Serengeti National Park vs Masai Mara National Reserve, should I visit Serengeti National Park or Masai Mara National Reserve? This is something that a number of travelers ponder on as they plan their East Africa safari. Serengeti Vs Masai Mara: which is the best for safari in Africa and East Africa? This guide shall help you with the similarities and differences between Serengeti National Park Tanzania and Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya. There is no better or worse when it comes the Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya and Serengeti National Park for they are iconic and most sought after safari destinations.
Both the Masai Mara National Reserve and Serengeti National Park have the same cross-border ecosystem over a border that is open for only animals to easily cross in and out of each destination. Regardless, however, there are a number of differences as well worth noting and thus the choice of visiting either Serengeti National Park or Masai Mara National Reserve is left one one’s safari preferences, priorities as well as the time of the year when one looks to visit. To best choose where you should go on your safari between Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya, below are a number of comparisons for your reference;
Habitat and Landscape
It is a fact that both the Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve are more the same sharing the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, their individual landscapes are not identical. First off is that both parks are different in size; the Serengeti National Park covers 14,760 square kilometers while the Masai Mara National Reserve covers only 1,510 square kilometers which is very small in comparison. Also, the Serengeti National Park is dominated by open grassland that it derives the name “Endless Plains”, as well as has a great range of other vegetation habitats including evergreen riverine forest, deciduous woodland and rocky outcrops known as Kopjes. As you traverse the Serengeti Park from south to north the landscape changes, and so does the density and species of animals. The Masai Mara is more hilly and wooded, with open grassland as well.
Wildlife Densities
Both the Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve inhabit a wide variety of wildlife and such densities that both offer unforgettable wildlife viewing. Both the Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve are famous for the great wildlife migration but yet have so much more to offer including all the big 5 animals present in both safari parks as well as other animals including cheetahs, giraffe, antelopes, and so much more.
Best Time to Go
Overall, the best time to go to either the Serengeti National Park or Masai Mara National Reserve is during the dry season in the months of June through October when the animals are drawn to the few available water sources like rivers and waterholes as the animals converge in the few available water sources for a drink, or dip. The best time to see the great wildebeest migration is different in both parks, much as the exact timing solely depends on the rains timing. The best time to see the great migration in Serengeti National Park is in the months of January to September, while it is best in the months of August to October in Masai Mara National Reserve.
Accommodation Options
Both the Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve have a variety of accommodation options that suit all the types of travelers that is budget, mid-range, luxury and super luxury clients. Tented camps are popular in both Serengeti Park Tanzania and Masai Mara National Reserve Kenya, suitably furnished with modern yet with an African touch still to it. The Serengeti National Park has more varieties of up-market lodging options say the Four Seasons Serengeti Lodge, Melia Serengeti Lodge, Nimali Mara Camp and so much more.
Safari Cost
A Masai Mara National Reserve safari is by far cheaper than a Serengeti National Park safari. This is because, first is that there are more budget accommodation in Masai Mara National Reserve than in the Serengeti which many are outside the park and given the size of the Serengeti National Park staying outside the park is not viable. With staying inside the Serengeti comes an extra cost of concession fees, which brings the safari cost higher, Serengeti National Park Vs Masai Mara National Reserve
Regardless however, both the Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve are breath-taking Africa safari destinations most sought after by travelers who visit and interested in the typical Africa safari experiences. Both the Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve have spectacular landscapes, vast in size accommodating extensive game drives, have abundant wildlife species available all throughout the year.
If you are torn between Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara National Reserve, then do look into visiting both parks on even a 5 Days Masai Mara and Serengeti Safari that we could gladly tailor for you. You could decide to also have longer stays spending more days in either park, or add on other Kenya safari parks and Tanzania national parks, including among others Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Lake Manyara National Park among so many others.
Simply reach out to your Africa safari operator to help you pitch an amazing Masai Mara safari or Serengeti National Park safari.
