The Great Migration usually arrives in the Masai Mara during July
Kenya
July is the month many people spend years waiting for. The Great Migration – more than a million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle – tend to arrive on the plains of the Masai Mara, usually from mid to late July, transforming the landscape into one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth.
At Governors’ Camp, positioned adjacent to the Musiara Marsh in the north of the Reserve, the migration can unfold right around you. Herds fill the plains beyond your tent, and the sound of tens of thousands of animals moving through the night is something guests describe for years afterwards.
July brings spectacular sunrises and sunsets that mark the start and end of the day. The weather is cooler, with daytime temperatures averaging around 24°C, making game drives comfortable and energising. July is the month when the great herds of the wildebeest migration usually arrive on the plains of the Masai Mara, between the middle and end of the month. In a typical year, tens of thousands of wildebeest take the plunge and cross the Mara River in dramatic fashion, running the gauntlet of hungry crocodiles, strong river currents, steep banks and predators waiting to ambush.
Once on the other side, they spread out, covering the plains as far as the eye can see. With the abundance of animals around, cheetahs return to take young wildebeest as prey, and we have wonderful leopard sightings in the woodlands between camp and around the Marsh. In the forests, Warburgia trees are among the last to still bear fruit, attracting elephants, baboons, blue monkeys, and brown parrots into and around camp, where they feed as they move through the area.
Sometimes we see rare caracals and their cubs hiding in the long grass, as well as the elusive side-striped jackal. Thomson’s gazelles give birth in July, perhaps taking advantage of the presence of the large herds to have their young in relative peace.
Lions: The Marsh Pride remains at the heart of their territory, the Musiara Marsh, adjacent to Governors’ Camp and Il Moran. With so much prey around, they do not need to travel far. The pride spends a great deal of time together, regularly hunting wildebeest. Vultures do well at cleaning up what lions and other scavengers leave behind.
Leopards: July is consistently one of the best months for leopard encounters – we have wonderful sightings in the woodlands surrounding our camps. Cheetahs return to the plains when wildebeest arrive, targeting young calves on the open grasslands.
Elephants: With the grasslands drying out, the grass becomes less nutritious, and elephant families move into the acacia forests and riverine woodlands. They cross the Mara River during the day and frequently visit our camps at night, feeding on fruits from Teclea and Warburgia.
Buffalo: The main resident herd of around 500 buffalo circulates between the Musiara Marsh and the elevated plains of Rhino Ridge.
Other plains game: Good sightings of eland on the ridges and plains. Giraffe herds move through the acacia woodlands. Warthogs and their piglets are abundant.
Large numbers of spotted hyenas are seen, with cubs of varying ages. With all the herbivores around, the plains are rich in dung, which draws harvester termites and dung beetles, which, in turn, attract bat-eared foxes and lone aardwolves foraging amongst them. We also regularly see evidence of pangolins digging for termites.
The return of the migration brings an explosion of bird activity, too. Vultures, including Rüppell’s griffon, white-backed and lappet-faced, are conspicuous overhead, circling above kills and crossing sites.
Out on the plains, ostriches tend to their nests. In the forest canopy, the fruiting Warburgia trees continue to attract brown parrots, black-and-white casqued hornbills and African blue flycatchers. African fish eagles call from their perches above the Mara River. July is also a fine month for raptors, with tawny eagles and Bateleurs regularly seen gliding low over the plains in search of prey.
July is one of the driest and most comfortable months in the Masai Mara.
Typical conditions include:
July nights are cool and star-filled. Pack warm layers for early morning drives.
Governors’ Camp and Il Moran Camp are located just 40 minutes from the main crossing point, placing guests at the absolute centre of the migration.
In July, the Reserve is at its most dramatic, and both camps offer:
Please note: As the migration is a natural phenomenon influenced by changing environmental conditions, we cannot guarantee the timing, location, or wildlife sightings described.
A Kenya safari in July at Governors’ Camp can offer some of the most iconic wildlife experiences on Earth: The Migration, the Big Five, and the famous Marsh Pride hunting on your doorstep.
It is also a wonderful month to combine with Loldia House on Lake Naivasha, which makes a beautiful opening or closing chapter to your journey in Kenya.
As July is one of our peak months, we recommend booking well in advance. Contact Governors’ Camp Collection to begin planning your July safari.
