What animals can I see on a safari in Masai Mara?

Masai Mara is heaven when it comes to wildlife safaris and with the number of wild animals that are found in the reserve, tourists get a chance to spot these and many more during their game drives around Masai Mara.  Masai Mara is one of the best safari destinations in the country and the world collecting more than 100 wildlife species. The Masai Mara Nature Reserve has a diverse ecosystem and is located along the border of Kenya and Tanzania. There are close to 90 mammal species in Masai Mara and many more bird species.

Most Popular Safaris

8 Day Tanzania Safari

3 Day Kenya Safari

19 Day Best of Uganda Safari

6 Days Nyungwe & Lake Kivu

18 Day Ultimate Uganda Safari

5 Day Gorilla Habituation & Chimps

5 Days Gorillas & Nile River Source

14 Day Uganda Safari via Kigali

3 Day Serengeti National Park Safari

5 Day Rwanda Gorillas & Culture

4 Day Kenya Game Safari

Masai Mara Nature Reserve is popular for the annual great wildebeest migration that has approximately 1.5 million wildebeests, 200, 000 antelopes and 400, 000 zebras crossing between Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara Nature Reserve and this is the main attraction in Kenya.  

Wildlife watching in Masai Mara is an all year round activity but the best time to watch the different animals in the reserve is during the dry season from January to February and June to October when most of the animals can easily be spotted gathering around the watering holes in search of food and water. This is also the best time to watch the wildebeest migration and expect to get large tourist crowds during this period.

Common animals in Masai Mara

The Big Five

The majority of the safari companies in Africa especially in Kenya focus on the big five when planning wildlife safaris for tourists and the big five include lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and African buffaloes. During your safari stay, you will be able to spot the big five and we are going to discuss the big five in detail below.

Lions: Lions also known as the Panthera Leo are part of the big five found in Masai Mara and can be seen in the different conservancies that are found along the border of the Masai Mara Nature Reserve and there are about 900 lions recorded. The male lions always control the pride and control 30 to 400 square kilometres in size. When it comes to hunting, the lionesses take the lead and it’s on accessional times that the males join in the hunting. When you are lucky, you will be able to spot the lions as they hunt down their prey.

African Buffaloes: The African buffaloes also known as the syncerus caffer/cape buffaloes are some of the most dangerous animals in Kenya. They are extremely erratic and explosive in behaviour and that’s why tourists are advised to avoid them at all costs. The most hostile ones are the female buffaloes as they defend their young ones and lone bulls from predators. The African buffalo weighs almost 800kgs, moves in herds of 100 or more, and has curved horns although the females are smaller than the males and have never been domesticated.

Leopards: Leopards are part of the big five and are also known as the Panthera Pardus and are also part of the big cat family. They are still considered vulnerable on the IUCN red list although you will find large herds in Masai Mara Nature Reserve and a few other parks in Kenya. They are shy animals that are hard to spot and usually hunt alone and at night.

Rhinos: Black and white rhinos are part of the big five in Masai Mara nature reserve but the most frequently seen is the white rhinos. There is no difference between the black and white rhinos when it comes to color but the white rhinos are smaller. The black rhinos protect themselves from predators by using their horns, during the mating process and fighting among themselves. Black rhinos also prefer to stay in dense bushes and vegetation.

Elephants: The African elephant is one of the most commonly seen animals in Masai Mara and the largest land animal in the world. An elephant can weigh more than 6 tonnes and can be spotted throughout the year on a guided safari drive through the reserve.

Other animals that are found in Masai Mara and make the big 9 include the following:

Giraffes: The Masai giraffe is the tallest animal in Masai Mara and one of the easiest to spot during the game drive. Kenya has two giraffe species and these are the Somali giraffe which is found in the northern part of Kenya and the Masai giraffe which is found in the southern part of the country. Giraffes can run for about 50/60 km per hour and for as long as they have enough fresh vegetation, they can go for weeks without water. They are preyed on by lions, poachers and hyenas and their only defence is that they can kick bad and can flee at a high speed.

Cheetahs: This is one of the most iconic animals in Masai Mara and one of the hardest to spot while on a game drive through the reserve. They usually hunt in groups of five hunting in the open and can run up to 110 kilometres an hour and can increase speed from 0 to 64 kilometres an hour. Cheetahs have slimmer bodies as compared to leopards whom they are usually confused with, have spots and not stripes and can easily take sharp turns when chasing their prey. Male cheetahs live in groups and female cheetahs like solitary and only look for males for breeding purposes.

Hippos: Hippos are the third largest land animals and weigh more than 1500 kg on average. Hippos can be spotted in rivers, swamps and along the shores and they can spend more than 6 minutes underwater without emerging. Male hippos are always in control of a certain stretch along the river and charge 5 to 30 females and also watch over their young ones. Hippos are also one of the most aggressive animals in the world and should be avoided at all costs.

Zebras: Also known as Equus quagga is one of the most commonly spotted wild animals in Masai Mara. The plain zebra is the most common in Masai Mara and it has broader stripes as compared to other zebras in the country. The plain zebras normally live in grasslands without trees and savannah woodlands that are typically found in tropical climates. They live in groups that are led by one male, several females and young ones. When predators attack the pride, the stallion barks and snorts to protect the harem.

African Hare: These are commonly found in wooded savannahs and grasslands in Masai Mara. They are solitary creatures and only pair up when it comes to dinner and move in groups to avoid predators as protection.

Aardvark: This is a small-sized or medium sized animal that burrows. It has powerful claws, and a snout, and nocturnal animal and usually feeds on insects, termites and ants. Their bodies are hairless, have short legs and an arched back. The thick claws on the on their forefeet are used for burrowing and digging into the ground.

Antelopes: This is one of the wild animals that are associated with East Africa and can generally be seen in large numbers in Masai Mara. There are three sub antelope species found in Masai Mara and these are the Dik-dik, Oribi and Klipspringer. They are found in the grasslands and bushes and are extremely fast when being chased by predators.

Bat-eared fox: The bat-eared box is a type of fox species that is found in the arid grasslands and can only be found in Africa and Masai mara is one of the places where you get to see the Bat-eared fox. They are best seen at night or early in the morning searching for food, especially in the warm months. The Bat-eared fox is social and in cases where you spot one, make sure to look out for others because there will be more. They feed on crickets, termites, spiders and scorpions among others.

Coke’s Hartebeest: this is a medium fawn colored antelope that is easy to recognize because it has a long and narrow face, and short angular horns which are rigged on both sexes. They can easily be spotted in Masai Mara in the savannah grasslands and it is one of the fastest and enduring runners in the jungle.

Side-striped jackal: The side-stripped jackal has shorter legs and ears as compared to other jackals and is easily recognized by the black and white spots that are found along the flanks and the white tip on the tail. It is usually found in the woodland areas and feeds on small vertebras and invertebrates like fish, fallen fruits, unripe maize and gazelles among others.

Spotted hyenas: This is also known as the laughing hyena and one of the most successful carnivores in Masai Mara. Females are larger than the males and more aggressive, social and dominate over the male hyenas. The distant laughs can be heard rather than seeing the hyenas and they are best seen in the early morning hours during the wildebeest migration.

Waterbucks: The waterbuck also known as the Defassa waterbuck is easily recognizable by the white inner thighs, shaggy and thick brown coat. The males have horns and these are used to defend themselves from attacks, females and young ones move in large numbers under the protection of the males and they feed on foliage, grass and reeds.

Wildebeests: Mainly seen during the wildebeest migration, the wildebeests are part of the antelope family with a heavily built body, especially at the front and has tiny spindly legs. They have a black mane, a beard that can be white or black and a grey coat. They prefer open plain grasslands and woodlands.

Straw colored fruit Bat: Also known as the African straw colored fruit bat, this is the largest fruit bat in Africa and they live mostly in tropical rain forests. They have pointed wings that make them fly better making them strong fliers. Their colour bodies vary from pale yellow to dark brown grey and you will find that there are over 100, 000 bats in a colony.

The Slender Mongoose: The slender Mongoose also known as the black tipped mongoose or black tailed mongoose is a common species that is found in Masai Mara and is a short legged, long bodied and variable colour animal that is best seen during the dry season. The mongoose usually feeds on birds, rodents, frogs, insects and reptiles among others.

Pangolin: A pangolin is a bizarre looking animal that is best seen at night due to its nocturnal state. Pangolins usually live in burrows or hollows of trees and their diet consists of termites and ants and they feed using their long tongues. They are solitary animals and only meet when it’s time for mating.

Primates: Some of the primates that are found in the Masai Mara Nature Reserve include Olive baboons and these are considered to be some of the largest baboons having a green/grey coat covering their bodies and a black face. Olive baboons live in groups of 20 to 50 under the leadership of one male and normally feed on grass, leaves, fruits and tubers among others.

Red-tailed monkeys also known as the copper tailed monkeys can also be spotted in Masai Mara living in groups of 7 to 30 with a dominant male, females and their offspring.  They feed on leaves, insects and flowers and communicate verbally and socially.

Crested Porcupine: This is a nocturnal animal that is black with white spines, and has large bodies with spiny hairs on the shoulders and forehead. The crested porcupine feeds on plant material including barks, tubes, bulbs and fruits among others.

There are so many more other animals in Masai Mara and a visit to the reserve is the best way to spot each one of these. There are many ways in which these animals can be spotted and these include game drives that are carried out in the morning and afternoon, hot air balloon rides and guided Masai walks among others. Get in touch with us to plan your safari to Masai Mara today.