Large Quantity of Wildlife & Exceptional Safaris Sharing
USD400 - USD1000 Per Person
The Great Migration
Jun - Sep
Jul - Sep
Location: The Masai Mara National Reserve, sometimes known as Maasai Mara, is located on Kenya’s western border with Tanzania.
Size: Masai Mara National Reserve is approximately 580 square miles.
History: Established in 1961, the Masai Mara was a much smaller reserve of 200 square miles. The reserve massively expanded over the years and was given National Reserve status in the 1970s with a section of the land returned to the local Maasai Community, creating cohabitation between humans and wildlife. The reserve’s location and vast quantity of wildlife makes it one of the most popular game reserves in Kenya today.
Entrance Fees & Permits: The cost to enter the Masai Mara National Reserve is $ 100 per adult (January-June) and $200 per adult (July-December) Children (9-17 years) $50 per child per day and children (0-8) Free. Rates are per 12 hours day.
Hours of Operation: The four currently open gates of the Masai Mara National Reserve are open daily between 6am and 6pm.
By Road: Masai Mara National Reserve is located 260 miles from Nairobi, the drive time via the A104 takes approximately six hours. There are four main gates into the reserve, namely: Talek, Sekenani, Musiara and Oloolol.
By Air: A flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to the Masai Mara National Reserve will take approximately 54 minutes.
Weather & Climate: The winter months of June, July and August present dry, cooler weather with temperatures averaging around 75 F in winter, rising to around 80 F in Kenya’s summer. The reserve sees sunshine year round and has two distinct rainy seasons. The short rains fall in November and December, while the long rains fall in April into early May.
Avoiding Crowds
An ideal time to experience the incredible wildlife complement of the Masai Mara National Reserve while avoiding crowded plains and lodges, is to enjoy a safari in the reserve in the fall months of May and early June and again in Kenya’s spring months of September and October. Game viewing is still exceptional with viewer visitors on the reserve. Birders will want to visit in January and February, just after the short rains and just before the long rains start towards the end of March.
Value for Money: With such a wide variety of accommodation to choose from, experiencing a safari in the Masai Mara National Reserve can definitely be considered value for money. From larger, group and family-friendly lodges to intimate luxury tented camps, there are accommodation options to suit all visitors.
Popular Wildlife Sightings in Masai Mara National Reserve: One major draw to experiencing the Masai Mara National Reserve is to have a chance to witness the great Wildebeest migration, which takes place around July each year. The vast complement of wildlife makes the Masai Mara National Reserve one of the best game reserves in Africa. Home to the Big Five and a myriad of plains game, safari experiences are exceptional, with the reserve a flurry of vehicles and wildlife action during the peak season between July and September.
The Terrain: The Masai Mara National Reserve comprises mostly vast open grassland with areas of acacia trees set together to create a forest-like area. The Siri Escarpment of the East Rift Valley forms a border on the western part of the reserve with the Talek, Mara and Sand Rivers running through the reserve, providing water for the land and a great number of wildlife in the reserve.
Game Drives: Open 4*4 Safari Vehicles are the most popular means of experiencing the wonders of the Masai Mara National Reserve, many lodges offering this experience in the early morning and late afternoon. Some game drives will be conducted in closed 4*4 Safari Vehicles with a pop-up roof, operated by local safari ground operators. There is the option to spend a full day in the reserve, a picnic lunch packed to be enjoyed in a quiet location out on the plains of the reserve.
Guided Walking Safaris
While walking safaris or bush and trail walks are not permitted within the main Maasai Mara National Reserve, there is the option to enjoy a walk of around one to two hours with a Masai guide or professional safari guide in one of the conservancies or smaller private reserves within and around the greater Masai Mara National Reserve.
Masai Mara National Reserve Lodging – Distance from park entrance
| Etumoto Safari Camp | 6 miles from the Sekenani (main) gate in a northwesterly direction |
| Olengoti Eco Safari Camp | 5 miles from the Sekenani (main) gate in a northwesterly direction |
| Porini Mara Camp | 13 miles from the Sekenani (main) gate in a northwesterly direction |
| Mara Intrepids Camp | 7 miles from the Sekenani (main) gate in a northwesterly direction |
| Mara Explorer Camp | 2.5 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 |
| Entim Mara camp | 28 miles from sekenani Main Gate |
| Mara simba Lodge | 7.2 miles from sekenani Main Gate |
| Mara Bushtops Luxury Camp | 6 miles from sekenani Main Gate |
| Losokwan Luxury Tented Camp | 10.2 miles from sekenani Main Gate |
| Osero Camp | 3.2 miles from sekenani Main Gate |
| Basecamp Masai Mara | 13.2 miles from sekenani Main Gate |
| Enkorok Mara Camp | 12.3 miles sekenani Main Gate |
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
| Lodge or Hotel | Distance to park entrance (in miles) |
| Royal Mara Safari Lodge | 15 miles from Oloololo Gate in a northeasterly direction |
| Naserian Mara Camp | 35 Miles from Naibosho conservancy |
| Fairmont Mara safari Club | 12 miles from Oloololo Gate in a northeasterly direction |
| Karen Blixen Camp | 11.5 miles from Oloololo Gate in a northeasterly direction |
| MaraChui Camp | 10.5 miles from Oloololo Gate in a northeasterly direction |
| Kandili Camp | 2 miles from the Musiara Gate in a northerly direction |
| Mara Siria Camp | 4.5 miles from the Oloolo Gate in a northerly direction |
| Saruni Mara Lodge | 25 miles from the Oloolo Gate in a northerly direction |
| Tipilikwani Mara Camp | 3.5 miles from the Oloolo Gate in a northerly direction |
| Hammerrkop Migration Camp | 9Miles from the Oloolo Gate |
| Olare Mara Kempinski Camp | 30 Miles from the Oloolo Gate |
| Fig Tree Camp | 13 Miles from the Sekenani Gate |
| 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 |
| Mara Crossing Camp | 5 miles from Oloololo Gate in northeasterly direction |
| &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Camp | 6 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 |
| 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 |
Maasai Mara Cultural Village Visit: Spend time with a local Maasai Community as they share their daily lives, rich traditions and share their cultural habits with you. Visits are arranged by lodges and camps, offering a diverse Masai Mara experience.
Hot Air Balloon Ride: An amazing way to experience the vast number of wildlife in the Masai Mara National Reserve is to view the reserve, terrain and inhabitants from above. Hot Air Balloon rides take place before sunrise, the launch site in neighboring Mara Triangle.
The dry, winter months of June to August marks the best time to visit the Masai Mara National Reserve. The lack of rain means the low grass offers amazing game viewing opportunities. July is also the time to witness The Great Migration, thousands of wildebeest thundering across the Mara River from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
With a variety of accomodation options to choose from, pricing for a Masai Mara National Park safari will cost between approximately USD400 per person sharing for larger, hotel-style accommodations or comfortable camping options, right up to over USD1000 per person sharing for more luxury and intimate camping or lodge experiences.
By road, a drive from Nairobi to the Masai Mara National Park will take around six hours, while flying into the Masai Mara will take around an hour from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport. There are several airstrips within the Masai Mara National Reserve and six entry gates if arriving by road.
Home to an immense number of wildlife species as well as incredible birdlife, around 500 bird species recorded. A highlight of visiting the Masai Mara is having the chance to witness the Great Migration, where thousands of wildebeest cross between the Serengeti and Masai Mara.
The Masai Mara is home to the “Big Five” which are lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo, as well as a myriad of plains game. Nocturnal creatures include porcupine, white-tailed mongoose and civet cats. There are around 500 species of birds.
The gates of the Masai Mara National Reserve are open between 6am and 6pm.
Guests embarking on a Masai Mara National Reserve will usually be pre-booked on their safari experience, noting that booking as far out as 12 to 18 months in advance is sometimes required.
Open 4×4 safari vehicles or enclosed 4×4 safari vehicles with a pop-up roof is the best way to experience the magic of the Masai Mara National Reserve. Drives usually take place early morning and late afternoon. Taking a Hot Air Balloon ride over the Mara is a wonderful way to get an aerial view of wildlife and wilderness.
Some of the top safari lodges are present within the main Masai Mara National Reserve. Ilkeliani Camp is an intimate camp with only 12 luxury tents, while the Sarova chain of hotels presents the Sarova Mara with up to 72 tents in all.
There are no specific restaurants guests will be able to visit while staying at the Masai Mara National Reserve. Guests will enjoy their meals at their lodge or camp of choice.
The key focus of visiting the Masai Mara National Reserve is to enjoy an exceptional safari within the reserve, however, guests will have a chance to visit a local Masai Mara village and embrace local tradition and community culture.
