Clear Skies, Star-Filled Nights and the Migration on the Horizon
Kenya
June is when the Masai Mara sees the last of the rains and takes a long, deep breath. The skies are clear, the air is sharp, and with no light pollution for miles, the night sky becomes extraordinary – an unbroken canopy of stars that many guests, especially those from cities, are seeing in such clarity for the first time.
Out on the grasslands, the tall savannah grass stands at its most dramatic, waiting for the wildebeest. And sometimes, in a good year, the first columns begin to trickle across the Sand River from Tanzania even before the month is out. June is also the wildebeest rutting season, and the plains rumble with the sound of males jumping, cavorting and clashing heads.
June is one of those months that rewards patience. The rains are gone, the grass is tall, and the Mara is in the calm before the great storm of the migration. For guests at Governors’ Camp, this translates into long, exploratory game drives that sometimes cover the full length of the Reserve, with a light quality that photographers specifically plan for.
The clear skies that return in June also bring something that guests consistently describe as transformative: the night sky. Without a single artificial light for miles, the Milky Way is fully visible. Many of the great constellations, such as Scorpius and the Southern Cross, hang overhead.
Out on the grasslands, the savannah stands tall and lush in quiet anticipation of the migration. In some years, the first wildebeest begin to cross at the Sand River towards the end of June. It is also the rutting season, when males clash in brief, energetic bouts – charging, leaping and locking horns in displays that are both dramatic and captivating to watch.
June brings some of the most spectacular large-mammal concentrations of the year at Governors’ Camp, particularly in and around the Musiara Marsh.
Elephants: Vast herds, sometimes up to 200 individuals, gather in the Marsh area, feeding and bathing. Calves are plentiful. As the wildebeest approach, the elephant herds begin to shift towards the acacia woodlands bordering the Reserve. Witnessing such a large gathering of elephants moving across the landscape at dusk is unforgettable – something best experienced in the moment rather than through a lens.
Lions: The Marsh Pride remains close to Governors’ Camp in June, hunting warthog, waterbuck and topi primarily. The males, known fondly as the “Topi Boys”, patrol the boundary of their territory and often venture over to the neighbouring pride at Paradise Plains.
Cheetahs hunt on the elevated plains such as Rhino Ridge, keeping a deliberately low profile amongst the large hyena clans.
Leopards: Consistently good sightings during this month. In one memorable June, a leopard spent an entire day reclining in a hammerkop nest, much to the fury of the hammerkops, who couldn’t reclaim their home until nightfall.
Other game: Large herds of resident buffalo graze on the plains. Hyena clans of up to 40 members compete aggressively with lions. Mongoose activity is particularly noticeable, with white-tailed, slender, banded, dwarf, and even Egyptian mongooses frequently seen. The latter is typically nocturnal, making daytime sightings especially rewarding.
Giraffe families, often with young calves, move quietly along the forest edges near the Mara camps. Warthogs are a key prey species at this time of year, and it’s not uncommon to witness tense pursuits, with lions driving them back towards the safety of their burrows.
June brings some of the Mara’s most impressive bird sightings. Large species are actively nesting, and the skies above the Marsh are busy.
Saddle-billed storks nesting in the trees beside the Musiara Marsh have chicks by June – almost fully fledged and wobbling on their long legs in the high branches. Marsh owls and Verreaux’s eagle owls hunt the fringes of the Musiara woodlands at dusk and into the night.
For guests at Governors’ Camp, much of this unfolds right within the camp itself. The stork nests can be seen from select tents and dining areas during the season – a remarkable and ever-changing piece of natural theatre.
June marks the transition from the long rains to the dry season, one of the most pleasant times of the year to be in the Masai Mara.
Typical June conditions:
By late June, the Masai Mara feels crisp, golden and full of possibility. The dry-season game viewing is beginning, and the Great Migration is on its way.
June offers one of the best value windows to stay at Governors’ Camp and Governors’ Il Moran Camp. As the dry season begins and the landscape opens up, the quality of game viewing rises sharply, but the peak-season premium of July and August has not yet arrived.
Guests on a Kenya safari in June with Governors’ Camp enjoy:
June is also one of the best months to combine a Masai Mara safari with Loldia House on Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley. Contact us to begin planning your June safari in the Masai Mara, or
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