cost

 

Considering overall costs, a safari in Masai Mara is relatively cheaper than in Serengeti. Aside from the wider array of cheaper and basic accommodations available in the Mara compared to the Serengeti, it is also possible to join a group during game drives there while most safaris in Serengeti are private. Also, because of its size, a 3 days and 2 nights safari is very possible in the Mara as opposed to the massive Serengeti park which might need 4 to 5 nights. The good thing in Serengeti is that other parks like the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is just close by. This factor makes it more attractive to many travelers, making the safari costs even more worth it. Luckily, there are available Classic Tanzania Safari as well.

<<Check out affordable Tanzania Classic Safari packages >>

Factor 6: Getting there

 

Going to Kenya is a breeze compared to Tanzania, especially in Serengeti in which the nearest and most convenient airport is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). For one, flights to JRO is relatively more expensive compared to flights to NBO (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya which is the main hub to Masai Mara). Also, there are a lot more flights available to NBO from different parts of the world.

From UK, for example, several daily flights are available from Heathrow to Nairobi. Average flight duration is 8 hours and 35 minutes and airfare can go around £340 to £550. From Nairobi airport, there are two ways to get to Masai Mara. The first one is to catch a 45-minute chartered flight to one of its 6 airstrips. The other, more cheaper way is to drive for about 5-6 hours.

If you’re flying to JRO to visit Serengeti, flight costs are typically about £445 but can also go as low as £335 if you’re lucky. Several weekly flights are available from the UK, averaging about 11 hours and 15 minutes flying time. From there, you can either fly into one of its various airstrips via a light aircraft which would take about 50 to 70 minutes, or you can take the road for more or less 8 hours.

Other options that travelers can take when going to the Serengeti is getting a flight to Nairobi in Kenya or to Dar es Salaam (DAR) in southern Tanzania, and then getting a connecting flight to JRO. Road trips are also available but this can take more or less 24 hours.

 

Synopsis

 

Obviously, either wildlife parks are worth a visit and are excellent destinations all year-round. If cost is an issue or long/multiple flights is not your thing, then the Masai Mara would be your best bet.  If you want more exclusivity, since the Serengeti is more vast, it can guarantee more exclusive safari experiences compared to the Mara. Plus, it is also very nearby other safari parks like the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Manyara National Park. Of course, you have to mind the timing of your travel as well, especially if seeing the Great Migration is of paramount importance to your experience. But if time is not an issue, visiting both Masai Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania would definitely be an ultimate dream safari adventure! Check these Tanzania Safari Tours and Kenya Safari Tours or you can always have your itineraries tailored to your travel style and budget.

<<Check out sample Kenya and Tanzania Safari Packages >> or contact us to help you plan your Safari holiday.