What You Need to Know: The Serengeti is much bigger than Kenya's Masai Mara and has the migration herds somewhere in the park all year, while the Mara has them mainly from July to October. The Serengeti costs US$82.60 per day to enter; the Mara US$100–200 depending on the season. Choose the Serengeti for calving (January–February) and space; the Mara for a short trip in August–September, when the herds are there.
Side by Side
| Serengeti | Masai Mara | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Tanzania | Kenya |
| Size | About 14,750 km² | About 1,500 km² |
| Migration | Most of the year, moving around the park | About July – October |
| Entry fee | US$82.60 per day | US$100–200 per day by season |
| Crowds | Spread out; busy around Seronera | Concentrated; busy at crossings |
| Combines with | Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Zanzibar | Nairobi, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru |
Which to Choose by Month
| Months | Serengeti | Masai Mara |
|---|---|---|
| January – March | Calving in the south | Resident wildlife, lower fee |
| April – June | Herds moving north and west | Quieter |
| July – October | Herds in the north, crossings | Herds and crossings, busiest |
| November – December | Herds returning south | Herds leave |
Wildlife Beyond the Migration
Both have excellent resident wildlife: lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo and plains game. The Mara's small size concentrates sightings; the Serengeti's size means fewer vehicles away from the central area. For black rhino, the Ngorongoro Crater, next to the Serengeti, is one of the best places in East Africa.
Our Advice
For a safari from Tanzania, the Serengeti is the simpler and better-value choice: it combines with the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire, has wildlife all year, and lets you follow the herds in any month. The Mara is excellent for a short, concentrated safari in the crossing months, especially from Nairobi. To see both, see our 6-day Tanzania and Kenya safari; for the Serengeti, start with the 4-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro safari.
The Two Parks in Numbers
| Serengeti (Tanzania) | Maasai Mara (Kenya) | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | About 14,750 km² | About 1,510 km², plus conservancies |
| Entry fee (2026, adult) | US$82.60 per 24 hours | US$100 per day January–June, US$200 July–December |
| Nearest city | Arusha, most of a day by road, or by air | Nairobi, 5–6 hours by road or 45 minutes by air |
| Migration | All year, moving around the park | About July to October |
| Crowds | Busy at Seronera and river crossings, quiet elsewhere | Busy in July–October at the crossings |
Doing Both
The two parks are one ecosystem, linked by road through the Isebania–Sirari border. Our 6-day Tanzania and Kenya safari and 9-day Maasai Mara and Serengeti safari cross from one to the other; see all our East Africa safaris. Read more in our Serengeti guide and Maasai Mara guide.
How the Experience Differs
In the Serengeti, distances are big. You may drive for an hour between sightings in the central plains, but you also find areas where you are alone with a pride of lions. Camps are spread across the park, and many travelers fly between areas to follow the herds. The landscape changes from the short-grass plains of the south to the kopjes of Seronera and the wooded hills of the north.
The Maasai Mara is compact and dense: wildlife is concentrated in a smaller area, so sightings come quickly, but in July to October many vehicles gather at the river crossings and big cat sightings. The private conservancies around the reserve limit vehicle numbers and allow night drives and walks, which gives a quieter experience at a higher price.
Our advice: for a first safari with limited time, either park is excellent. If you want space and variety, choose the Serengeti; if you want easy access from Nairobi and dense wildlife, choose the Mara. If you can, do both with our 9-day Mara and Serengeti safari.
Lodges and Budgets
Both parks have lodges for every budget, from simple tented camps to some of Africa's finest luxury camps. In the Serengeti, camps move with the season in some areas, so you can stay near the herds; the Mara has many permanent camps in and around the reserve and its conservancies. Staying inside either park costs more but saves driving time.
Whichever you choose, the biggest factors in price are your lodge level, the season and whether you fly or drive between areas. We quote both options so you can compare them side by side.
Serengeti or Mara Questions
Which is cheaper, the Serengeti or the Masai Mara?
The Serengeti entry fee is US$82.60 per day; the Mara charges US$100–200 by season.
Can I see river crossings in the Serengeti?
Yes, in the northern Serengeti on the Mara River, usually July to October.
Can I visit both on one trip?
Yes, on a combined Tanzania and Kenya safari; you cross the border by road or fly.
Is the Serengeti bigger than the Maasai Mara?
Yes, about ten times bigger, which is why it feels quieter away from the main areas.
Which is cheaper, the Serengeti or the Mara?
The Mara's fee is higher from July to December (US$200 a day). Overall cost depends more on lodges and travel than on fees.
Can I see the river crossings in both parks?
Yes: the Mara River runs through both. Crossings happen on both sides between about July and October.
Is the Serengeti more expensive than the Mara?
Not necessarily: costs depend on lodges, flights and season more than on park fees.
Which is better for big cats, the Serengeti or the Mara?
Both are excellent: the Mara's density makes sightings quick, while the Serengeti's central plains give big cats with fewer vehicles.
Do I need a separate visa for the Mara?
Yes: Kenya requires an eTA, separate from your Tanzania visa.
The Bottom Line
Choose the Serengeti for space, calving and a trip that combines with the crater; the Mara for a short crossing-season safari from Kenya. Or see both on one trip.
Send us your dates, the number of travelers (with children's ages) and your lodge level through the form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com, and our sales team in Moshi will reply with a written quotation.