Is Serengeti better than Masai Mara? Comparison Between Serengeti VS Masai Mara
First, it’s good to know what is famous for Masai Mara and Serengeti, and why to compare them to plan your safari. It’s also good to understand and know their location and why they are known as prime destinations in Africa. We will discuss more and know of Serengeti vs Masai Mara.
Masai Mara is located in the Southern Part of Kenya, southwest of Nairobi. It’s 1510 KM2 in size and also home to some famous big five and big cats shown on well-known channels and documentaries like the BBC and NatGeo Wild and also known for the great wildebeest migration.
The Serengeti National Park is located on the northeast side of Arusha and is 15,000 km2 in size. Serengeti is known for its wildebeest migration and the endless plains of the wonderful park. It is located in Tanzania.
Both the Masai Mara and Serengeti share the same ecosystem and the same climatic and weather conditions. The only thing separating them is the Kenya and Tanzania Border, but the rest, are all the same in the wildlife life. So we know below, is Serengeti better than Masai Mara?
Is Serengeti better than Masai Mara? Understand The Difference in Both
To answer this question, it’s a bit hard. Even comparing both Kenya and Tanzania is hard, since they are both individual destinations with very unique experiences and sightings as well. The climatic and weather conditions in both countries are almost the same.
Some other comparisons include the same kind of cultures and regional communities such as the Bantus, Nilotes, and Cushites, they both share the same and their cultures are also the same. The only difference is the geographical differences.
Comparing and understanding these differences requires an in-depth understanding, that will help you know these destinations offer completely different experiences.
These include both Safaris in Serengeti and Masai Mara. Serengeti Vs Masai Mara has always been an issue for guests looking for the best experience, and they are confused about where to go.
Among the two, none is better than the other, or none is rated higher than the other, this is because they are all offering unique and special experiences to guests looking for a lifetime safari memory-making holidays in East Africa.
Serengeti VS Masai Mara – Which is better. The Comparison of Masai Mara and Serengeti
Which offers the Best Big 5 Safari: Masai Mara or Serengeti?
The big five wildlife species can be spotted in both Serengeti and Masai Mara. But it’s easy to spot them in Masai Mara compared to Serengeti, due to its small size with lots of wildlife.
The famous big five and big cats documentaries have been done in Masai Mara Kenya due to the plenty of sightings and the small size of the reserve as compared to the Serengeti.
The Serengeti is 15,000KM2 and doing game drives at times is a bit hard to tick the bucket list that you have seen all the big five wildlife species. The park is vast and the long grass at times hinders you from spotting a sighting that is 2km away, with no access roads to get closer.
It is easy to see wildlife species in Masai Mara compared to Serengeti due to its small size, but this also comes with a side effect of wildlife not being wild enough since they interact a lot with humans at close range.
Which is more affordable? Safari Cost between Masai Mara and Serengeti
The short answer is Masai Mara is cheaper compared to the Serengeti. We did a cost comparison of Safaris for both Kenya and Tanzania, and we saw that Tanzania is very expensive compared to Kenya.
So How much is a Kenya Safari and How Much is a Tanzania Safari? Read in detail and get to understand their costings.
The cost of park entrance and camps and their concession fees are very high in Serengeti compared to Masai Mara. The entrance fee in Serengeti is almost USD 130 per person a night and in Masai Mara, it’s USD 70 per person a night.
Accommodations as well are expensive compared to Masai Mara. An example is a migration camp in the North during the peak season, which costs USD 1200 per person a night compared to a camp in Masai Mara which costs approximately USD 800 per person a night.
Masai Mara vs Serengeti Safari – which has better accommodations?
Serengeti National Park has very high-end and luxury accommodations. Their target market is the elite travelers who can afford very expensive and luxury safaris. Masai Mara on the other hand has a mix of both standard and luxury safari camps and lodges.
Serengeti Camps are small and exclusive, perfectly located in prime locations inside the reserve for guests looking for luxury treats and as well the best sightings of wildlife while still in Camp. Guests on a Kenya Safari can enjoy a mix of both Luxury and Standard stay in the Masai Mara.
Whether on a budget or looking for luxury, the best place is Masai Mara. But the best fit would be the Serengeti if you are looking for exclusivity and a luxury stay.
Wildebeest Migration Sightings in Masai Mara and Serengeti
The Great Wildebeest Migration and Crossings event is the most loved and most guests usually want to look for time to come and witness this great phenomenon. So does the migration happen in Serengeti or Masai Mara?
As we have mentioned above, the Serengeti and Masai Mara, share the same wider ecosystem known as the Mara-Serengeti Ecosystem. The wildebeest migration hence happens in both Serengeti and Masai Mara. Read More about the Wildebeest Migration.
The wildebeest starts in South Serengeti and moves up North to the Masai Mara, and moves again down to the Serengeti. They mate in Masai Mara and they give birth to almost 8000 calves in the Serengeti – Ngorongoro Ecosystem known as the Ndutu Conservation Area.
Seasons and Best Times to Visit both of them
The best time to visit both is during the summer season. These are between January to March and July to October of every year. These seasons also coincide with the wildebeest migration and wildebeest calving in Masai Mara and Serengeti.
The Wildebeest calving season is mostly witnessed in the Ndutu Conservation Area between January and March where in February, more calves are born up to 8000 calves a day. The wildebeest migration happens both in the Serengeti and the Masai Mara between July and October every year.
From April to June, the season gets wet and the rainy season becomes so intense with lots of rain in both Kenya and Tanzania. The best we can recommend during this time is our flying luxury safaris.
Read more on when is the best time to visit Kenya and Tanzania. Understand the best time to visit Serengeti and the best time to visit Masai Mara.
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