Serengeti vs. Masai Mara National Parks: Which is the Best in Africa?

Two African National Parks, the Serengeti, and the Masai Mara are among the most popular destinations in Africa. However, they differ greatly in many ways. The purpose of this article is to compare and contrast these two parks and determine which is best for visitors.

Brief overview of Serengeti National Park and Masai Mara

The Serengeti National Park is located in northern Tanzania, along the border with Kenya. The Masai Mara National Reserve is located in southern Kenya, near Amboseli National Park and Tsavo East National Park.

The Serengeti covers an area of 14,763 square miles (38,000 square km), making it the largest national park in Africa and one of the largest protected areas on Earth! The Masai Mara Reserve covers 8,485 square miles (21,000 square km) and contains most of Kenya’s remaining wildebeest population–but not all of it: some migrate south each year into Tanzania’s Serengeti region as well as other parts of East Africa.

Comparison purpose and comparison points between Serengeti vs. Masai Mara

The purpose of this article is to compare and contrast the two parks and determine which is best for visitors. It will help visitors decide which park they should visit based on their own interests, needs, and budget. It will also provide information on how to choose between these two parks depending on the time of year that you plan on visiting them.

1. Best Time to visit Serengeti vs. Masai Mara National Parks

The Serengeti is renowned for its dry season, which runs from May to October. This period is generally considered ideal for game viewing because it’s less crowded, animals are more visible and they have more room to roam around in their natural habitat. However, if you’re interested in seeing larger herds of wildebeest or zebra crossing Mara River then visiting during the wet season can be an unforgettable experience too!

On the other hand, the best time to visit the Masai Mara National Park for game viewing is during the dry season from June to October. However, if you want to witness the wildebeest migration, the best time to visit is between July and October. If you prefer a quieter experience and don’t mind the rain, you can visit during the low season from April to June or November to December.

2. Wildlife in the Parks

The Serengeti National Park is home to the highest concentration of wildlife in Africa, with over 2 million animals roaming its plains each year. It’s also one of the best places on earth for viewing lions, leopards, cheetahs, and elephants–but there’s more than just these big cats at play here: you’ll find baboons galore as well as zebra herds numbering in the thousands (and sometimes tens of thousands). The Mara is also known for its abundance of wildlife–it has been called “the king” among all parks in Kenya due to its sheer number of creatures living within its borders–and since it’s located so close by compared with other parks in Tanzania or Zambia (where many people choose not to go), this makes it easier for tourists who want a closer look at some exotic creatures without traveling too far away from their hotel rooms each day after dinner time

3. Landscape and Scenery

The Serengeti is the more open park, with relatively flat terrain and few hills or valleys. This makes it easier to see wildlife from your car. The Masai Mara, on the other hand, has a lot of hills and valleys that block your view of animals at times–but also provide a better variety of habitats for different species to live in.

Both parks have excellent roads that allow you to easily navigate around them without getting lost (unlike some other parks). However, if you prefer having an unobstructed view of nature while driving through your safari destination then Serengeti National Park would be perfect for you!

4. Accommodations and Facilities

The Serengeti has more accommodation options. If you’re looking to stay in one of the national parks and still have the option of doing other activities, the Serengeti is your best bet. It has a wider range of accommodations, including luxury camps and upscale lodges such as Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge and Seronera Wildlife Lodge.

The Masai Mara National Reserve also offers some excellent accommodation options but doesn’t quite measure up to what you’ll find in the Serengeti. You’ll find fewer luxury accommodations here, with most being basic tents or simple cabins with shared bathrooms (although there are some exceptions). The best places to stay will be near Lake Naivasha or Lake Nakuru–the latter being famous for its flamingos!

When it comes to facilities like restaurants and gift shops/stores at each park entrance gate area where guides wait for clients before heading out into their vehicles on safari trips then this could vary depending on which operator they use i.e., whether it’s an independent operator who runs his own tours without using any transportation company services such as vehicles then he won’t have anything except maybe his vehicle itself which might just serve as shelter if needed during bad weather conditions such as heavy rainfalls etc., whereas operators working under large companies like Abercrombie & Kent would offer better services since these tend not only provide vehicles but also provide guides who know how to drive safely around wildlife,, especially during nighttime hours when visibility becomes poor due either lack light sources from moonlight stars.. etc, so having experienced drivers means fewer accidents happening within their group tours.”

5. Cultural Experience

Both parks have a lot of cultural activities. The Serengeti has more options, but the Masai Mara has some as well. There are usually at least two cultural shows per evening in both parks and in addition to this, there are often other events like drumming or dance performances.

There are also many opportunities for visitors to interact with local people; for example by joining game drives where you can see how people live outside the park boundaries (e.g., at Lake Naivasha) or taking part in traditional dances that take place during school holidays throughout Kenya’s national parks (this is especially good for children).

6. Sustainability and Conservation

Serengeti National Park is better for sustainability since it supports a higher density of predators than Masai Mara. This means that the ecosystem can adapt to changes more easily because there are more animals available to fill in the gaps when one species becomes less common. In contrast, Masai Mara has fewer predators and therefore less resilience to changes in its ecosystem. However, Masai Mara has a higher density of herbivores than Serengeti National Park does–which means that there’s more food available for them (and therefore also more competition between them).