Ultimately, neither is better than the other. Both Serengeti and Masai Mara win the prize for the best safari in Africa. They are both amazing travel destinations and there are pros and cons to going on a wildlife safari in both. Masai Mara Safaris generally offer slightly more concentrated game viewing year-round.
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Kenya may be the better choice if you're looking for a more diverse range of experiences focusing on authentic cultural encounters. However, if you're interested in trekking Mount Kilimanjaro or exploring remote safari areas, Tanzania is the way to go.
Although these national parks are very similar because they are part of the same ecosystem, there are differences. Masai Mara is more hilly and treed. Serengeti has more diverse landscapes and habitats as it encompasses a far larger area.
The short answer is yes. The Masai Mara Reserve has an abundance of resident wildlife all year round. It is not true that all the predators disappear once the huge herds of the migration move south toward the Serengeti in neighbouring Tanzania.
NOTE: Even though there is one road from the heart of Serengeti to Masai Mara, there is no border crossing between these 2 national parks. Some tours in Serengeti will take you just across the border in search of a river crossing during the wildebeest migration.
The Masai Mara (or just Mara for short) is one of the world's most famous safari destinations, bordering and within the same ecosystem as the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
With nearly 200,000 visitors a year, vehicle pollution and erosion can be a problem. Another problem is created when tourists take pictures of the Masai without their permission, which invades their privacy and possibly annoys them. Few tourists stay with the tribe, so the Masai earn very little money from tourism.
Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is famous for being the location of the Great Wildlife Migration, which involves two MILLION wildebeests, zebras and antelopes. It's also an extremely large and wild game park, and home to the Big Five of Africa.
Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is famous for being the location of the Great Wildlife Migration, which involves two MILLION wildebeests, zebras and antelopes. It's also an extremely large and wild game park, and home to the Big Five of Africa.
Both parks offer the Big Five; however, it will be much harder to spot the animals in Kruger due to the layout of the park with the paved roads. Animals often stay far from the roads. If you want a more adventurous safari with multiple animal sightings, Serengeti National Park is the way to go.
Botswana: Consistently ranked as one of Africa's safest countries, Botswana's top safari destination is Chobe National Park, which is dense with a variety of wild game. The park has one of Africa's highest concentrations of elephants, with over 50,000 migrating through the park.
The long cool-dry season from July to October is considered by most to be the best time of year to visit Masai Mara but also costliest season too. The absence of rain means that the flora is less dense, so animals are easier to observe.
Masai Mara is known to have excellent wildlife viewing all year round. However for those looking for an opportunity to watch as the great wildebeest migration unfolds the best time to visit the Mara is from July to October.
When visiting Masai Mara National Reserve, we recommend combining your wildebeest migration safari with Amboseli, Samburu or Laikipia - Lewa, Nakuru, Elementaita, and Naivasha - Great Rift Valley Lakes. You can also climb the 2nd highest mountain in Africa: Mount Kenya.