Masai Mara Safaris
About 580 square miles make up Masai Mara National Reserve.
History
The Masai Mara was only 200 square miles when it was first set up in 1961. Over the years, the reserve grew a lot. In the 1970s, it was made a National Reserve, and a piece of land was given back to the Maasai people, allowing people and animals to live together. Because of its position and large number of animals, the reserve is one of the most well-known in Kenya right now.
Fees and permits to get in
Between January and June, it costs $100 for adults to enter the Masai Mara National Reserve. From July to December, it costs $200 so Kids (9–17 years old): $50 per day per child, kids (0–8 years old): Free.Rates are based on a 12-hour work day.
When they are open
The Masai Mara National Reserve has four gates that are open right now. These gates are open every day from 6am to 6pm.
How to Get There
By Road
Masai Mara National Reserve is 260 miles from Nairobi. It takes about six hours to drive there on the A104. The area is mostly reached through four gates, which are called Talek, Sekenani, Musiara, and Oloolol.
By Air
It will take about 54 minutes to fly from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Best Time to Visit
Climate and weather
June, July, and August are the winter months in Kenya. The weather is dry and cooler, with average temps of about 75 F. In the summer, temperatures rise to about 80 F. The area has two clear rainy seasons and sunshine all year. Short rains happen in November and December. Long rains happen in April and early May.
Staying away from crowds
The best times to see the Masai Mara National Reserve’s amazing wildlife without having to deal with crowded fields and lodges are on safari in the fall, between May and early June, or in the spring, between September and October in Kenya. Viewer visitors on the area are still able to see a lot of wildlife. People who like to watch birds should go in January and February, right after the short rains and before the long rains start at the end of March.
Good Value for Money
While on safari in the Masai Mara National Reserve, you can choose from a range of places to stay, making the experience quite worthwhile. There are different kinds of places to stay for all kinds of visitors, from big lodges that are good for families and groups to small, cozy luxury tented camps.
Wildlife & Landscape
Wildlife Sightings That People Love in Masai Mara National Reserve
The great wildebeest migration, which happens every year around July, is one of the main reasons people visit the Masai Mara National Reserve. While not the only game reserve in Africa, the Masai Mara National Reserve has a lot of different kinds of animals. The area is home to the “Big Five” and many other plains animals. It is a great place to go on safari, but it gets very busy with vehicles and wildlife during the peak season, which runs from July to September.
The Ground
The Masai Mara National Reserve is mostly made up of large, open grasslands. There are also places with acacia trees planted together to make a forest-like look. The western edge of the reserve is bounded by the Siri Escarpment of the East Rift Valley. The Talek, Mara, and Sand Rivers flow through the reserve, giving the land water and giving the animals a lot of places to live.
Masai Mara Safari
Game Drives
The most popular way to see the Masai Mara National Reserve is in an open 4×4 safari car. Many lodges offer this experience in the early morning and late afternoon. Some game drives will be in closed 4x4s with pop-up roofs that are driven by local safari ground operators. It is possible to spend the whole day in the reserve and bring a picnic lunch to eat in a quiet spot on the reserve’s fields.
Safaris with a guide
Walking safaris or bush and trail walks are not allowed in the main Masai Mara National Reserve. However, you can go on a one- to two-hour walk with a Masai guide or a professional safari guide in one of the conservancies or smaller private reserves inside or near the main Masai Mara National Reserve.
Masai Mara Lodges & Camps
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 |
The places to stay are spread out around the Mara North Conservancy in a way that makes sense. The types and sizes of rooms vary. Guests will stay in one of the Masai Mara’s key conservancies in a real safari setting, in anything from small, luxurious tented camps to well-known, four-star classic hotels.
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 |
The Olare Motorogi Conservancy has a range of places to stay, from simple three-star camps to high-end safari hotels. All of them are close to the valleys and ravines that are full of wildlife in the conservancy. There are choices for every income.
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 |
In the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, there are only nine hotels and camps. This makes a safari in this part of the Masai Mara ecosystem very personal. There are a lot of different types of safari lodges and camps, so there is something for every price.
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 |
It is possible to stay in mobile tented camps, basic eco-friendly tented accommodation, luxury cabins, or high-end tented accommodation in the Mara Triangle. In the Mara Triangle, you can find everything from intimate experiences to places to stay that are good for families and small groups.
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 |
