The Big Five and Big Cats of the Maasai Mara — What You'll See

The Maasai Mara is one of the best places in Africa to see big cats, and it holds most of the classic 'Big Five' too. Here's a guide to the animals you might meet on a drive with Oloishuro Tours — and where and how we tend to find them.

Lion

The Mara has a famously high density of lion, living in prides across the open plains. The Marsh Pride around Musiara is world-famous. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to catch them active — moving, playing with cubs, or setting up to hunt. Seeing a pride on the move at golden hour is a highlight of any safari.

Leopard

Shy and beautiful, leopards favour the tree-lined rivers and rocky outcrops of the Talek and Mara. Spotting one draped over an acacia branch takes a patient guide and a bit of luck — but the Mara's leopards are seen often enough that we always keep an eye on the right habitat.

Cheetah

The open Mara plains are ideal cheetah country. As the fastest land animal, a cheetah on the hunt is pure drama. We often find them scanning from a termite mound or a rock, and sometimes travelling in coalitions of brothers — a rare and precious sighting.

Elephant, buffalo and rhino

Herds of elephant move through the marshes and woodlands, and buffalo are common across the reserve. Black rhino are present but rare and elusive — spotting one is a special, lucky day. Nakuru National Park (part of our 5-day circuit) offers a much higher chance of both black and white rhino.

And everything in between

• Maasai giraffe browsing the acacia
• Huge herds of wildebeest and zebra
• Topi, impala, Grant's and Thomson's gazelle, and eland
• Hippo and Nile crocodile along the Mara and Talek rivers
• Warthog, spotted hyena, jackal and over 450 bird species

No two drives are ever the same. Tell Jackson which animals you most want to see and he'll plan the route to give you the best chance.