Similarities, Differences, and Which Is Better: Different Months of the Year

Masai Mara National Reserve and Serengeti National Park are arguably the greatest wildlife conservation areas in the world. They’re home to numerous species of wildlife, but also the site of the largest wildlife migration on Earth, the Great Wildebeest Migration. The fact that these two parks are actually joint together, yet separate entities, leads to a great question of which of these you should visit and which is better than the other for a Safari. We shall start by highlighting their similarities before listing the differences./

Masai Mara and Serengeti:

• Wildlife: Wildlife in both the Masai Mara and the Serengeti is very similar in terms of diversity. From a traveller’s point of view. Both of the locations offer fairly equal chances of spotting the ‘Big Five’ and other animals, including lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, rhino, African buffalo, giraffe, hippo, and zebra. Absolute numbers for each animal species vary, of course. For example, the number of Lions in the Masai Mara is fewer than the number in the Serengeti.
  
• Shared Ecosystem: Both parks are loosely considered part of a single ecosystem stretching from Southwestern Kenya into northern Tanzania. They both cover the Great Rift Valley, which itself stretches beyond Kenya and Tanzania. Since there isn’t a physical barrier between the two parks, the wildlife is free to move from one park to the other.
  
• Climate: Despite the Serengeti being a vast area, both of the parks experience similar climatic changes and conditions. Savannah plains that dominate the landscape from Southern Kenya to Northern Tanzania. There aren’t any major changes in altitude in between to cause significant changes in weather patterns. Mean temperatures in Serengeti range from approx 15 to 25 °C (59 to 77 °F), while Mean Temperatures in Masai Mara range from approx 12 to 30 °C (54–86 °F).
  
• Landscape: We can’t specifically point out a difference in the landscape. In the Masai Mara, the altitude ranges from approximately 1500 to 2000 metres(4,950-7,200ft), while in Serengeti, the altitude ranges from approximately 920 to 1,850 metres(3,036 to 6,060ft).
  
  Before the 2 million-strong herds of wildebeest and other animals, such as zebra, migrate into the Masai Mara in July. They would have already covered a long rotational trek, with their movement determined by the rainfall patterns, animal instincts, mating season, and the quality of the pasture. This migration takes place during the full course of a year in both parks. However, in Serengeti, a large number of the herd is dispersed, and it’s only towards June when the gradual movement brings them to the Western or Grumeti side of Serengeti that the animals form larger herds.
  
• Size and Animal Density: Serengeti National Park is larger than the Masai Mara National Reserve. This means the population of animals in the Serengeti is much larger than that in the Masai Mara. Keep in mind that safari game drives usually take place within a certain radius of your accommodation. The number of wildlife you get to see depends on the location of your camp in Serengeti compared to the Masai Mara. This is because driving out of the camp in the Masai Mara is much safer, even to the extent of driving out to the core reserve, while in Serengeti, driving to the edge of the park is not very possible.
  
• Prices & Costs of a Safari: In terms of park entry fees, Serengeti costs more than Maasai Mara due to the fact that tourists can be accommodated inside the park and end up paying the daily concession fee in addition to the park fee and relevant taxes. A 24-hour stay at the Serengeti costs $140 per adult. By comparison, the fee in the Masai Mara is only $70 per adult if you decide to stay inside the reserve. The concession fee is a tax levied by the government of Tanzania. The difference in fee doesn’t affect the quality of your experience. Also, the accommodation in the Serengeti is a bit expensive compared to the Masai Mara. The main reason being there are more camps and lodges in the Masai Mara than in the Serengeti.
  
• Getting There: Both these parks are best accessed via their respective country’s capital cities, with Nairobi being in Kenya and Arusha in Tanzania. It takes up to 5 hours to travel from Nairobi to the Masai Mara and 6 hours from Arusha to the Serengeti. Travellers who have booked a 3-day safari to the Serengeti would have a tight schedule compared to those visiting the Masai Mara.
  

Conclusion

Both locations offer close to the same services; however, it depends on your personal preference. For a first-time safari in Africa, we would suggest you go to the Masai Mara since it will give you a chance to experience most of what the wildlife has to offer, since it would be easier to spot them, and at the same time, enjoy a high-quality experience at a more reasonable cost compared to the Serengeti.

For most tourists who want to experience the wildebeest migration, we would also recommend the Masai Mara since it offers a slightly spectacular view of the migration across the Mara River.

However, for a more experienced traveller or for someone who has experienced a safari in Africa before. Serengeti offers a more varied experience but at a higher price.

You can also check for Safari packages that offer both Serengeti and Masai Mara by clicking the link below.
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