The Survey Party — Field Guide

Emma Expedition · Stamp of Approval

region:

filed:

Africa

FEB 2025

STATUS:

DAYS IN THE FIELD:

14

Masai Mara

Kenya · Savanna · Dry Season

Field note:

The Mara in dry season is dust and silence and then suddenly not. fourteen days, three river crossings, more cats than I could count. This is the one I'd go back to every year if I could.

Habitat

Key species

Season

Best sighting

savannah grasslands, 
Riverine Forests

Big 5 + wildebeest

DRY · JUL–OCT · PEAK SEASON, CAN GO YEAR ROUNd

day 6 - leopard in tree!

Worth knowing

The migration is the headliner, but the Mara delivers year round — resident big cats don't follow a calendar. That said, July–October is peak for a reason. 1.5 million wildebeest, daily river crossings, worth every bit of the crowd.

sunrise cheetah sighting

Operator:

Aquila Safaris

Also vetted:

Silhouette Africa

The Survey Party — Field Guide

stamp of approval

masai mara

Kenya · Savanna · Dry Season

REGION

FILED

DAYS IN THE FIELD

AFRICA

FEB 2025

14

FIELD NOTE

The Mara in dry season is dust and silence and then suddenly not. fourteen days, three river crossings, more cats than I could count. This is the one I'd go back to every year if I could.

WORTH KNOWING

The migration is the headliner, but the Mara delivers year round — resident big cats don't follow a calendar. That said, July–October is peak for a reason. 1.5 million wildebeest, daily river crossings, worth every bit of the crowd.

OPERATOR

AQUILA SAFARIS

ALSO VETTED

SILHOUETTE AFRICA