Beyond the Crossing: Why the Mara Triangle is more than just a Migration Hotspot

While the Great Migration rightly draws most attention, the Mara Triangle’s resident wildlife means the action doesn’t stop when the herds move on. Lion prides, cheetahs, leopards, elephant herds, and buffalo remain active throughout the year. And crucially, it is the only area in the Masai Mara where rhino are reliably found. 
‘The Triangle is the only true Big Five area within the Mara’, notes Jesse Mathews, Wilderness Kenya Project Manager. ‘No other part of the ecosystem offers this level of consistency, especially when it comes to rhino’.

For wildlife enthusiasts chasing the rare and elusive, the Mara Triangle also delivers subtle surprises. Klipspringers, for instance, are found here and almost nowhere else in the Mara. Spotting this agile, rock-dwelling antelope is a genuine off-the-beaten-track reward – ideal for return guests wanting more than the classic checklist.
Pair that with incredible birdlife, predator action that doesn’t slow down after the migration, and moody, photogenic skies in the green season, and you’ve got a safari experience that’s every bit as rich, without the dust or the traffic.

One of the most compelling reasons to visit the Mara Triangle year-round is its exclusive tourism model. There are only two permanent camps within the Triangle itself, and strict regulations on vehicle numbers and a limited number of properties create an experience that’s as private as it is premium. 

‘We’re making intentional decisions to reduce our impact’, explains Hein Prinsloo, Wilderness Kenya Chief Executive Officer. ‘As Little Governors’ becomes Wilderness Mara, we’ve reduced 17 tents to 12, and we’ve reduced bed numbers at Governors’ Camp as well. Fewer beds mean fewer vehicles at sightings, and that leads to a far more exclusive and responsible experience’. 

This philosophy isn’t just about guest comfort. It's a sustainability-first approach that helps protect the behaviour of wildlife and the integrity of the ecosystem. With fewer vehicles pressing into sightings, the animals remain more relaxed and behave more naturally, a critical factor for meaningful, high-quality wildlife viewing.

Beyond wildlife and exclusivity, the Mara Triangle represents a model of progressive, sustainable tourism.

For many decades, Governors’ has worked closely with communities and conservation partners to ensure that wildlife tourism meaningfully benefits people and nature. This will continue under the Wilderness Impact framework, always keeping our pillars of Educate, Empower, and Protect in mind.

Commitment to positive impact is woven into every level at Wilderness Mara: a lion monitor from the Mara Predator Conservation Programme will be based in camp, supporting predator tracking, coexistence education, and practical interventions like livestock bomas and collars.

Biodiversity initiatives like the Pangolin Project in Nyekweri Forest, the Mara Elephant Project’s conflict mitigation teams, and the Mara Raptor Project’s vital work to protect Kenya’s birds of prey are supported at a national level, addressing habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and species decline across Kenya’s most threatened ecosystems. 

Opening its doors as in June 2026, Wilderness Mara sits at the confluence of exceptional location, conservation-first design, and authentic experiences. With just 12 tents, designed for privacy, comfort, and a deep sense of place, it’s a camp built for travellers who don’t need a crowd to validate their safari. 

Wilderness Mara is the only camp that allows access to both sides of the Mara River, opening up more space, more wildlife, and fewer crowds. Guests here enjoy direct access to prime wildlife areas, expert guides with a deep understanding of the Triangle, and the kind of trusted, seamless service that Wilderness is known for across the continent. 

The Mara Triangle isn’t just for migration chasers. It’s for those who value space, serenity, and substance. It’s for guests who’ve done ‘the Mara’ before and are looking to experience it differently. And it’s for anyone who wants to engage with East Africa in a way that prioritises conservation, sustainability, and exclusivity.