Masai Mara weather and wildlife March 2025
March is a month of plenty; the wildlife is fantastic, and the weather conditions are forever shifting. Days started with vibrant sunrises and beautiful blue skies, turning to dramatic dark clouds that formed in the evening. The heavens opened during the night, and thunder boomed overhead.
Blue skies in March – photo credit Felix Rome
The abundance of water and regrowth allowed grazers to spread far and wide across the Masai Mara. Predators patrolled further and and worked harder to secure a meal; they were often seen on the roads in the early morning, returning from their nighttime hunting activities.
A stunning sunrise in March – photo credit Felix Rome
Weather and grasslands
The average daytime temperature was 26ºc, and we recorded 135.5mm of rainfall. The Mara River has been up and down this month, with heavy rains and subsequent dry spells. Most animals cannot cross the river except for larger species like elephants. However, they, too, must be careful, as their young calves could easily be washed away if left unattended.
The first week of March saw hundreds of zebras braving the Mara River at the Main Crossing point before the heavy rains arrived on the 8th. This is always an incredible sight. Nile crocodiles gathered in the muddy waters, waiting for the ideal time to strike.
Crocodiles tear apart the remains of a zebra – photo credit Felix Rome.
At the beginning of March, the Masai Mara experienced controlled burning across large areas, which removed the old rough grass and gave way to new succulent green grass. This always encourages large numbers of zebras, topi, and wildebeests to graze upon areas that have not been touched for years.
Burning also replenishes a lot of nutrients in the soil – photo credit Felix Rome.
Once the first heavy rains arrived on March 8th, the new shoots appeared almost immediately. Large areas are now covered in luscious, short green grass, with vast numbers of zebras and buffalo grazing.
On the plains
The large herds of zebras are still dominant within the landscape, and there are sizeable gatherings of buffalos, elephants, and giraffes. With rain occurring most nights, the following mornings have been beautiful and clear, with a low-hanging fog catching the pink and orange tones of the rising sun.
A pastel pink foggy morning in March – photo credit Felix Rome
Elephants have been seen everywhere and are often the first animals you will see as you head out of camp for the first game drive of the day. Adolescents spread out on the grasslands, quietly scuffing their feet against the ground to loosen grass and consuming the attached soil containing much-needed nutrients.
Nearly 80% of an elephant’s day is spent feeding – photo credit Felix Rome
Big bulls are found striding with composure and self-assurance—nothing intimidates a mammal of this size – and they seem to know it. So relaxed are they that their eyes are often partially closed as they swagger through the marsh with a rising sun for the perfect backdrop.
Large bulls often roam the plains alone – photo credit Felix Rome.
All-female herds of impalas have been busy attending to new fawns, and rams frequently locked horns as they compete for mating rights. A few resident males have performed incredible acrobatic displays outside the entrance to Governors’ Camp. The females, nervous by the surge of testosterone and subsequent aggression, are often seen trying to escape.
Female impalas dash around as an eager suitor is pursuing them – photo credit Felix Rome.
Spotted hyenas have also been raising their young, with a few active den sites known by our guides. Hyenas have an unfortunate reputation as savage scavengers, but they are far more than that. They are very effective hunters and have an incredible female hierarchy within a clan. The young pups enter the world with big, black, glossy eyes and dark coats. As they get older, their coats brighten and distinctive spots begin to appear.
A curious hyena pup – photo credit Felix Rome
Black-backed jackals are opportunistic when it comes to new life. As small predators, they can’t take on large game species. However, the Thomson’s gazelle (also called a “tommie”) is one of the smallest gazelle species found within the Masai Mara, and their newborn calves are an easy target for medium-sized canids such as jackals and even a serval. In March, our guests witnessed a black-backed jackal trotted away with a newborn Thomson’s calf in its jaws.
A black-backed jackal runs off with the head of a newborn impala – photo credit Felix Rome.
On the 22nd of the month, a black rhino roamed along the stretch of grassland adjacent to Governors’ Camp, eventually making its way up towards the boat crossing area for Little Governors’ Camp. Our guests could not believe their luck; to have found a rhino less than a minute out of camp was truly incredible.
Big Cats of the Masai Mara
The Marsh Pride stayed on the eastern side of the Musiara Airstrip for most of March, a complete turnaround in movements compared to February. They took down an impressive number of buffalos and hippos, occasionally allowing the Topi Boys to feed alongside them.
Kaleo – photo credit Felix Rome
Kito remains guarded and hesitant of the young males, often breaking away with Oleku and Nusurika whenever they are around. While the Topi Boys are busy performing their territorial patrols on the outskirts, Kito will usually lead the rest of the pride directly into the middle of the Musiara Marsh, where they can rest and be amongst themselves.
Nusurika is the youngest of the Marsh Pride – photo credit Felix Rome.
Guide Elisha and all eight members of the Marsh Pride – photo credit Felix Rome.
On March 16th, the pride was involved in a buffalo kill beyond Governors’ Private Camp. The scene was one of despair—a rather tragic and exasperating hour for the buffalo, who put up a good fight against eight lions. This was a well-coordinated attack, and the hunt tactics became apparent early on.
Using the longer, golden grasses of the open plains for optimal camouflage, the pride stalked and isolated a buffalo before using an exhaustion strategy that involved leaping onto its back while others gripped its hindquarters and rear legs. Buffalos, which are sometimes regarded as the “Black Death” of the savannah, are no easy feat, and this particular individual repeatedly pulled itself back up despite the inescapable situation.
The Topi Boys have kept to themselves, and all the early enthusiasm for mating with the Marsh Pride females appears to have worn off for now. Often found huddled together in the low temperatures of the early mornings or stretched out across each other in the heat of the day, they are easy to locate and spend time with.
Topi Boy, Djodjo, on patrol – photo credit Felix Rome
Born into the formidable Topi Pride between July and September of 2021 and sired by the robust Sala’s coalition of males, these boys have grown up with confidence and attitude in an ever-challenging landscape where male rivalry is becoming more common. The youngest, Kiongozi, born in September of 2022, is still rather baby-faced but manages to keep up with the antics of the others.
Otipo up front followed by Ukingo, Nzuri, Kiongozi and Moja Moja – photo credit Felix Rome.
The Paradise Pride have been venturing across all areas of their territory, often moving together as one large group. On many mornings, our guests enjoyed special moments with this pride as they walked along the open road at sunrise.
The Paradise female known as “Earless” – photo credit Felix Rome
One of the young (unnamed) females sired by the Bila Shaka males – photo credit Felix Rome
The Bila Shaka males kept to Paradise Plains for most of March. This may have something to do with the Topi Boys, who made it clear that any attempt to trespass into Marsh territory would be a big mistake. Geographical restrictions, however, have not stopped them from mating with various members within the Paradise Pride. Hopefully, some new cubs are on the way.
Powerful Chongo drags the carcass of a baby buffalo – photo credit Felix Rome
Chongo, the most dominant of the Bila Shaka males, has been scrapping a lot with Kibogoyo for the right to mate; even though they are part of a coalition, they must still compete to win over a female. Both males had fresh scratch marks across their faces for most of March; however, it seems Chongo prevails more often than not.
Kibogoyo’s left eye is much darker than his right eye – photo credit Felix Rome.
In March, cheetahs were regularly seen beyond our Mara camps, although a particular individual was seen more often than others. Nagol has been covering large ranges from north of Little Governors’ and south of Private Camp, frequently continuing up and beyond Paradise Plains. Nagol is a beautiful cheetah, often climbing atop termite mounds, scanning around for her next meal.
Nagol – photo credit Felix Rome
Other cheetah sightings included the non-partner males known as Ranger, Olonyok, Ruka, Oloti and a female, Nashipai. The recent burning initiatives allowed for better hunting areas for cheetahs, as the grass was shorter, giving a clear line of sight to potential prey.
Governors’ guide, Oliver, with Nagol – photo credit Felix Rome
Birds of the Masai Mara
March provided a birder’s paradise in the Masai Mara, with many migratory species arriving around the Musiara Marsh. Open-billed storks can be seen in large numbers, flying overhead as the sun rises, and a few minutes after it sets. Almost every other tree has an eagle or falcon perching, scanning around, ready to dive down on unaware prey.
Grey-crowned cranes are non-migratory but shift locations seasonally depending on conditions. Reaching just over a meter stall when standing, they move gracefully through mixed habitats comprising marshes and grasslands. Well regarded as icons of the Mara, they are fascinating to watch—especially during a breeding display that involves all kinds of dance moves, bowing, and sudden jumping.
Two grey crowned cranes in flight – photo credit Felix Rome
Male Jackson’s widowbirds are in full breeding plumage, and most have already grown a tail of around 20cm long to attract the nonchalant, streaky brown females. Jumping up and down in the tall grass increases their chances of being noticed.
With the recent high rainfall and excess water, kingfishers have made the most of some new fishing spots. As large puddles and luggers fill up, tiny reed frogs and other amphibians gather together, making easy pickings for the lightning-fast malachite and pied kingfishers.
Ground-dwelling black-bellied bustards were a little harder to spot in March – primarily due to the height of the grass and the golden tones of the open plains. Both sexes are buff in colour, but only the males have a distinctive black belly, making them highly camouflaged within their habitat.
Calls are made by standing tall, slowly raising their neck and pulling their shoulders back before puffing their throat, which results in a remarkable cork-popping sound, earning them the name champagne bird.
Interestingly, only the males have a black belly – photo credit Felix Rome
Thank you to Felix Rome for the supporting imagery. If you’d like to learn more about a safari in March, please visit the link below.
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