Great Migration, Maasai Mara

Every year about 1.5 million wildebeest, with hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle, follow the rains in a huge clockwise circuit between Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara, followed by lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas. The most dramatic moments are the river crossings, when the herds plunge into the crocodile-filled Mara River.

The herds are usually in the Mara from about July to October, with river crossings most likely in August and September, but the timing changes every year with the rains. The Mara is superb for big cats all year round. The private conservancies around the reserve limit vehicle numbers, allow walking and night drives, and support Maasai landowners. A hot-air balloon flight at dawn is unforgettable.

The reserve is about 270 km from Nairobi: 5 to 6 hours by road, or 45 minutes by light aircraft from Wilson Airport. Park fees are high in the peak season.