Masai Mara National Park
As African safari experts, we can imagine you have loads of questions while planning your safari in the Masai Mara.
The Masai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya is one of the best places on the planet to see wildlife, and a safari here will be the trip of a lifetime.
Locally known simply as The Mara, the reserve is named in honor of the Maasai people (the ancestral inhabitants of the area) and their description of the area when looked at from a distance.
“Mara,” which is Maa (Maasai language) for “spotted,” is an appropriate description for the circles of acacia trees, scrub, savanna, and cloud shadows that mark the area.
But which month is best for a Masai Mara safari? How much does it cost to go to Masai Mara? What is the Masai Mara safari famous for? How many days should I spend in Masai Mara?
Read on to discover all you need to know about a safari in the Masai Mara. Find a question unanswered? Contact us for more information, and we will be happy to assist you!
Attractions In The Park
The Big Cats
Masai Mara is widely known as a home of the Big Cats (lions, leopards, and cheetahs).
Cheetahs are particularly well adapted to the region’s flat plains, which makes the Mara one of the best places to see these nimble predators. They often seek vantage points on termite mounds, fallen trees, and even game drive vehicles!
It is a highlight of any safari in the Masai Mara National Reserve to watch the fastest land mammal on the planet chase down its prey.
Land scape
Masai Mara National Reserve is known for its beautiful landscapes. Very few places on the planet are as beautiful and authentic as the Masai Mara.
Indeed, if you have been dreaming of an African safari, the image you have in mind is probably very close to the safari in the Masai Mara.
This is quintessential Africa: sparse open savanna plains, with herds of grazers moving along the horizon, stopping in the shade of isolated acacia trees in the heat of the day.
Bird watching tours
Besides the abundance of mammals in Masai Mara, birding enthusiasts can enjoy a wide variety of birdlife. It is estimated that there are over 570 bird species. These include many types of vultures, Secretary birds, kingfishers, Kori Bustard, the aptly named Long-crested Eagle, and Superb Starling. Other notable species are the Grey Crowned Crane, the adorable Pygmy Falcon, Sooty Chat, and the stunning Lilac-breasted Roller, which is the national bird of Kenya.
Culture
Another highlight of a safari in the Masai Mara is the authentic cultural experiences with the Maasai people, a semi-nomadic, pastoral indigenous tribe whose communities abut or lie within the bounds of the Mara.
Many of the Masai Mara safari lodges we use for our safaris employ them as guides and staff.
It is also common for safari guests to visit their traditional villages or see them out in the savannah: men herding livestock; women carrying water or firewood.
The Big Five Animals
In Masai Mara National Reserve, you are almost guaranteed to see Africa’s big five animals (buffalo, elephant, Leopard, Lion, and rhino).
You’ll be tripping over lions, elephants, and buffalo as they are remarkably common, and leopards are regularly seen too. Black rhinos are also present in the remote Mara Triangle.
The Great Wildebeest migration
The Mara is also world-famous for hosting the epic Great Wildebeest Migration– one of the greatest natural spectacles on Earth.
Almost two million wildebeest (with zebras, gazelles, and predators in tow) stage a mass movement on a scale that has to be seen to be believed.
Hot Air Balloon tours
In addition to exciting game viewing in 4×4 vehicles, Masai Mara National Reserve is famous for its unmatched hot-air balloon experiences.
You glide through the sunrise, sometimes at tree height, to get some amazing photo opportunities.
Sometimes you ascend, getting an overview of the enormity of the plains and the early morning movements of the teeming herds.
After touching down on the plains, you’re treated with a delightful bush breakfast with champagne.
Where to Stay in Masai Mara.
When selecting where to stay on a safari in the Masai Mara, remember that the reserve is vast.
And if time permits, it may well be worth planning to sleep in a couple of locations in the area to enable you to enjoy its different sectors, plus a couple of the private conservancies.
The conservancies are particularly good if you would like to experience all that Masai Mara safari packages have to offer – stirring scenery, abundant wildlife, Maasai culture – without the crowds.
Here are some of our favorite options:
Lodges in Masai Mara National Reserve:
- Sand River Masai Mara
- Mara Bush House
- Sala’s Camp
- Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp
- Mara Intrepid Camp
- Angama Mara
- Cottar’s 1920s Camp
- Little Governors’ Camp
- Governors’ Il Moran Camp
- Mara Serena Safari Lodge
- Ashnil Mara Camp
- Mara Leisure Camp
- Mara Sopa Lodge
- Jambo Mara Lodge
- Basecamp Masai Mara
Lodges in Private Concessions:
- Elephant Pepper Camp
- Naboisho Camp
- Saruni Mara
- Porini Lion Camp
How To Get There?
By road
The drive from Nairobi takes approximately 5 to 6 hours, and the last part is very bumpy and dusty. This can be uncomfortable (especially for delicate travelers) and time-consuming (especially on short trips).
However, the drive gives you an opportunity to see a bit of rural Kenya away from the tourist centers.
There will be some photo opportunities along the way, including a magnificent view over the Great Rift Valley.
Your driver-guide will take care of you for the duration of your journey, and all game drives will be in the pop-up-roof 4×4 in which you left the city.
By Air
Although a fly-in safari to the Masai Mara is generally pricier than a road safari, it is a lovely way to travel if you can afford it.
On a fly-in safari, you will fly directly from Nairobi, Mombasa, or one of the other main Kenya safari parks to one of 9 airstrips in the reserve.
The flight takes around 45 minutes. You will have a great chance to get an aerial perspective of the southeastern savanna landscapes of Kenya.
The concentric shapes of the Maasai bomas (traditional buildings) are a recurrent pattern best seen from above, and you might be able to catch glimpses of the impressive Great Rift Valley escarpment too.
You might see giraffes galloping along the runway as the plane touches the ground, or maybe you will hear an elephant trumpeting in response to the plane’s noise.
Your guide will welcome you with a smile and hand you a cold drink for the short drive to camp. You’ll probably make a little detour to see a few animals before check-in.
How Much Does A trip Cost In The Park?
The cost of a safari in the Masai Mara will depend on the tour you choose.
Prices change depending on the duration of your trip, accommodation choices, inclusions (for example, park fees), transportation costs to and from the park, and extra activities you want to add to your itinerary, like spa treatments, hot-air ballooning, and cultural visits.
We can, however, provide approximate costs for a safari in Masai Mara.
The following estimates are based on a price-per-person-per-night, including accommodation and transfers:
4-star comfort
High season:350-$550
Low season:$300-$400
4-star luxury
High Season: $650 – $750
Low Season: $500 – $550
5-star luxury
High Season: $1000 – $1300
Low Season: $900 – $950
Ready To Start Planning Your Safari in the Masai Mara
So, now that you know all there is to know about the Mara, why not co-create a tailor-made safari in the Masai Mara with us? Get in touch with our safari expert today.
