Big game hunters of the photographic type will want to put the Masai Mara on their shortlist of destinations. The extraordinary density of the big five (lions, rhinos, buffalo, leopards and elephants) in this Kenyan nature reserve make it Africa’s premier stop for those seeking a more personal wildlife experience than simply flipping to the Discovery Channel.
The seasonal migration of wildebeests, gazelles and zebras which you only normally see in National Geographic actually happens here every July and August, when the animals cross the Serengeti. The wonders of Masai Mara are no secret, and it can occasionally feel a bit crowded. But watching the reed-like red-robed Masai in their element, falling to sleep to the distant roar of lions and waking up in the cradle of humanity should compensate for the inevitable tour groups.