Exploring the beauty of Masai Mara National Reserve

Q: How to get there?

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.

Q: Best Time To Visit?

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.

Q: Wildlife & Landscape

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.

A jewel of Kenya’s wilderness, the Maasai Mara is world-renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, rich wildlife, and the awe-inspiring Great Migration. Home to the Big Five and vibrant Maasai culture, this iconic reserve offers unforgettable safari experiences while showcasing the importance of conservation and sustainable travel.

Accomodation
1-12 people
Best Season
jan
Arrival City
Moderate

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Overview

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.

Day 1 :

NAIROBI – MASAI MARA (Appx: 265kms- 5 hrs)

Meal plan: Lunch, Dinner.

07:30 hrs. We will pick you up from your Nairobi Hotel, residence or the Nairobi airport.

In your private 4 x 4 Jeep, we’ll journey out to the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve.

Day 2 :

FULL DAY – MASAI MARA

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

We’ll be up early to view the park’s abundant wildlife, said to the densest of any park in the region. This will be a day of unlimited game drives over the golden fields and past the distinctive acacia trees adorning these plains.

Be on the lookout for Africa’s Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino. The birdlife is also abundant, and should you be here during the season of the Great Migration (July – October), prepare yourself to witness the largest movement of animals on the planet.

Primarily made up of wildebeest and zebra, the migrating animals cross into the park by the thousands at the Mara River, also the site of hippos and waiting crocodiles. The potential drama here is inescapable as the streaming herds enter these lands for fresh grasses as the predators lie in wait.

Adding more richness to your Masai Mara experience, you can enjoy an optional visit to one of the local villages. There, you’ll meet the Maasai and see their lifestyle up close.

Another optional event is an early morning hot air balloon ride over the reserve. Take in the park below coming to life as the fields light up and the wildlife begin a new day on the savannah. A magnificent experience – just ask your driver/guide to set up either or both activities.

Day 3 :

MASAI MARA – NAIROBI (265 kms – 5 hrs)

Meal plan.Breakfast.

After a leisurely breakfast at your lodge/camp, your dedicated driver guide will assist you with the checkout process and proceed to Nairobi – Kenya’s colorful capital city.

On the way, your guide will point out the Longonot extinct volcano which is a strato volcano located southeast of Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya. It is thought to have last erupted in the 1860s and its name is derived from the Maasai word Oloonong’ot, meaning “mountains of many spurs” or “steep ridges “. You can opt to drive via Naivasha for lunch/excursions at an extra cost or drive straight to Nairobi and pass by Kiambethu farm for the tea farm tour inclusive of a three-course buffet lunch (at an extra cost) OR drive straight back to the capital and later transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International airport for your back home.

FAQs

Expand all

How to get there?

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.

Best Time To Visit?

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.

Wildlife & Landscape

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.

Exploring the beauty of Masai Mara National Reserve

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Overview

Nairobi Departure and Return

Includes/Excludes

The Trip Cost Includes

The Trip Cost Excludes

FAQs

Maasai Mara

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

Overview

Nairobi Departure and Return

Includes/Excludes

The Trip Cost Includes

The Trip Cost Excludes

FAQs

Maasai Mara

You can send your enquiry via the form below.

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