The drive to the Maasai Mara is part of the adventure. An hour out of Nairobi the road tips over the edge of the escarpment and the whole Great Rift Valley opens up below you.
What the drive is like
From Nairobi, the road climbs to the Rift Valley viewpoint, then drops to the valley floor at Mai Mahiu. From there it crosses open Maasai country to Narok, the last big town, where you can stop for lunch and fuel. The road is now tarmac almost all the way to the main gates.
Altogether it is about 270 km, depending on your camp, and takes five to six hours with stops. In the rainy months, April, May and November, allow a little longer.
When to go
The Great Migration is usually in the Mara from July to October, with river crossings most likely in August and September. Big cats live in the Mara all year. See the migration, month by month.
