The Masai Mara National Reserve is located at a distance of about 275 km from Nairobi. The reserve was opened in November 1974 and has since become Kenya's most famous and popular animal reserve. Open to visitors throughout the year, the park covers an area of 1,510 square kilometers and features a wide variety and high density of wildlife that is easily observable. Visitors can use different kinds of accommodation, ranging from stone lodges to luxury tented camps. There are four tented camps and two lodges. Private safari operators also set up private camps for small safari groups seeking a traditional safari in the region.

The reserve offers spectacular views across rolling parks and hills. Some of this can be seen in the movie "Out of Africa", which was mainly filmed in this reserve. The impressive, extraordinary annual migration of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles that starts from the Serengeti crosses into the Mara grasslands from late June. Tourists arriving in July-August can view this spectacular migration of the antelopes, followed by the predators - lion, leopard, cheetah, and hyena - with the vultures following in the air.

Visitors can observe wildlife throughout the year. The reserve shelters elephant, black rhino, buffalo, plains zebra, hartebeest, lion, leopard and cheetah. Moreover, animals like the hippo and the crocodile can be found in the rivers. There are about 452 species of animals in the park.

Visitors can also catch a glimpse of the traditional Masai culture. The Masai own the area toward the north. Even this region provides excellent wildlife viewing, walks and night viewing of animals.