How to Travel between Maasai Mara and Serengeti
Travelling between Masai Mara and Serengeti
Crossing At Isebania
You can cross the border just west of the Masai Mara and Serengeti (between Kenya and Tanzania) at a little border post called Isebania. The problem with the route through Isebania is that the road on both sides of the border is very bumpy and uncomfortable. Moreover, the total time taken to travel from Mara to Isebania and then to a camp in Serengeti could take over half a day. This doesn’t include the time that might be wasted at the border, which could constitute about an hour to a few hours, depending on the traffic at the border. An overnight stay will usually be required in this route.
Crossing At Namanga
Namanga route is a better option for those wanting to avoid paying for flights and still wish to enjoy a safari in both countries. The problem with the route through Namanga is that it’s pretty far away from both the areas as well, even though the ride through this route is a bit more comfortable. Another problem with road travel includes the fact that you need to purchase a permit for vehicles when crossing the border. This can cost you a lot! If you’re not driving yourself, you can cross the border on foot and then request another travel agency to pick you up from the other side of the border.
By Air Transport
Flying is the best and most popular mode of transport from Masai Mara to Serengeti National Park. One of the ways you can travel through air is by flying to the Migori Airstrip on the Kenyan side of the border, near Isebania, then crossing the border at Isebania. After that, a car will meet you on the other side of the border and take you to the Tarime airstrip, through which you can fly to the airstrips in Serengeti National Park. However, this service is available only during the peak tourist season! The exact flight time cannot be said for sure because it all depends on how long the queue at the border is.
How to Travel Between Serengeti and Maasai Mara
The Serengeti is one of the most famous parks in Africa and is synonymous with wildlife and classic African scenery. It is Tanzania’s oldest park and a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is home to the spectacular wildebeest migration and offers top-class wildlife viewing throughout the year.
The Wildebeest Migration
Every year, over 2 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle migrate from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya. If you’re there at the right time, you can spot herds of wildebeest and zebra stretching to the horizon.
Wildlife
The Serengeti offers some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa. All the major safari animals occur in great numbers. Cheetah and four of the Big 5 are easily seen, but rhino sightings are rare, and only black rhino are present. Aside from the big cats, many other predators can be spotted including spotted hyena (especially in the morning), jackal and bat-eared fox.
Scenery
Serengeti’s scenery is renowned for its grassland plains in the southeast. The northern part is more hilly and rocky. To the west, valleys, rivers and forest can be found. Several areas in the Serengeti are dotted with ‘koppies’, granite outcrops rising up from the plains. It’s an immense landscape and quite stunning – big sky country that feels like untamed wilderness.
Weather & Climate
Conditions in the Serengeti are rarely taxing in the daytime during the Dry season (June to October), when the temperature stays nice and warm. It’s a different story at night, when the mercury can take a deep dive. The heat creeps up a few degrees during the Wet season (November to May), though the odd cold front can introduce a chill.
Best Time To Visit
Overall, wildlife watchers are better off timing their trip to coincide with the drier months (June to October). Aim for June and July if you can, as the incredible wildebeest migration usually tramples the plains at this time. If you’re keen on seeing predators in action, visit in late January or February. This is the hiatus in the annual rains, when the wildebeests calve.
