Masai Mara Vs Serengeti Vs Kruger National Park

Masai Mara Vs Serengeti Vs Kruger National Park. The Guide to Masai Mara, Serengeti, and Kruger National Parks. If you’re seeking the ultimate location for a true African safari experience, these three are unrivaled. The Masai Mara National Reserve, Serengeti National Park, and Kruger National Park all provide a variety of experiences and excursions to accommodate all types of visitors, from honeymooners and lone explorers to families and friends.

Kruger National Park

But how can you select between these three breathtaking locations? Masai Mara vs. Serengeti? Serengeti compared. Kruger National Park? Which is the most suitable for a safari? We’ve been visiting these beautiful wildernesses since 1998, therefore we’ve broken down this hard subject to assist you to find the perfect spot for your trip needs.

The Great Migration – Wildebeest Migration from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara, Crossing Mara River

Let’s start with the widest distinction: the Kruger National Park is in South Africa, whereas the Serengeti and Masai Mara are in Tanzania and Kenya, respectively. Tanzania and Kenya share a border, and the Masai Mara and Serengeti share an unfenced border for wildlife but not humans. They compose the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, one of the world’s biggest (nearly twice the area of New Jersey) and best-protected habitats. This huge wilderness region serves as the backdrop for one of nature’s most spectacular shows, the Wildebeest Migration.

What is the location of the Masai Mara?

The Masai Mara National Reserve is a wilderness region in south-western Kenya, near the Tanzanian border. The Masai Mara environment is defined by its huge rolling grasslands, filled with lone thorn trees and distant purple highlands. This is Out of Africa territory, and the sunsets are some of the most dramatic you’ll ever see. There are few trees since elephants have knocked many of them down throughout the decades. It is really simple to go to the Masai Mara. You’ll fly to Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, before taking a small plane to one of the Masai Mara’s airstrips.

Where is the Serengeti?

The Serengeti National Park is in northern Tanzania and covers an area of 14 763 square kilometers (5 700 square miles). It shares the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (which includes the iconic Ngorongoro Crater) and the Masai Mara National Reserve. The Serengeti is a place of stunning wide grassland, dense forest, and scrubby hill area. ‘Serengeti’ means ‘land that travels forever’ or ‘land that continues forever.’ You’ll travel into Kilimanjaro International Airport and spend the night in Arusha, the entrance to Tanzania’s famed Northern Safari Circuit.

Where can I find the Kruger National Park?

The Kruger National Park is located in South Africa’s northeast. It is one of the world’s largest national parks, covering an area of 19 485 square kilometers (7 523 square miles) — about the size of Israel.

Expect to see open woodland or denser acacia scrub rather than large sweeping savannahs as in the Masai Mara or Serengeti; the vegetation here is thicker than in East Africa and much of the scenery is open woodland or denser acacia scrub. It is stunning, with gigantic trees (ideal for leopards to hide in) and rocky hills known as koppies, which are frequently the domain of klipspringers: tiny, monogamous antelope that marry for life. Fly into Johannesburg, Africa’s wealthiest metropolis, and then take a short-haul flight to one of Kruger National Park’s several airstrips. The park is bordered by private game reserves like Sabi Sands, Thornybush, and Timbavati, all of which provide exceptional safari experiences.

Masai Mara

Masai Mara | The Safari of a LIFETIME

The Masai Mara is home to lions, elephants, and buffalo, but leopards and, notably, rhinos are more difficult to spot. The lack of trees and thicket means you’ll have to work harder for a decent sighting (rhinos feel the cold and like to migrate to dense undergrowth at night to remain warm). Throughout the year, the Mara is home to a plethora of different animals, but it is especially beneficial to large herds and their predators. Aside from enormous lion pride, it’s one of the greatest spots in Africa to watch cheetah. These swift felines require broad and flat areas to hunt; watching a cheetah pursue down its prey is an exciting sight. Its vast plains are also ideal for lion hunting. There are also many spotted hyenas, giraffes, and Thomson’s gazelles.

Head to the Masai Mara from about August to October to see the Wildebeest Migration’s mega-herds. The national reserve is fairly small and can get rather busy when the wildebeest arrive, so it’s always a good idea to stay in one of the neighboring private conservancies. You’ll enjoy a more tranquil safari experience, but you’re still close enough to the Migration’s hot spots.

Serengeti

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

You’ll see lots of lions, buffalo, and elephants, as well as leopards if you remain in the Serengeti’s steep sections and along the Serenora River, as you would in the Masai Mara. However, rhinos are becoming increasingly scarce. Lion prides, in particular, enjoy the vast plains of the Serengeti. The Serengeti has a similar reputation for big cats as the Masai Mara for general wildlife watching at any time of year. It also ranks among the top birding destinations in the world, with a bird count of around 500 different species.

From November to July, the Serengeti receives the lion’s share of the Wildebeest Migration. A month-by-month summary of the Great Migration may be found in our handy guide.

Kruger

What It’s Like to Safari at Kruger National Park in South Africa | A Travel Guide

Private reserves in the Kruger National Park, such as Sabi Sands, Timbavati, and Thornybush, provide some of Africa’s greatest Big 5 sightings, particularly of the group’s most elusive member: the leopard. The area’s hillocks, rocky outcrops, and dense forest provide ideal leopard habitat. This is also the best spot to observe rhinos, and it is said to have the most elephants of the three. Expect excellent general game watching all year, with possibilities to see rare and endangered wildlife like African wild dogs, cheetah, and sable – plus it’s one of Africa’s greatest birding destinations.

The variegated landscape along its dams and rivers provides habitat for a variety of kingfisher species (pied, malachite, and huge), lilac-breasted rollers, carmine bee-eaters, raptors such as eagles, vultures, owls, and ducks. Remember that birding is generally more remarkable during the Green Season (about November to April) when all migratory species are there and there is plenty of food.

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