Masai Mara Holidays

Kenya Safari Masai Mara takes you to a land of wilderness that brings your dream to Africa into a reality. A huge expanse of gently rolling grassland studded with a few acacia trees, watered by the Mara River, backed by magnificent escarpments and protected by the mighty Maasai Warriors. The Masai Mara is a northern extension of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
Choose to stay at least 2 nights on one of our best Masai Mara tours and you will be amazed by the sandy lions of the Mara found everywhere in huge prides, cheetahs are also a must-see and it is uncommon to catch them hunting, leopards spotted hyenas, black eyed jackals, bat-eared foxes, and caracals. Of the big cats, the Mara offers, leopards are less visible but equally existent.

With the huge number of predators are the thousands of herbivores that the Mara supports; wildebeest, zebras, Impalas, elands, reedbucks, waterbuck, black rhinos, elephants and Masai giraffes, and several species of gazelle call Masai Mara Kenya a home.
Masai Mara safari holidays with a longer stay unfold better chances for an unmatched safari adventure featuring various wildlife activities such as; day game drives, cultural Maasai visits, bush walks, hot air balloon safaris , night game drives, and horse safaris operated in the private conservancies of the Mara.
Based on many visitors’ reviews to the Masai Mara; it is a positive statement to say that the image of your Kenya Masai Mara tour always lives up to your imagination.

Breath-taking at any time of the year, The Masai Mara reaches its peak in July and August during the annual migration of millions of wildebeests and other grazers from adjacent Serengeti National Park as the herds make their journey into the Mara on a trek known as the Great Migration.
This is arguably the most spectacular wildlife show on the planet and booking one of the various Masai Mara holiday packages at this time of the year is something you do not want to miss.

Booking a Safari to Masai Mara Kenya

Are you looking to visit The Masai Mara?, we advise that you plan and book before arriving in Kenya. Planning a Kenya safari to Masai Mara can be as early as six to nine months in advance and it's never too soon to start planning your safari especially if you want to travel during the peak season.
This ensures that you will secure a spot at top-notch lodges and camps in the Mara and also get booked for your safari activities. Planning and booking a Masai Mara Safari holiday is done through travel agents, Masai Mara lodges and camps or directly through Kenya safari companies.

Planning on which other destinations you will be visiting and choosing the safari operator in whose hands you'll place your Masai Mara safari are the most important things you need to do.
Arranging Masai Mara holiday packages through a reputable Kenya Safari operator will give you the peace of mind on top of the advantage of being sold to and the entire cost of your Masai safari safari tour in advance. The best international agents have direct relationships with Kenya Masai Mara Ground operators therefore you can save a lot of money dealing directly with the local Kenya Operator.

At Masai Mara Holidays Limited, we are a local operator company in East Africa reputable for offering some of the best Masai Mara safaris as indicated in our TripAdvisor reviews. Feel free to get in touch with our timely safari experts for any assistance you may need regarding your safari planning process.

Choosing your Kenya Masai Mara Tour

Most Masai Mara safari holidays offered by safari operators fall into popular safari circuits designed considering how easy it is to combine the attractions.
Luckily Kenya is blessed with some of the finest safari landmarks with the region giving you a chance to combine endless plains of the Mara studded with umbrella shape trees and herds so vast they appear as ants.
Dormant volcanoes carpeted with dense jungles; salt lined soda lakes that tinge the feathers of flamingoes that feed and breed there; rivers in which huge pods of hippos wallow, indifferent to the baleful glare of crocodiles on their banks. all lapped by the ocean that lies along the eastern Kenyan coast.

Most Kenya Parks including The Masai Mara are connected by light aircraft companies, which link the parks and reserves, as well as the coast and cities, on daily flights; although these can be pricey so if you can endure ground transfers, then you should definitely consider drives to cut down the costs.

Masai Mara and The Rift Valley Lakes

This is a popular Kenya Masai Mara tour itinerary that can be done in 4 to 5 days that combines a visit to the Masai Mara with an extended visit to one of the rift valley lakes; either lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Lake Bogoria and Lake Baringo. These lakes offer spectacular views of the thousands of flamingoes that can be witnessed here.

The Masai Mara Circuit

This equally popular Kenya Masai Mara safari itinerary focuses on two of Kenya's best National parks ; with 2 or 3 nights in the Mara and one night at a rift valley lake traveling to transfer to Amboseli National Park . You can also consider flying between the 2 major parks to maximize your safari time.

Masai Mara Circuit and the Southern Circiut

The complete Masai Mara Circuit and Southern Circuit Safari is a continuation of the Masai Mara Circuit starting from Amboseli National Park and its famous Mt Kilimanjaro drop witnessed from a closeup distance.

This Kenya Masai Mara tour circuit takes you to Tsavo West National Park from Amboseli then to Tsavo East to end in either Nairobi or Mombasa for s beach relaxation experience.

Masai Mara and The Northern Circuit

The focal point of the northern circuit is Samburu National Reserve which can be combined with The Masai Mara including a night to transfer between the parks which is spent at one of the Rift Valley lakes. You can also consider flying between the 2 major parks to maximize your safari time.

Masai Mara Kenya and The Best of East Africa

East Africa has some of Africa's most evocative safari destinations; the major highlights include Kenya's Masai Mara, Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, both of which are home to the world's remaining natural migration for animals known as the great wildebeest migration.

Other major safari highlights include a visit to Uganda or Rwanda's endangered to trek mountain gorillas, a visit to Ngorongoro in Tanzania, A Kilimanjaro climb, and a beach relaxation experience in Zanzibar or Mombasa.

Masai Mara Safari Cost

The price of most Kenya Masai Mara packages as provided by your safari agent factor in transfers, park entrance fees, transfers to or from the nearest airstrip, daytime game drives in 4x4 vehicles with a safari guide, transfers to and from the park, and accommodation which cover meals as well.
This is why you will inevitably have to deal with a tour operator that can provide you with a quote for the whole of your preferred Masai Mara safari tour. We advise that you choose a few Kenya tour operators and compare quotes to get the best value for your trip.
If you are dealing with a Maasai Mara lodge or camp directly for your booking rather than going through a Kenya Tour Operator, you might be quoted "all-inclusive" prices which in addition to the accommodation, full board meals and sometimes park entrance fees, 2 wildlife game activities are added ( game drives or nature walks). However, they exclude transfers to and from the park.

On top of all actual Kenya safari Masai Mara costs, ensure to also budget for your airfares, visa, tips, medications, and other sundries and souvenirs. Plan to stay a night in Nairobi on your first and last nights upon your arrival to relax and get over jetlag that might have come with your arrival flight and makes things altogether easier. For a night in Nairobi, expect from USD 50 basic accommodations to USD 750 a night in most luxurious accommodations.

How to cut down Masai Mara Safari Costs?

Much as most Masai Mara holiday packages are relatively expensive, there are ways you could cut down the cost to meet your budget without even having to abandon the idea of comfort or style either.
To begin with, staying in a Maasai Mara lodge or camp placed outside the park cuts down the cost on the markups that you would have paid for a convenient experience inside the park.

To note more, sticking to visiting The Masai Mara alone with no other combined park also keeps your Masai Mara Safari short. Booking lodges and camps in the off-season will offer you better deals on rates with prices going down by 30% to 40 %.
Also, with proper research, there are cheap international flights out there, popular aggregators such as ebookers.com can be good places to look.

Types of Kenya Masai Mara Packages

Generally, the cost of most Masai Mara tours will depend on the type of safari you opt for. Masai Mara holidays range from Luxury, Mid-range down to budget Masai Mara Safari packages.

Luxury Masai Mara safari Packages

Luxury Masai Mara safaris are accommodated in high-end lodges and camps that offer the luxuries of spa treatments, special occasional meals served in the bush, hot, bush style showers comfortable beds, and fine dining with prices for a night ranging from USD 400 to USD 1500 per person per night sharing a double room.

If you are alone, expect to pay a single supplement. It is also common that luxury Kenya Masai Mara packages are coupled up with chartered flights to and from the park but should you desire ground transfers, then a spacious 4x4 pop roof safari Land Cruiser is used for transportation.

Midrange Kenya Masai Mara Packages

Midrange Masai Mara safaris offer a balance between luxury and budget with moderate accommodation which is comfortable. Overall, midrange Masai Mara safari holidays are reasonable and reliable to offer a good value.
With this option in the peak season, your Kenya Masai Mara tour will be accommodated in a comfortable lodge or camp costing $180 to $250 per person sharing for a night usually on full board. However, these prices drop a bit in the low season.

Budget Kenya Masai Mara Packages

Most budget Masai Mara safari tours aim at offering the lowest price range. In order to keep the costs minimum, your tour operator considers tented camps outside of the Masai Mara but a relatively few minutes’ drive from the closest gate of the park.

For a budget Masai Mara tour with a reputable operator, the cost can range from $150 to $ 300 per person sharing per day, depending on the number of people. This price covers park entrance, meals, transportation, and accommodation.

Self Drive for Your Masai Mara Safari or Not?

Much as self-drive safaris have proven to be a clear way to cut costs in other destinations like South Africa, to The Masai Mara this should never be an option. Aside from Kenya’s Nairobi National Park, which is well signposted as you'd expect from a park bordering a city.
The Masai Mara is typical wilderness therefore you should trust your Kenya tour Operator to supply you a driver with your vehicle. To guarantee a safe trip, consider booking a vehicle from a tour operator as well to be sure of a vehicle well serviced for your safari

Local drivers as issued by your tour operator know the terrain better, and the roads are not only virtually impassable in certain areas, but rarely marked. This driver as issued by your operator also doubles as a safari guide, pointing out wildlife, birds, plants, and cultures you will come across along the way that you may otherwise miss out on. This knowledge is very rudimentary, however; if you want a really good guide, you should choose a Kenya Safari Company that prides itself on the quality of its guides and invests in specialized training.

Masai Mara Safari with Kids

Masai Mara Kenya has constantly proved to be one of the best destinations for an African safari with children. Kenya as a whole is also a wonderful destination to visit as a family, even with the number of vaccinations to worry about, every bit of the pre-tour hassle eventually pays off with comfort over your adventure trip.
A Kenya Masai Mara tour with Kids especially during the Great migration is one of the memorable events your child will ever have.
Even with the migration out sight, other highlights such as having to drive up to almost touching distance with wildlife, watching lion cubs playing, and a cheetah accelerating across the plains are experiences your child will cherish for a lifetime.

Ensure to inform your operator that you will be traveling to the Masai Mara with children so that your safari is custom-designed to favor children. Unlike Adults, children find it easier to break the barrier of language and culture, watching your child play with a Maasai boy or girl of the same is also a memory you will never forget. Learning a little about the new cultures and languages will always grab children's attention.
Regarding accommodation, safari lodges handle children's comfort best with the flexibility of adding an extra bed, furthermore, some lodges do have special programs for children which kids can engage in while you take off to the plain of the Mara for game drives and other wildlife activities.
We also advise you to disregard budget accommodations if you are traveling with children as hygiene may not be guaranteed, focus more on the midrange and luxury options for accommodation. Maasai Mara and Beach holidays are also a sure way to keep kids happy, nothing beats the excitement your children will have for beach time right after a safari in the Mara.

Choosing your Masai Mara lodging or Camp

The type of camp or lodge included in your Masai Mara safari holiday will have a major influence in the experience you will have in The Masai Mara. There are several styles and levels of comfort in accommodations available in the Mara varying from tented camps to safari lodges.

There are a few factors you need to consider when choosing accommodation for your safari in Masai Mara. To summarize this, you will receive more personal attention during your stay at a smaller Masai Mara camps and lodge than at larger ones.
Larger properties tend to stick to a set schedule, while smaller properties are often more willing to amend schedules according to the preference of their guests. However, the larger lodges and camps in Masai Mara tend to be less expensive, which makes Masai Mara holiday packages accommodated at the larger lodges and camps more affordable.
Many larger lodges and permanent tented camps in Masai Mara Kenya are surrounded by fences, giving you the opportunity to move about as you please with little chances of bumping into an elephant or other wildlife.
Although some traveller’s prefer having wildlife roaming about the camp which is a Masai Mara safari experience you should seek with lodges and camps situated with in the park and are not fenced, these are best for experiencing nature at close quarters.

The most important element in choosing your Masai Mara accommodation is location. If cutting down your Masai Mara safari budget is your main focus, then a lodge or camp located outside the Masai Mara should be your best interest, these are a fraction less in cost compared to the ones inside the park.
If wildlife is the main focus for your Kenya Masai Mara tour, then the question should be: "what accommodations are located in areas that will provide the best game viewing opportunities at the time of your visit "
Different zones of the Masai Mara reward differently depending on the time of the year, some lodges and camps are located along the migration routes taken by the thousands of wildebeest in July to October during the great migration which are ideal for a Masai Mara migration packages during the great wildebeest migration season. Game viewing can be dramatically differ from one Masai Mara lodge or camp to another.

Furthermore, having to take time to read the thousands of trip reports and reviews from past clients of the Lodges and camps you picked interest in will also help you to come to a better decision. However, looking up most of the Masai Mara Safari lodges and camps on the Internet will show that they all boast to having a spectacular game.
This is why we advise booking Masai Mara safaris with a true African safari expert that has visited the Masai Mara and has experience working with most of the Lodges and camps in The Masai Mara to guide your decision.
Expert Masai Mara Safari operators know the lodges and camps that will offer the best game experience, food, service and accommodation budget level that will best suit you.

Great photographers can make and average camps or lodges look extremely appealing in brochures and websites. But what is the property really like? How do you tell the management and staff treat their guest? Is the food really good as they boast? Again this is where and Kenya safari company can best assist you with firsthand experience.

When to Visit The Masai Mara

Generally, weather in Kenya is governed by two seasons; dry and rainy seasons. The best months for visiting The Masai Mara are during the dry months as game viewing is spectacular at this time of the year.
Dryer months also mean lesser mosquitoes and easy access to most remote parts of the park. The dry months are January to March and June to September. If you are interested in the wildebeest migration as it happens in the Masai Mara, July to early October is a good time to visit Masai Mara Kenya.

Many Accommodations in Masai Mara will close during the long rains of April and May considered as the low season, this is a perfect time to score the best deals on lodging when you visit the Mara. However, getting around during these rainy months (October and November as well) can be difficult, as dirt roads turn into mud and many become impassable.

The Masai Mara

The Masai Mara Paradise is Kenya's best National Park and arguably one of the best in Africa; a gazetted area of rolling Savannah studded with flat top acacia trees blessed with huge amounts of wildlife. The Masai Mara which encompasses The Masai Mara National Reserve and the private conservancies that surround it, is an iconic East African landscape crossed by thousands of wildlife and is home to one of the highest number of predators.

Kenya Safari Masai Mara is fantastic any time of the year but from July to October, the plains are flooded with millions of wildebeest accompanied with other grazers on their epic journey known as the Great wildebeest migration.
Trailing this walking buffet are prides of lions, lurking leopards, solitary hyenas and packs of hyenas. Judging by their bellies, they haven't missed out on a single meal at this time of the year. There is no doubt Masai Mara Kenya offers unmatched safari experiences, if you are to visit, it is an opportunity not to be missed.

Things to do in The Masai Mara

Planning your Kenya Masai Mara tour; set aside as much time as you can to explore the Masai Mara Safari on the parks unparalleled adventurous activities.

Game Drives

Game drives are the major highlight of a safari in Masai Mara Kenya, whether you heading out to the plains of the Mara in search of elephant silhouettes or wishing to get packed net to a family of cheetahs on a hunt, Game drives in The Masai Mara unfold the action of perfect animal kingdom away from what you might have watched from the Nat Geo.
A typical full day Masai Mara safari is structured around a 3 hour to 5-hour game drive in the morning and a shorter evening game drive with a short afternoon relaxation break at your booked accommodation. Should you prefer to stay out all day, most lodges and camps in the Masai Mara offer packed breakfast and snacks on request.
The skill of your safari guide in locating the wildlife comes as the major factor while on your game drive, ensure to inform your guide about your specific interests or dislikes and proactive role is encouraged when it comes to wildlife spotting, route planning and deciding on photographic.

At Masai Mara Holidays, Our Kenya safari guides are experienced and professional individuals with over 10 years of operating safaris across the Masai Mara and larger Kenya. We are proud do handle your Masai Mara vacation and issue you a safari guide who will not only be your friend but while always go an extra mile to ensure your safari goals and preferences are properly met.

Night Game Drives

You can also couple up your Masai Mara safari with night game drives which can be arranged in the private conservancies in Masai Mara. It is important to note that night game drives are not permitted in the reserve itself.
Many wildlife species in the Masai Mara, including most of the big cats, are more active after the dark, and night game drives open a whole new additional adventure for your Masai Mara tour package.
It is a fact that much of the actual hunting by lions and leopards happens after night fall; there night games added onto your Masai Mara tour will provide you the best chance to observe these powerful cats feeding or even making a kill. Leopards, lion, hyena, bush babies, porcupines, aardvark, genets, civets and honey badgers will be among the highlights of a night game drive in Masai Mara Kenya.

Horse Back Tours

Game viewing on a horseback is yet another intriguing way to have your Masai Mara holiday. Horse riding Masai Mara Safaris are recommended for experienced riders, these safaris range from 2 hours to multi day itineraries enjoying 6 or more hours doing in the saddle each day. The 2 hours saddle can be available for amateur riders.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

A Masai Mara Balloon Safari is a superb way of exploring the Savannah and wildlife viewing from a majestic aerial view. The experience of floating across the plains with 360-degree views of what is beneath the Masai Mara is incomparable.
This experience is a lot more spectacular during the Migration months in the Mara, a chance to track the migration from a perfect vantage point sums up an typical Masai Mara migration safari.
On top of 1 hour flying across the Masai Mara, this experience comes with a luxurious bush breakfast served under a giant acacia tree in the middle of the wilderness of Masai Mara. A hot air balloon safari in the Mara costs USD 410 per person for adults and half the prices for children under the age of 12 years old.

Guided Walking Safaris

This is one the best ways to explore the Masai Mara on a walking safari, the experience opens chances to explore the flora with opportunities to learn about medicinal properties of various plants as introduced to you by a local Maasai Warrior. You also get to witness animals passing by. Most lodges and camps in the Masai Mara will be able to arrange bush walks at a cost of USD 20 per person.

Maasai Cultural Visits

The Maasai and The Masai Mara are one, for years, this animal kingdom has been Kept a safe heaven by the Maasai people who set up eco friendly shelters known as Manyattas within most conservancies in the park.
The Maasai, significant by their slender frames, blood red cloaks, ochre hairstyles and beautiful beaded jewel are a welcoming group of individuals despite they're fearsome reputation as warriors. Village visits to a Maasai Manyattas on your Maasai Mara safari tour can be arranged through any lodge and camp, the tribe is always happy to share their culture and ways of living with foreign visitors.
A visit ensures you will leave having mastered and taken part of the energetic Maasai cultural dances ontop of being given a Maasai name based on your personality.

Exploring The Masai Mara

The Masai Mara, a northern extension of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania covers 1,530 sq. km of open plains, acacia woodland and riverine forest along the banks of Mara and Talek Rivers.
The Masai Mara is divided into the Masai Mara National Reserve and a number of private conservancies bordering the reserve, primarily in the north and each with a number of camps and reserves. Most of the private conservancies offer extra activities for your Masai Mara tour that are not available in the main reserve itself, activities such as night game drives, escorted walking safaris and horse back safaris.

The Central Plains

Located in the southern part of the park are the central plains, bordered by the Mara River to the west and Sand River to the south, the central plains offer exceptional reliable game viewing for your Masai Mara safari, particularly when it comes to the big cats dominated by the lengendary "marsh pride" near Musiara swamp.
The area is characterized by rolling grassland and isolated low hills. This is a grazing ground for the arrival of the migration in the Mara with thousands of wildebeest and other grazers that camp here. The riverine forests that border The Mara and Talek rivers offer great spots to witness the elephants, Buffaloes, leopards and bush backs.

Rhino Ridge and Paradise Plains

The open grasslands around Paradise plain are a good lookout for cheetah that can be seen hunting a gazelle while leopards inhabit the vicinity of Leopard Gorge. The prominent Rhino Ridge overlooking the Paradise plain seldom lives up to it's name, crisscrossed by many tracks is a good place to spot the black backed jackals. The look out hill is also worth a visit on your Masai Mara tour especially during the river crossings of the wildebeest.

Mara and Talek Rivers

The Mara River and The Talek are the only perennial water ways to flow through the Masai Mara. Pods of hippos and be found anywhere along the rivers but with the largest and most permanent along the Mara River, this is a major landmark to visit on your Masai Mara Safari tour.
The rivers also support other aquatic life to include; Nile crocodiles, otter, along other riverine bird species. The riverine forests along the Mara and Talek rivers are home to elusive number of leopards, vervet monkeys and bushbuck.

One of the most spectacular Kenya Safari Masai Mara events across the Mara River is the migration of wildebeest as they cross the Mara River. This can happen several times at different crossing points along the Mara River during the migration.
There are about 8 river crossing points, of which the four most regularly used lie along the 5km stretch of the Mara upriver of its confluence with the Talek and overlooked by the Mara Serena Safari Lodge. This can be a good place to base your Masai Mara Migration Safari in The months August to September.

Mara Triangle

The Mara Triangle is the most westerly sector of The Masai Mara, also the most scenically dramatic part of the reserve set below the Oloololo Escarpment and studded with kopjes.
The open grasslands support a seasonal dense concentration of migrant zebra and wildebeest. The Mara triangle is one of the rarely visited parts of the Mara but is good for spotting big cats and other members of the big five.

The Masai Mara Private Conservancies

You can choose spot split your Masai Mara safari with a stay in the Masai Mara National Reserve (especially for quicker access to the migration) and a few nights in a conservancy for the luxury of more privacy and additional activities offered.
It is also common that most conservancies are less crowded than Masai Masai National Reserve itself, only guests of the camps in the conservancies are permitted to access game viewing in the conservancies. Private conservancies in the Masai Mara include; The Mara North Conservancy, Naibosho Conservancy, Olare- Orok Conservancy, Olarro Conservancy, Olderiskesi Conservancy and Siana Group Ranch and Conservancy

How to get to Masai Mara Kenya?

Masai Mara Kenya can easily be accessed from Nairobi, most arranged Masai Mara Safaris start and end from Kenya’s Capital, Nairobi. Fly to and from your home country to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. The park can be accessed both by flying and by road from Nairobi as part of an arranged Masai Mara Safari with a Kenya tour operator or a Lodge or Camp in The Masai Mara.
Game drives in Masai Mara Kenya are operated under open vehicles and open sided vehicles. Open vehicles can either be 4x4 Safari vans or land cruisers with a pop roof, 2 or 3 rows of elevated seated behind the driver/ guide. Open sided vehicles are alternative open vehicle common among lodge and camp operated Masai Mara safaris which are also usually flying safaris.
The roof of the open sided vehicles is made of canvas and the sides are fully open to provide you untampered 360-degree views on your game drives. Some visitors prefer the open vehicles to the open sided alternatives because they offer more protection from the sun, rain, wind and dust as they are less exposed.

Getting to The Masai Mara by Road

Masai Mara Kenya is a 4h30 drive from Nairobi on a smoothly surfaced tarmacked road; this drive takes you through the suburbs of Nairobi to the rift valley from where you can have a stopover for photography at the The Great Rift Valley View Point.
Driving to the park from here is 2 hours to the park gate. The rest of the drive will depend on the location of your booked accommodation in the Maasai Mara.

Flying to Masai Mara Kenya

Flying to the Masai Mara is alternative way to access the park from Nairobi without having to endure the road drive. Flights to Masai Mara Kenya commences at Wilson Airport to an Airstrip in The Masai Mara. There are a number of airstrips in the park and the choice of which airstrip to fly to is dictated by your booked accommodation in The Masai Mara.
An airstrip closest to your booked accommodation will serve you, and this is information that the accommodation can give you before you book your flight. Upon arrival to the park, your booked accommodation can as well organize your pick up from the airstrip to the lodge or camp. The best way to plan and book a fly in Safari to Masai Mara is by booking through a tour operator in Kenya who will handle all the flight, accommodation, game drive and airport transfers bookings.

FAQS

Frequently asked Questions about safari in Masai Mara

Is the Masai Mara worth visiting?

The Masai Mara is a must-see destination in Africa owing to the fact that it is one of the few destinations in the world that you can visit for guaranteed big five sighting. Lions in Masai Mara exist in huge numbers of prides, seeing them on your safari in Masai Mara is almost guaranteed.
In addition to the big game is the existence of over 1.5 million grazers that can be seen in The Masai Mara on their annual migration to the park from July to September on earths most impressive mass movement of mammals known as the Great Wildebeest Migration.

Where is Masai Mara National Reserve?

The Masai Mara is situated in the Southwest of Kenya along its border with Tanzania. Accessing the park can easily be done as part of an all-inclusive Masai Mara safari package booked with a Kenya Safari operator, commencing with a drive in a 4x4 safari vehicle to Narok county which is is a 3 hour drive from Nairobi.
From Narok, you transfer to your lodge in the Masai Mara which can take between 2 to 4 hours depending on which part of the park you are staying. Alternatively, you can fly directed for an hour to the Masai Mara from Nairobi.

What is the best time to visit Masai Mara?

The dry months between July to September is the the best time to visit the Masai Mara, this is also the busiest season particularly when the thrilling Great Wildebeest Migration, widely considered as the world's largest terrestrial wildlife spectacle hits Kenya's Masai Mara with breathtaking herds of wildebeest, zebra, Impala, topi and gazelle.
However, even if you do not make it in time for the great wildebeest migration, you will be treated to one of the richest and most diverse animal kingdoms in the world.

What is the Great Wildebeest Migration?

The Great Wildebeest Migration is an awesome, thrilling natural cycle when thousands of wildebeest take on dangerous river crossings as part of their annual round trip exodus from Tanzania's Serengeti into Kenya's Masai Mara influenced by changes in weather to search of greener pastures.
The Great Wildebeest Migration is best witnessed in the Masai Mara when these huge crowds of wildebeest are compressed into the relatively small area of the Masai Mara.

Which is better Masai Mara or Serengeti?

The Masai Mara in Kenya is a tiny portion of the larger expansive lands of the Serengeti in Tanzania only separated by the Kenya - Tanzania Border. Safari in Both The Serengeti and Masai Mara is breathtaking, however, if you are looking for affordability, it will cost you less for a trip to the Masai Mara than the Serengeti.
In term of wildlife, the Serengeti boasts of huge numbers of wildlife spread over a larger expanse that cannot be fully explored with limited time, whereas the Masai Mara equally offers huge amounts of wildlife spread over a relatively smaller area that can easily be explored on a minimum of 3 days trip.

Masai Mara safari in the Main Reserve or the Private Masai Mara Conservancies?

If you are looking for a safari experience with out the crowds, it is advisable to book your Masai Mara safari within a private conservancy. Generally, the conservancies offer a more exclusive experience, since vehicles based in the main reserve won't have to be traversing rights over the private lands where number tend to be limited.

How much does it cost to go to Masai Mara?

The park fee to Masai Mara National Reserve is USD 80 per adult or USD 40 per child, however, the fees to access the private conservancies of the Masai Mara are often higher as they may include access to the main reserve if you are to stay in one of the conservancies.
The general cost of a private safari to Masai Mara varies with your lodge or camp and vehicle preference on top of the number of people that will be visiting. We recommend you get in touch with a reputable Kenya Safari Masai Mara Operator to get the best out of your trip and cost.

Is Kruger better than the Masai Mara?

Kenya's Masai Mara together with South Africa's Kruger National Park are some of Africa's best wildlife safari destinations. Both parks boast of a variety of wildlife to include the big five. Whereas wildlife is what makes them one, these two animal kingdoms are totally different.
The Masai Mara is dominated by a Savannah grassland landscape with is notably best for wildlife viewing whereas Kruger on the other hand is highly dominated by a bush landscape known to hinder wildlife viewing which is why most Kruger safaris require an expert known as a tracker whose job is to look into the bushes which n game drives to easily spot wildlife.
It is guaranteed that you will easily see much more in terms of wildlife in the Masai Mara than you are likely to see in Kruger National Park. However, if you can afford the luxury of visiting both parks then that's a chance not to be missed.

How many days do you need in the Masai Mara?

Depending on your preference, budget and time of visit, the Masai Mara can be visited on a shorter 3 day trip with 2 nights in the park. However, 12 to 16 hours of this time is spent on ground transfer to and from the park therefore an extra day is highly recommended to explore the Masai Mara on an 4 day trip to make the most of your safari in Masai Mara.

Kenya Safari Holidays

Kenya safari tour visitors are either going on safari or taking a beach break, or looking to combine the two. In the event of any, Kenya's wildlife game parks and coastal beaches make the country one of the best destinations for a holiday to Africa.
Most travelers arrive in Nairobi, the capital, where the majority of Kenya safari holidays commence and most National parks and reserves are within a day’s drive. Popular Kenya safari packages include a couple of nights in the Masai Mara, combined with a night or two in Lake Nakuru National Park or Samburu National Reserve, or a combination of 1 or 2 nights in both Amboseli National Park and Tsavo.
Longer Kenya holiday packages combine the Kenyan parks with those in Tanzania’s Northern Circuit. Adventure-seekers will want to explore the rare Kenya holiday packages to northern deserts or climb Mount Kenya. If you are seeking a days quick adventure outside Nairobi, Hells Gate National Park in Naivasha offers a good combination of hiking, bicycle riding safaris on top of game viewing.
Should you choose to lounge on the beach in Mombasa, that doesn’t mean you have to forgo the Kenya safari; a night or two can be spent at nearby parks such as Tsavo which offer you a memorable Kenya safari plus beach holiday.
To plan your Kenya safari tour to more than one park or game reserve in Kenya, you’ll need at least a week, with a couple of nights at each to make the most out of early-morning and late-afternoon game drives, when animals are most active.
We do not recommend leaving any Kenya safari Holiday planning until your arrival in Nairobi unless it is a late decision to visit Kenya. For all accommodation arrangements from airport transfers, domestic flight arrangements, safari vehicle facilitation, you can rely on a reputable Kenya safari operator.
Trust a reputable Kenya safari operator to have intimate knowledge of every corner of the country you would like to visit and also to provide your a suitable Kenya Vacation all inclusive of the costs. There are quite a number of Kenya Tour operators and it's worth obtaining a quote from a few of the before deciding.

Kenya Safari Tour Attractions

Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, and also the base of all Kenya safari packages, has grown into the largest city between South Africa's Johannesburg and Egypt's Cairo, and is today a thriving city with a clamoring street life.
Although not considered the prime Kenya tourist destination, Nairobi does make a good destination for a city tour before venturing into Kenya Safari holidays to the Parks. The city has a number of good attractions, including the Nairobi National Park and other wildlife centers and museums.
The Great Rift Valley of East Africa is a vast geological feature created by tectonic forces in Earth’s crust, which runs approximately 6,000km (3,720 miles) from Syria, under the Red Sea, through East Africa to Mozambique.
In Kenya, the valley is at its deepest just north of Nairobi, and there are viewpoints on the Nairobi-Naivasha road well observed as a stopover point arranged as part of Kenya holiday packages to the south western parks. This region is dotted with Rift Valley lakes such as Elmenteita, Baringo, Bogoria, and Nakuru.
No Kenya tour package from Nairobi is complete without visiting one or more of the major parks and reserves, located along the southern Kenya border with Tanzania.
The Masai Mara Game Reserve is an extension of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, and this region of well-watered grassland plains is the prime destination for a complete Kenya safari tour, it also stages the spectacular annual wildebeest migration.
Kilimanjaro provides a stunning backdrop to Amboseli National Park, the park is known for its incomparable number of African elephants, while the combined Tsavo East and Tsavo West national parks are the biggest protected wildlife refuge in Kenya and home to large herds of game scattered over the very expanse.
Roughly covering the region north of Nairobi to Isiolo, the central highlands are dominated by Mount Kenya, which can be climbed on an organized 5-day hike. To the north of the mountain is the Laikipia Plateau, a former region for ranching that has now been restocked with wild animals.
To the west of Mount Kenya is the Aberdare National Park, which is not your typical African game park, as the terrain is moorlike, forested, and often shrouded with fog, though it has plentiful wildlife.The vast parched and stony deserts of Northern Kenya are remote and isolated, access is difficult, and in recent years the area has suffered from drought and parts have been occupied by refugees from war-torn Somali and Sudan.
Much of the area is also troubled by intertribal violence and banditry, and you should take advice from a Kenya Tour operator before traveling in the region. Samburu National Reserve is the only stop on the traditional Kenya Safari Package in this region, although Lake Turkana and Marsabit national parks are other attractions.
Kenya’s coast is a playground for mostly Kenya safari plus beach holidays on sun, sea, and sand holidays, and for good reason. The 480km (298 miles) of Indian Ocean shoreline boasts sublime white-sand beaches, shady palm trees, sunny weather, warm water for swimming, and a colorful chain of offshore fringing coral reefs.
Away from the beach, the historical towns remain a testament to the Swahili culture that has been on the coast for thousands of years. Western Kenya comprises of some of the least visited Kenya Safari destinations of the country, as there are no big game parks to attract visitors.
The hilly, fertile scenery, characterized by strikingly green tea plantations, is pretty and has some impressive geographical features. Mount Elgon is the second-tallest mountain in Kenya, and Lake Victoria is the second-largest freshwater lake in the world. The Kakamega Forest is the last patch of tropical rainforest left in East Africa, while the tiny Saiwa Swamp National Park protects the rare and shy sitatunga antelope.
Other major safari highlights in East Africa include an extended Uganda Safari Tour to trek mountain gorillas or Rwenzori Mountain Trekking , safari in Murchison falls , a Ngorongoro Crater Safari in Tanzania, and a beach relaxation experience in Zanzibar or Mombasa.
At Masai Mara Holidays Ltd, our Kenya holiday Packages explore the country's best attractions on unmatched safari adventures and with over 300 expertly crafted Kenya safari packages, we are proud to handle your safari dreams and turn them into a reality.
There is no doubt Kenya offers unparalleled safari opportunities, If you are to visit, it is a chance not to be missed. Try to set aside as much time as possible to explore the country's varied safari zones