Safari, Wildlife & ConservationThe Masai Mara has more than 95 mammal species and more than 500 bird species, according to Nature Kenya and Wikipedia, and all of the Big Five live there: lion, leopard, African bush elephant, African buffalo and black rhino. This guide sorts the Masai Mara animals into predators, herbivores, primates, river life, nocturnal species and birds, and says how likely you are to see each one and where to look. For the wider picture of the reserve, start with our Masai Mara safari guide.
Sightings are never guaranteed, so the “how likely” columns describe a typical game-drive experience, not a promise. A short trip such as the 3-Day Maasai Mara Roar & Roam Safari (from USD 1,420 per person; prices depend on season, group size and lodge choice) gives you time with the commonest species, while rhinos and nocturnal animals need more days or a stay in a conservancy.
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Masai Mara animals at a glance
| Topic | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Mammal species | More than 95 (Nature Kenya, 2017) |
| Bird species | More than 500, with 53 to almost 60 raptor species depending on the source |
| Lions | 481 over one year old in the 2025 survey of a 2,713 sq km study area |
| Resident adult cheetahs | 16 in the same 2025 survey |
| Black rhinos | Roughly 50 to 60, according to recent monitoring (Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, March 2026) |
| Leopards | No reserve-wide count; 1.90 per 100 sq km in the Mara Triangle in 2019 |
| Wildlife outside the reserve | About 70 per cent of the wider ecosystem’s wildlife lives outside the gazetted reserve |
In the tables below, “very likely” means most visitors see the animal on a few game drives, “likely” means many do, “possible” means it takes luck or a good guide, and “rare” means most visitors miss it. These ratings are general guides, not counts.
Predators in the Masai Mara
| Animal | How likely | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Lion | Very likely | Open plains, rocky outcrops and river thickets; often resting in shade by day |
| Spotted hyena | Very likely | Near kills and dens; most active around dusk, night and dawn |
| Black-backed jackal | Very likely | Open grassland, often near herds |
| Cheetah | Possible | Open short-grass plains; hunts by day, so go early or late |
| Leopard | Possible | Riverine woodland and rocky areas with trees to climb |
| Serval | Rare | Tall grass near wet areas, at dawn or dusk |
Lions
The Mara Predator Conservation Programme’s 2025 survey counted 481 lions over one year old in a 2,713 sq km study area covering the reserve and nearby conservancies, up from 465 in 2024. The same report found about 3.3 females per male, against about 1.7 in 2024. It reads that as a lower share of adult males and lists human-wildlife conflict among the possible causes. Its overall verdict is that lion numbers have stayed stable.
Cheetahs
The same survey found 16 resident independent adult cheetahs in 2025, up from 12 in 2024. That figure leaves out transient and part-time residents, and the report says the total number using the Mara over a year is much higher. It still calls the resident group low enough to worry about, with few adult females, so cheetah sightings are a pleasure rather than a given.
Leopards
Leopards live wherever there are trees to climb. No reserve-wide count turned up in our research. A 2019 camera-trap study in the Mara Triangle, published by Tolhurst and colleagues, estimated 1.90 leopards per 100 sq km. That is a local density, not a population figure for the whole ecosystem.
Poison and sightings
In December 2015, National Geographic reported that five lions of the Marsh Pride, long followed on the BBC series Big Cat Diary, ate a poisoned carcass. Two died, along with six vultures that likely fed on a dead lion. It is one reason predator sightings cannot be promised. For more on big cats, see our Kenya wildlife safari packages.
Herbivores and the Big Five grazers
| Animal | How likely | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| African bush elephant | Very likely | Woodland, river areas and open plains |
| African buffalo | Very likely | Grassland and thickets near water, in herds |
| Plains zebra | Very likely | Open grassland, often mixed with wildebeest |
| Blue wildebeest | Very likely | Open plains; herd sizes change with the season |
| Topi | Very likely | Open plains; stands on termite mounds as a lookout |
| Thomson’s gazelle | Very likely | Short-grass plains |
| Impala | Very likely | Woodland edges and bush |
| Masai giraffe | Very likely | Acacia woodland and open bush |
| Warthog | Very likely | Grassland and roadsides |
| Grant’s gazelle, waterbuck, Coke’s hartebeest | Likely | Open plains; waterbuck stay near water |
| Common eland | Possible | Open plains; wary and quick to move off |
| Black rhino | Rare | See below |
Black rhinos
Mara rhino numbers have been through a hard history: 120 in 1971 and 18 in 1984, according to Wikipedia. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust described “a current population of 57” in March 2026, so we say roughly 50 to 60, and counts differ by source and date. The Mara is one of only two remaining indigenous eastern black rhino populations that live unfenced, and some animals cross between Kenya and Tanzania. Teams fitted 13 rhinos with GPS transmitters in February 2024 and 14 more in February 2025. Rhino sightings are the least predictable of the Big Five, so ask your camp about recent ones. Our guide to the Big Five in the Masai Mara goes deeper.
Wildebeest and zebra herds
Resident zebra and wildebeest are easy to find. The large migration herds, which link the Mara with Tanzania, are present for only part of the year, and the timing shifts with the rains. If the migration matters to you, look at the 5 days Masai Mara Migration Safari, from USD 2,750 per person, and ask your planner what the herds are doing on your dates.
Primates
| Animal | How likely | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Olive baboon | Very likely | Rocky outcrops, river forest and woodland, in troops |
| Vervet monkey | Very likely | Trees along rivers and around camps; keep food out of reach |
River life
| Animal | How likely | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Hippo | Very likely | Pools and slow stretches of the Mara River; out of the water mostly at night |
| Nile crocodile | Very likely | Riverbanks and sandbars, especially where herds cross |
| Water birds | Likely | River edges and pools: African fish eagle, hammerkop, Egyptian goose |
Stay inside the vehicle at the river and follow your guide’s instructions. Crocodiles and hippos are dangerous on the bank.
Where to look: reserve, Mara Triangle and conservancies
Nature Kenya says about 70 per cent of the wider ecosystem’s wildlife lives outside the gazetted reserve, and that the ecosystem holds approximately 25 per cent of Kenya’s wildlife. That is why the area you stay in matters. Lion density in the 2025 survey shows how much the picture varies:
| Area | Lions in 2025 | Per 100 sq km |
|---|---|---|
| Ol Kinyei Conservancy | 19 | 28.56 |
| Naboisho Conservancy | 52 | 25.01 |
| Olare-Motorogi Conservancy | 32 | 21.98 |
| Mara North Conservancy | 55 | 18.56 |
| Maasai Mara National Reserve | 183 | 17.32 |
| Mara Triangle | 72 | 14.67 |
Density tells you how many lions share an area, not how easy they are to find on a given morning. Ask your planner which area your camps sit in.
Two ways to see the Masai Mara animals
- 3-Day Maasai Mara Roar & Roam Safari: for travellers short on time who want a first look at the Mara’s wildlife, from USD 1,420 per person.
- 5 days Masai Mara Migration Safari: for travellers who want more days in the Mara and an interest in the migration herds, from USD 2,750 per person.
Prices depend on season, group size and lodge choice.
Nocturnal species seen in conservancies
Most night animals are hard to find on a standard day drive. Your best chance is a night drive or walk where a camp offers one, which depends on the camp and the conservancy’s rules, so ask before you book.
| Animal | How likely | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Genet | Possible | Slim, spotted and tree-climbing; caught in a spotlight |
| African civet | Possible | Walks the grass edges at night |
| Bat-eared fox | Possible | Also seen at dusk and dawn |
| Crested porcupine | Possible | Quills rattle; shy |
| Bushbaby (galago) | Possible | Often heard first, in trees near camp |
| Honey badger | Rare | Tough, solitary and fast |
| Aardwolf | Rare | Eats termites; seldom seen |
| Aardvark | Rare | Digs burrows; a lucky sighting |
Birds in the Masai Mara
Wikipedia counts more than 500 bird species, almost 60 of them raptors, while Nature Kenya gives 53 birds of prey and 12 cisticola species. Both agree the list is long. Wikipedia names vultures, marabou storks, secretarybirds, hornbills, crowned cranes, ostriches, long-crested eagles and African pygmy-falcons. It also notes the lilac-breasted roller, Kenya’s national bird, which most visitors see on a first drive. Nature Kenya highlights the migratory corn crake, Jackson’s widowbird and the grey-crested helmet-shrike. White storks and Caspian plovers come as winter visitors from the north. Our guide to birding in the Masai Mara covers species and seasons.
Tips for seeing more Masai Mara wildlife
- Go out early and late, when predators are active and the light is soft.
- Bring binoculars; they help most with birds and distant cats.
- Ask your guide about recent sightings, and give each stop time.
- Keep voices low and stay in the vehicle unless your guide says otherwise.
- Consider the optional hot-air balloon flight, USD 550 per person, for a different view of the plains.
Fees last verified: October 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
How many animal species live in the Masai Mara?
Nature Kenya reports more than 95 mammal species, and Wikipedia reports more than 500 bird species. We found no reliable total for the number of individual animals.
Can you see the Big Five in the Masai Mara?
Yes. Lion, leopard, African bush elephant, African buffalo and black rhino all occur there. Rhinos are the hardest to find, and leopards are elusive, so plan for several days.
How many lions are in the Masai Mara?
The 2025 survey counted 481 lions over one year old in a 2,713 sq km study area that includes the reserve and nearby conservancies. Cubs and lions outside that area are not part of the figure.
How many black rhinos are in the Masai Mara?
Recent monitoring points to roughly 50 to 60. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust gave 57 in March 2026 without dating the count itself, and older sources give lower numbers.
Can you see nocturnal animals in the Masai Mara?
Sometimes. Genets, civets, porcupines and bushbabies are the likeliest, mainly in conservancies where a camp runs night drives. Ask your planner which camps offer them.
Will I see every animal on this list on one safari?
No. The very likely animals appear on most trips, but rare ones depend on luck, season and time. A longer stay and a guide who knows recent sightings both raise your chances.
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