Central Plains

The southeast area of the park, bordered by the Mara and Sand Rivers, is characterised by rolling grasslands and low, isolated hills. With the arrival of the migration, enormous herds of wildebeest and zebras, as well as other plains wildlife, graze here. The riverine forests that border the Mara and Talek Rivers are great places to spot elephants, buffaloes and bushbucks. Leopards are sometimes seen near the Talek and Sand Rivers and around the Keekorok valleys.

Rhino Ridge and Paradise Plains

Rhino Ridge is a good place to see black-backed jackals, as they’re known to use the old termitaria here for den sites. Lookout Hill is worth a detour as it offers phenomenal views over the seasonal Olpunyaia Swamp. You may also get lucky and spot one of the few black rhinos that inhabit the reserve anywhere between Lookout Hill and Rhino Ridge and in the vicinity of Roan Hill.

To see lions, the Marsh Pride near Musiara Swamp and the Ridge Pride near Rhino Ridge both starred in the BBC’s Big Cat Diary so they are fairly easy to find. Cheetahs are far more elusive, but are sometimes found hunting gazelles on the Paradise Plains.

Mara River

Pods of hippos can be found in any of the major rivers, with the largest and most permanent concentrations occurring in the Mara River. The river is also home to huge Nile crocodiles and is the scene where wildebeest make their fateful crossings during the migration. The New Mara Bridge in the south is the only all-weather crossing point and another great place to see hippos.

The Mara Triangle & Esoit Oloololo (Siria) Escarpment

Unlike the rest of the park, which is under the control of the Narok County Council, the northwest sector of the reserve is managed by the nonprofit Mara Conservancy. The only way to reach this part of the park is from either the Oloololo gate or via the New Mara Bridge. Consequently, this area is less visited than elsewhere, despite having high concentrations of wildlife. The Oloololo Escarpment, which forms the northwest boundary of the park, was once wooded, but fire and elephant damage mean that it’s now mostly grasslands. Rock hyraxes and klipspringers can be readily seen here.