Mara’s heavyweight icon—often in family groups crossing the plains and riverine edges.

The Mara is famous for lions—often seen resting in shade or scanning from small rises.

Elusive and elegant—most likely near riverine trees, thicker cover, and marsh edges.

Speed specialist of open plains—classic Mara sighting on termite mounds scanning for prey.

Powerful hunter and scavenger—often seen at dawn and dusk or near kills.

Rare and highly social—a ‘drop everything’ sighting if you find a moving pack.

Dense herds and tough attitudes—buffalo are a classic Mara ‘big five’ animal.

A rare, special sighting—rhino exists but is not an everyday animal here.

Daytime river resident—look for big pods in deeper pools along the Mara River system.

Ambush predator of the rivers—often seen basking on banks or floating like logs.

The Mara’s tall browser—often seen in small groups, especially near acacia trees.

A constant Mara companion—often mixing with wildebeest for safety and grazing.

The migration engine—plus resident herds. When numbers are high, the plains feel alive.

Small, fast plains gazelle—often in open short grass where visibility is high.

A slightly larger gazelle—often near drier plains and edges.

Long-faced antelope that often stands on termite mounds—easy to recognize at distance.

High-shouldered, long-faced antelope—often in small groups on open grass.

Africa’s biggest antelope—heavy-bodied and surprisingly agile.

A key prey species—where there are impala, predators often follow.

Comic-looking pig with tusks—often seen kneeling to graze in short grass.

Intelligent and bold—often near riverine zones and busy picnic areas.

Clever and curious—fun to watch, but keep food secured.

A marsh-edge cat—if you’re lucky, you’ll see it hunting rodents in taller grass.

Mara’s opportunist—often near kills, following big cats at a respectful distance.

A small fox with huge ears—often active in cooler hours on open short grass.

One of the most photogenic safari birds—often perches on roadside branches.

Long-legged hunter that walks the grasslands—famous for snake hunting.

Elegant crane with a golden crown—often in wetter grassland and marsh edges.

Huge ground bird of open plains—often seen walking slowly and feeding.

Iconic call of African waterways—watch for it above rivers and pools.

Powerhouse raptor—often perched high scanning open plains for prey.

Short-tailed eagle with rocking flight—often seen gliding above plains.

Striking stork with bold bill colors—a prized river/lake sighting.

A colorful, confident camp-and-savanna starling—often around lodges and picnic areas.

Massive vulture—often the dominant bird at a carcass.

Classic East African savanna acacia—often associated with ants living in its swollen thorns.

The iconic ‘umbrella’ silhouette tree—defines classic safari landscapes.

Big riverine fig that attracts birds and mammals when fruiting.

Known for heavy ‘sausage’ fruits hanging from long stalks.

Bright yellow-green bark makes it glow in late afternoon light—often near wet areas.

Hardy evergreen tree found in East African landscapes and escarpment areas.

A common East African tree in many landscapes—often seen in mixed woodland zones.

Clumping palm often found near watercourses—adds a ‘river oasis’ feel.

A signature savanna grass—turns reddish in parts of the season, shaping the ‘Mara look’.

A hardy savanna tree used by wildlife and people in many East African regions.

Aloes can flower seasonally and attract birds and insects—best after rains and in drier sunny spots.

Orange ‘pom-pom’ flower rings on tall stems—often attracts birds and insects.

A dramatic red spherical bloom that appears after rains in shaded areas.

Thorny shrub common across savannas—often forms dense patches in some areas.

A savanna shrub with small flowers and edible fruits in some Grewia species.

Resinous savanna plant—often with distinctive bark and aromatic resin.

A tough shrub with milky sap and distinctive seed pods—often in warmer, drier areas.

Showy hibiscus-like blooms can appear after rains—great for close-up photography.

Colorful flower clusters—common in many warm regions (often invasive).

Puffy yellow/cream blooms attract insects and birds—one of the signature ‘savanna smells’ in bloom periods.