Preparations for the 14th Mara Day Celebrations have officially begun.
The annual event will take place from 13th to 15th September 2025 in Butiama District, Mara Region, in the United Republic of Tanzania.
This year’s theme is: “Protect Mara River: Preserve Life,” which translates to Swahili as “Hifadhi Mto Mara: Linda Uhai.”
Planned activities for the event include a scientific conference, tree planting, exhibitions, and competitions.
The Mara Ecosystem is one of the most critical ecosystems within the Lake Victoria Basin, supporting a wide range of economic, environmental, and social activities, including tourism.
Recognizing its importance, the 10th Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria Basin, held on May 4th, 2012 in Kigali, Rwanda, declared September 15th of every year as Mara Day, to coincide with the great migration of wildlife from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya.
The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) coordinates the celebrations on a rotational basis among the East African partner states.
Last year, the Republic of Kenya hosted the 13th Mara Day Celebrations in Sekenani, Narok County.
Mara Day serves as a platform to recognize and safeguard the vitality of the shared Mara–Serengeti ecosystem.
Positive outcomes from past celebrations include the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania on the trans boundary water resources management for the Mara River Basin, and the formation of the Mara River Trans boundary Water Users’ Forum.
Several dignitaries from East African Community (EAC) partner states are expected to grace this important occasion.