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This map of the Maasai Mara shows the national reserve, the private conservancies that ring it, the main gates and airstrips, and exactly how the Mara joins Tanzania’s Serengeti into one giant migration ecosystem. Pan, zoom and tap any area to plan where to stay and how to arrive. Trunktrails Safaris runs tours and safaris across every corner of this map.
Interactive map of the Maasai Mara
The Maasai Mara National Reserve covers 1,510 km² in Kenya’s southwest, on the Tanzanian border. The shaded orange block is the reserve itself; the olive blocks are the community conservancies; and the faint green to the south is the Serengeti, which the same herds move through. Airstrips are marked with pins.
Boundaries from OpenStreetMap contributors, simplified for display; basemap © CARTO. Airstrip positions from OpenStreetMap. Figures verified against the Mara Conservancy, county records and Wikipedia.
The reserve and its conservancies
People say “the Mara” to mean two different things. The core is the government-run national reserve. Around its northern and eastern edges sit private conservancies, where Maasai landowners lease grazing for low-density tourism, which means fewer vehicles and night drives that the reserve does not allow.
| Area | Type | Approx. size | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maasai Mara National Reserve | National Reserve | 1,510 km² | The classic Mara; Mara River crossings; open to all |
| Mara Triangle | Reserve (western third) | ~510 km² | Run by the Mara Conservancy; quieter, well managed |
| Mara North Conservancy | Conservancy | ~320 km² | Low vehicle numbers, strong predator density |
| Naboisho Conservancy | Conservancy | ~200 km² | Big cats, walking and night drives |
| Olare Motorogi Conservancy | Conservancy | ~140 km² | High lion density, exclusive camps |
Gates and airstrips
The reserve has several gates. Coming by road from Nairobi you usually enter at Sekenani (the main eastern gate) or Talek. Oloololo in the northwest serves the Mara Triangle, Sand River sits on the Tanzanian border, and Musiara and Ololaimutiek serve the central and eastern camps.
If you fly in, you land at one of the bush airstrips below and your camp meets you. Flights leave Nairobi’s Wilson Airport two or three times daily and take about 40 to 45 minutes.
| Airstrip | Serves |
|---|---|
| Keekorok | Central and southern reserve |
| Ol Kiombo | Central reserve and Talek camps |
| Musiara | Northern reserve, Governors’ area |
| Mara Serena | Mara Triangle (west) |
| Kichwa Tembo | Northwest, Oloololo escarpment |
| Mara North | Mara North Conservancy |
| Fig Tree | Talek and central camps |
| Siana Springs | Eastern conservancies |
Getting to the Maasai Mara from Nairobi
The Mara is about 270 km from Nairobi. There are two honest ways in. By road it is a 5 to 6 hour drive in a pop-top 4×4, scenic through the Rift Valley escarpment, with the last stretch on rough murram. By air it is a 40 to 45 minute flight from Wilson Airport into the airstrip nearest your camp. Many travellers drive one way and fly the other to save a day. We arrange both on our Mara tours and safaris.
The wildebeest migration season
The great migration is the Mara’s headline act. Roughly 1.5 million wildebeest, with zebra and gazelle, move up from the Serengeti into the Mara around July, stay through the dry season, and drift back south by November. The famous Mara River crossings are most likely from August to September, though the exact timing shifts each year with the rains.
| Month | Where the herds usually are |
|---|---|
| Jul | Arriving in the southern Mara from the Serengeti |
| Aug-Sep | Across the Mara; peak Mara River crossings |
| Oct | Still strong; herds begin drifting south |
| Nov-Jun | Mostly in the Serengeti; resident Mara game stays year-round |
For the full picture, see our detailed wildebeest migration map and our wildebeest migration safari, and use the map of Kenya to see how the Mara fits the wider safari circuit.
Maasai Mara map: frequently asked questions
Where is the Maasai Mara on the map?
The Maasai Mara is in southwest Kenya, in Narok County, on the border with Tanzania. It is about 270 km from Nairobi and joins the Serengeti to the south.
What is the difference between the reserve and the conservancies?
The national reserve is government-run and open to everyone. The conservancies are private land leased from Maasai owners, with fewer vehicles and activities like night drives and walking that the reserve does not permit.
Which gate should I use for the Maasai Mara?
Most road visitors enter at Sekenani (main eastern gate) or Talek. Oloololo serves the Mara Triangle in the northwest, and Sand River sits on the Tanzanian border.
How long is the flight to the Maasai Mara?
Scheduled flights from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport take about 40 to 45 minutes and land at the bush airstrip nearest your camp.
When is the wildebeest migration in the Mara?
The herds are usually in the Mara from July to October, with the Mara River crossings most likely between August and September.
Plan your Maasai Mara safari
Trunktrails Safaris is a native Kenyan-owned operator running tours and safaris across the reserve and every conservancy on this map. Tell us your dates and we will match you to the right area, the right camp and the right way in, by road or by air.
WhatsApp +254 113 208888 | info@trunktrailssafaris.com
See Maasai Mara safaris
