Exceptional Community Conservation and Tourism.
USD 350 - USD 1500 Per Person Sharing
Option to enjoy Night Game Drives, Excellent Wildlife Viewing
Jul - Sep
Jun - Sep
Location
The Mara North Conservancy is based in the northwest section of the Masai Mara, situated in southern Kenya.
Size
The Mara North Conservancy is approximately 100 square miles in size.
History
With a strong desire to save their land, the Maasai community banded together to create the Mara North Conservancy, over 800 warriors succeeding with the conservancy officially created in 2009. The communities worked in conjunction with several accommodation organizations to establish a thriving co-existence for landowners and safari tourism.
Entrance Fees & Permits
The cost to enter the Masai Mara National Reserve is USD70 per adult and USD40 per child under 12 years old, per 24-hr period.
Hours of Operation
The opening and closing times for the gates of the Masai Mara National Reserve will apply to guests staying in the Mara North Conservancy as well. The gates are open between 6am and 6pm daily.
By Road
Travelling by road from Nairobi the 152-mile journey will take approximately five hours. The drive west will be along the B3 and C13.
By Air
A flight to the Mara North Conservancy airstrip covers a distance of 125 miles and will take approximately 50 minutes of flying time.
Weather & Climate
The Mara North Conservancy has a moderate climate with two rainy seasons identified and a dry, cool winter season which falls in June, July and August. The short rains fall in November, while the wettest time of the year is between March and early May. Temperatures during peak safari season, winter, average around 75 F.
Avoiding Crowds
The Mara North Conservancy sees a lot of visitors between July and September, the chance to witness the Great Migration in July a key reason many people visit the Masai Mara at this time of year. Visitors can experience an exceptional safari if they visit outside these months and just before the short rains which start in November. Bird lovers will want to visit in January and February before the long rains fall, to get a chance to see one of the over 500 bird species recorded in the Mara.
Value for Money
Accommodation in the Mara North Conservancy ranges in pricing from USD350 per person sharing per night to, USD1500 per person sharing per night. Basic accommodation options or larger lodges will offer great value for money to guests looking to stay in the famous Masai Mara region. Smaller lodges such as Royal Mara Safari Lodge with 8 rooms and Kandili Camp with 11 luxury tents offer an intimate experience in the conservancy, a luxury experience that offers value for money in this highly sought-after part of the Masai Mara.
Popular Wildlife Sightings in Mara North Conservancy
There are around 90 mammal species and over 500 species of birds. Maasai giraffe, western white bearded wildebeest, Topi and many more incredible wildlife can be seen in this animal-rich part of the Masai Mara.
The Terrain
The terrain of the Mara North Conservancy comprises mostly savannah with acacia and elephant pepper trees scattered throughout the conservancy. On the northern border the Mara River flows amid bushy woodlands
Game Drives
Game drives in the Mara North Conservancy are conducted in either open 4×4 game drive vehicles or enclosed 4×4 vehicles with a pop-up roof. Early morning and late afternoon drives on the conservancy are normally three hours each, with the option of a night game drive for guests staying within the Mara North Conservancy.
Guided Walking Safaris
Take a walk on the wild side with a Maasai guide as you wander through low grassland and onto open savannahs, keeping an eye open for plains game nearby and watching larger animals from a safe distance. Learn about the flora and fauna around you and enjoy the fresh air of the African bush.
Accommodation is strategically placed around the Mara North Conservancy and ranges in size and style. From intimate luxury tented camps to well-established four star classic lodges, guests will be accommodated in true safari settings in one of the Masai Mara’s key conservancies.
Mara North Conservancy Lodging – Distance from park entrance (in miles)
Royal Mara Safari Lodge 15 miles from Oloololo Gate in a northeasterly direction
Kandili Camp 2 miles from the Musiara Gate in a northerly direction
Neptune Mara Rianta Lodge 15 miles from Oloololo Gate in a northeasterly direction
Mara River Camp 4.8 miles from Oloololo Gate in northeasterly direction
Accommodation options in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy range from humble three-star camps to luxury, high-end safari lodges, all set near the wildlife-rich valleys and ravines of the conservancy. Options exist for all types of budgets.Olare Motorogi Conservancy Lodging – Distance from park entrance
Lodge or Hotel Distance to park entrance (in miles)
Mara Plains Camp 27 miles from Oloololo Gate in a southeasterly direction
Mahali Mzuri 29 miles from Oloololo Gate in an easterly direction
Kicheche Bush Camp 15 miles from Oloololo Gate in an easterly direction
There are only nine lodges and camps in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, making a safari in this region of the Masai Mara ecosystem an intimate experience. Options range from comfortable camps to luxury lodges, suiting a variety of safari budgets.Mara Naboisho Conservancy Lodging – Distance from park entrance
Lodge or Hotel Distance to park entrance (in miles)
Eagle View Camp 12 miles from the Sekenani (main) Masai Mara gate in a northerly direction
Encounter Mara Camp 12 miles from Sekenani (main) Masai Mara gate in a northerly direction
Naboisho Camp 18 miles from Sekenani (main) Masai Mara gate in a northeasterly direction
Kicheche Valley Camp 11 miles from Sekenani (main) Masai Mara gate in a northeasterly direction
Hemingways Ol Seki Mara Camp 11.5 miles from Sekenani (main) Masai Mara gate in a northeasterly direction
Mobile tented camps, eco-friendly basic tented accommodation, luxury lodges and high-end tented accommodation are all available in the Mara Triangle. Intimate experiences to accommodation suited to families and small group establishments exist in the Mara Triangle.
Mara Triangle Lodging – Distance from Park Entrance.
Lodge or Hotel Distance to park entrance (in miles)
Mara Serena Safari Lodge 41 miles from the Sekenani Main Gate, driving in a north-westerly direction
Mara Engai 43 miles from Aitong Gate (via Mara Conservancy) in a westerly direction
Masai Mara National Reserve Lodging – Distance from park entrance
Lodge or Hotel Distance to park entrance (in miles)
Base Camp Masai Mara 12 miles from the Sekenani (main) gate in a northwesterly direction
Ilkeliani Camp 15 miles from the Sekenani (main) gate in a northwesterly direction
Mara Eden Camp 15 miles from the Oloololo gate in a northerly direction
Sarova Mara Camp 1.5 miles from the Sekenani (main) gate in a westerly direction
Zebra Plains Mara Camp 4 miles from Talek Gate in a southeasterly direction
Cultural Visit
Enjoy a walk through a Maasai Village with a Maasai guide who will share a day in the life of the local community located near your lodge or camp within the Mara North Conservancy.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Enjoy an early morning hot air balloon ride as you soar above vast savannahs and forested havens in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Launching is from the Mara Triangle, an approximate one-hour drive from Mara North Conservancy
Horse Riding
Enjoy riding alongside plains game such as giraffe, zebra and wildebeest on a horseback ride through the Mara North Conservancy. Enjoy the slow-paced walk through open savannas and along riverbanks under the watchful eye of a professional safari guide.
Rhino Sanctuary Visit
The Ol Chorro Rhino Sanctuary has been in existence for over 20 years, with the local community managing the protection and conservation of these much-loved animals. A passionate community aimed at saving the white rhino and helping their local community through job creation.
When is the best time to visit Mara North Conservancy?
The best time to visit the Mara North Conservancy is between the months of June and September when the weather is cool and dry, the perfect time to view game and get an opportunity to witness the Great Migration in the greater Masai Mara National Reserve.
How much does a safari in Mara North Conservancy cost?
Packaged safaris within the Mara North Conservancy will cost between USD350 to USD1500 per person sharing per night. Options include game drive, all meals and a variety of lodge and camp sizes, providing an option for guests on all budgets to enjoy a safari in the Masai Mara.
How to get to the Mara North Conservancy?
The drive from Nairobi will take approximately five hours with guests traveling west along the B3 and C13.
What makes a Mara North Conservancy safari so special?
The smaller conservancy means a great chance to see wildlife out on the plains and woodlands, fewer safari vehicles will be out on game drives and guests will have the chance to visit other parts of the Masai Mara National Reserve while staying in the north.
What animals can I see in Mara North Conservancy?
There are over 90 mammal species and over 500 bird species in the Mara North Conservancy, so sightings of plains game favorites such as giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest are highlighted with the chance to spot buffalo, elephant, and lion, for example. Black-Shouldered kites, the Bat hawk, and the Egyptian vulture are just a handful of the birds one can see in the Mara North Conservancy.
When is Mara North Conservancy open?
The gates of the Masai Mara open at 6am to 6pm so access to the Mara North Conservancy will be between these times.
Do you need to book in advance to visit Mara North Conservancy
Yes, guests do need to pre-book their Kenya safari package to the Mara North Conservancy as accommodation availability books up quickly. Consider booking 12 to 18 months in advance.
What’s the best way to see Mara North Conservancy?
Game drives in either open 4×4 safari vehicles or enclosed vehicles with a pop-up roof is the best way to experience the wildlife and terrain of the Mara North Conservancy. Bush walks with a Maasai guide are popular too and enjoying a night drive on the conservancy gives guests a chance to spot nocturnal favorites such as porcupine or spotting a leopard up a tree.
What hotels, lodges, and camps are near Mara North Conservancy?
Royal Mara Safari Lodge and Kandili Camp are both wonderfully intimate camps with only 8 and 11 rooms respectively. Mara Neptune Rianta is a luxury lodge that offers 20 rooms and the Mara River Camp offers a classic tented experience on the banks of the Mara River.
What restaurants are near Mara North Conservancy?
There are no individual restaurants located in or near the Mara North Conservancy, with guests enjoying their meals at their lodge or camp of their choice.
What attractions are near Mara North Conservancy?
Guests staying in the Mara North Conservancy can experience a Maasai cultural village, a chance to learn about the rich history and traditions of the Maasai tribes. Horse riding on the conservancy, a hot air balloon experience launching from nearby Mara Triangle and a visit to the Ol Chorro Rhino Sanctuary are other activities guests staying in the Mara North Conservancy can experience.
