Maasai Mara Big Cat Safari

Any time of year. The Mara's lions, leopards and cheetahs are resident, so big cat viewing doesn't depend on season. If you also want the migration herds, they're near the Mara River roughly from July to October. There are no fixed departures, so ask us for dates and we'll advise.

By road. You leave Nairobi early and drive west through the Great Rift Valley and Narok town, about 280 kilometres and five hours. You reach camp by early afternoon and go straight out on an evening game drive. The return on day four follows the same route back to Nairobi.

All three nights are at Mara Intrepids Tented Camp, so you don't change camps. One base means more time on the plains and less time packing. From camp you reach the lion, cheetah and leopard areas, and on day three you head north toward the Mara River.

Day two is a full day with your guide focused on cats. You start early, when lion prides are often returning from the night's hunt and cheetahs are moving on the open plains. The afternoon drive concentrates on leopard territory along the Talek and Mara rivers, where they rest in the riverine trees.

You'll see the Mara River on day three, with its hippos and Nile crocodiles. A crossing is another matter. The herds cross here between roughly July and October, and even then they can wait on the bank for days, so a crossing is possible but can't be promised.

Yes. Every drive is spent looking for lions, leopards and cheetahs, and the Mara's open grassland gives clear sightlines when you find them. The early morning and evening drives fall in the softest light of the day. Tell us what you want to photograph and we'll brief your guide.

Yes. Our Arusha team can extend this trip or link it with a safari in northern Tanzania, such as the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. We'll plan how you get between the two, by road across the border or by air, so the two parts join up without wasted days.

Neutral safari clothing, a warm layer for early morning drives, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. A dust scarf helps on the long road from Nairobi. Binoculars and a camera with a good zoom lens are the most useful kit, especially for picking out leopards resting in trees.

The Maasai Mara Big Cat Safari is 4 days and 3 nights. The day-by-day itinerary on this page shows where you go and stay each day.

This trip visits Maasai Mara National Reserve.

It is rated moderate: a reasonable level of general fitness is enough.

It runs for groups of 2 to 12 travellers.

Included: Full board accommodation at handpicked lodges and camps, All game drives in 4x4 safari vehicles with pop-up roofs, Professional English-speaking safari guide, Park entry fees for all national parks and reserves, Bottled water during game drives, All transfers and transportation and Emergency medical evacuation insurance.

Not included: International flights, Visa fees, Travel insurance (recommended), Alcoholic beverages, Tips and gratuities for guide and lodge staff, Personal items and souvenirs and Optional activities not mentioned in itinerary.