Great location, Less Crowded Reserve
USD300 - USD1300 P/P
Crossing point for the Great Migration
Jun - Oct
Jul - Sep
Location
The Mara Triangle lies in the southwestern part of the famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, west of the capital, Nairobi. The Mara Triangle lies on the border of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park
Size
Forming one third of the expanse of the Masai Mara, the Mara Triangle is 196 square miles in size.
History
When the Masai Mara was established in 1961, it totalled 200 square miles inclusive of the Mara Triangle, the Masai Mara receiving reserve status in 1971. The Mara Triangle is separated from the rest of the Masai Mara by the Mara River and is managed by the non-profit Mara Conservancy on behalf of the Trans-Mara County Council.
Entrance Fees & Permits
The entrance fee into the Mara Triangle varies depending on whether you are staying in the Masai Mara or just visiting for the day. Day visitors will pay USD 80 per person to enter the Mara Triangle, while guests staying in the park will pay USD 70 per person.
Hours of Operation
The Mara Triangle is open between 6am and 7pm daily. No vehicles are permitted to enter the park after 6:30pm.
By Road
The drive from Nairobi to the Mara Triangle is 161 miles, with travel time between five and a half and six hours. The drive takes visitors along the Uhuru Highway/A104, with entrance into the Sekenani Gate.
By Air
Guests can fly into any of the following airstrips from Nairobi Wilson Airport: Angama Mara Airfield, Mara North, Musiara, Kichwa Tembo and Serena. The flight takes between 45 and 60 minutes.
Weather & Climate
The cooler, dry winter months between June and August are the best months to visit the Mara Triangle. The early mornings can be chilly at around 55F however with the grass being low due to no rainfall and the mild climate during the day, this is a most ideal time to be on safari. The short rains fall in November and December, top temperatures reaching around 80F.
Avoiding Crowds
Consider visiting the Mara Triangle outside of peak season, the months of September and October as well as May and early June providing a wonderful safari experience without the crowds. Fewer vehicles on the open plains and more accommodation opportunities make it worth avoiding the migration season of July and August.
Value for Money
There is a vast selection of accommodation options to choose from in the Mara Triangle and nearby, so options range from modest camping options to high-end luxury lodges. With an array of options, there is definitely scope to create a value-for-money safari in one of Africa’s most famous game reserves.
Popular Wildlife Sightings in Mara Triangle
Home to the “Big Five”, it is easy to spot your favourite animal in the Mara Triangle. There is a better chance of seeing black rhino in the Mara Triangle, grazing amid other plains game such as zebra, kudu and wildebeest. Predators like lions and leopards roam the Mara Triangle, while watching elephants wander by is always a treat. A key element to being in the Mara Triangle is that it is the ideal location to witness the Great Migration in July each year.
The Terrain
Discover the lush landscape alongside the Mara River, with open savannahs, woodlands and rich, sandy earth creating a colourful canvas in the Mara Triangle. The Oolooloo Escarpment and scattered acacia trees create a dramatic background.
Game Drives
Game drives in the Mara Triangle will take place in 4×4 vehicles, some open on all sides, while others will be enclosed with a pop-up roof for optimal viewing. Early morning safaris take place before sunrise, with an afternoon sunset experience a highlight of a game experience in the Mara Triangle.
Guided Walking Safaris
A nature walk is an incredible way to experience the wonders of the Mara Triangle. Your qualified guide will help you get up close to plains game, fascinating flora and fauna, with vast views of the wilderness spreading far in front of you.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
The Mara Triangle is the launch site for hot air balloon experiences over the Masai Mara. An incredible experience and way to view wildlife from above
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
Mara River – Viewpoint for Wildebeest Migration
One of the most iconic experiences in the Masai Mara is the great migration crossing. Watch thousands of wildebeest thunder across the Mara River in July as they make their way from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Masai Mara in Kenya. The Mara Triangle is one of the best places to experience this.
Masai Community cultural visits
Take some time out from your safari to enjoy a cultural visit to a local Masai community. Get a feel of tradition and history as you spend some time in their village and home, learning their ways and more about their rich past.
Hot Air Balloon Launch Site
The Mara Triangle is the launch site for hot air balloon experiences in the Maasai Mara. Enjoy a very early start to your day as you rise above the savannas and woodlands that lie below you, an incredible vantage point to spot wildlife in all directions.
When is the best time to visit the Mara Triangle?
The best time to visit the Mara Triangle is during the cooler, drier months between June and August. The grass is low, so animal spotting is best at this time, and July is the key time to witness the Great wildebeest Migration. To avoid crowds, consider visiting in late May or in September or October.
How much does a safari in the Mara Triangle cost?
Mara Triangle safaris range from mobile tented options to luxury tented experiences. Pricing can range from USD 300 per person sharing to approximately USD 1300 per person sharing.
How to get to the Mara Triangle?
Travelling by road will take between five and a half and six hours, so it is understandable that most people choose to fly into one of the Masai Mara airstrips, a 15-minute flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport.
What makes a Mara Triangle safari so special?
The Mara Triangle offers one of the best places to witness the Great Migration in July each year. It is also the launch site for hot air balloon experiences. It is also a lot less crowded than other main areas of the Masai Mara.
What animals can I see in the Mara Triangle?
The “Big Five” can be seen in the Mara Triangle, as well as numerous plains game such as zebra, giraffe, kudu, wildebeest and many more. With the Mara River running through the Mara Triangle, birding is wonderful in this area.
When is the Mara Triangle open?
The gates into the Mara Triangle are open from 6am to 7pm daily.
Do you need to book in advance to visit Mara Triangle
It is advisable to book your accommodation in the Mara Triangle before travelling. The distance is far, and day trips from outside the general Masai Mara area don’t usually occur. A popular destination, accommodation availability may be scarce if not booked well in advance.
What’s the best way to see the Mara Triangle?
An open or enclosed 4×4 safari vehicle is the best way to experience a safari in the Mara Triangle. Bush walks, and hot air balloon rides, are possible too.
What hotels, lodges, and camps are near the Mara Triangle?
One of the most popular accommodation options in the Mara Triangle is the Serena Mara Lodge, a unique design of accommodation in a prime safari viewing location. The Ashnil Mara Lodge and Mara Engai are two other wonderful accommodation options in the Mara Triangle.
What restaurants are near the Mara Triangle?
There are no stand-alone restaurants near the Mara Triangle. All meals will be enjoyed in the guests’ chosen safari accommodation.
What attractions are near the Mara Triangle?
Masai’s community visits are possible from the Mara Triangle, a chance to experience a day in the life with local Masai. The Mara Triangle is the launch site for hot air balloon rides. Get a chance to witness the great migration, as thousands of wildebeest thunder across the Mara River from Tanzania in July each year.
