Visiting the Masai Mara
Kenya
An African safari in March offers a unique opportunity to experience the Masai Mara during the quiet Green Season. Following the short rains earlier in the year, the landscape becomes vibrant and full of life, creating spectacular scenery for game drives and photography.
A safari in March provides excellent wildlife viewing with fewer visitors compared to peak migration months. The Masai Mara is home to lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and large herds of plains game, all thriving across the rich grasslands.
For travellers considering the best African safaris in March, the Masai Mara remains one of Kenya’s most rewarding destinations.
March is one of the quieter months in the Mara. Fewer people around means more wilderness all to yourself. With the first few downpours, the Mara springs into life. The rain falls in late afternoons and evenings, making for cosy evenings in camp, spectacular sunrises and sunsets and wonderful photographic opportunities.
Out on the plains, the wildflowers, such as fireball lilies, begin to bloom, and there are splashes of colour amidst the long grasses. In the forests around the Mara River, the Warburgia trees continue to fruit, bringing many elephant families into our camps and the surrounding woodlands. We also see a good number of elephants in and around the Musiara Marsh. Family groups often have young calves amongst the herds, and the males are often in musth, looking for females in oestrus.
We also see troops of Sykes monkeys foraging for warburgia fruit up in the tree canopy above the camps. As elephants pass through camp, mongooses spring into action, scratching through the elephant dung for insects to feed on.
There’s a plethora of baby animals in March, from warthogs, giraffes, and elephants to hyenas, zebras and eland calves amongst the big herds. Hippos also give birth at this time of year, and we’ve seen mothers and tiny calves on the riverbanks and in the quiet river bends near camp. We have also seen serval kittens out on the plains; it seems there are baby animals everywhere.
The topi and hartebeest calves are around 4-5 months old, and the hyena begin their annual specialist hunting strategies for this type of prey.
With the start of the rainy season, the Musiara Marsh fills with water as small rivers appear in the grasslands and flow directly into it. Catfish come out of their mud burrows and navigate along waterways to the marsh and rivers, and African fish eagles and storks can be seen feasting on these catfish. This phenomenon has also led to some unusual sightings, such as when we saw a subadult male leopard catch a catfish. Rather proud of himself, he laid the fish down and took a moment to adjust his whiskers. The catfish, sensing his chance, made a heroic leap for the nearest stream and made a way to safety, pursued by the surprised leopard, who never caught up with the clever catfish!
The Marsh Pride of Lions often has cubs at this time of year, and we have good sightings of them around the marsh, feeding on topi, warthog, buffalo, and waterbuck. Before the mini migration arrives, there is fierce competition between lions and hyenas for food. We continue to have good sightings of cheetahs and leopards within the Reserve.
It’s a great time of year to see migrant birds such as Abdim storks and woolly-necked storks before they head off on their long journey back north. We welcome you to the Masai Mara in March to enjoy this quiet month, with plenty to see for a rewarding wildlife safari.
View our guide to weather conditions in the Masai Mara for a more comprehensive overview of the March climate.
For travellers looking for a quieter African safari in March, the Masai Mara offers incredible opportunities to enjoy wildlife in a more relaxed setting.
Understanding the Masai Mara weather in March helps travellers plan their safari experience.
Typical conditions include:
While brief showers may occur, they rarely disrupt game drives and often enhance the beauty of the landscape.
For many travellers, March provides one of the best African safaris for several reasons:
These factors make a Kenya safari in March a memorable and rewarding experience.
Governors’ Camp Collection offers two of the most iconic safari camps in the Masai Mara, providing exceptional access to wildlife year-round.
Guests enjoying a safari in March can experience:
Staying with Governors’ Camp Collection allows visitors to experience the very best of the Masai Mara in March.
If you are planning an African safari in March, the Masai Mara offers an unforgettable combination of wildlife, scenery and authentic safari experiences.
From spectacular predator sightings to luxurious camps set within the wilderness, a March safari with Governors’ Camp Collection offers the perfect introduction to Kenya’s iconic safari destination. Contact Governors’ Camp Collection to begin planning your African safari in March.
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