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Private & budget Masai Mara game reserve safari in Kenya

Masai Mara game reserve safari

Private & budget Masai Mara game reserve safari in Kenya get you to a vast scenic expanse of gently cascading African savannah plains measuring 1,510kmwith an estimated 5.2 million wild mammals bringing the number of animals per square kilometer to about 3,400 and bordering the Serengeti national park in Tanzania to the south. Masai Mara game reserve is located at -1.48213° S & 35.12998° E is 229km from the capital Nairobi on a 4 hours 20 minutes drive.

Masai Mara game park has got Africa’s big 5 and high concentration of herbivores; lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, wildebeests, zebras, antelopes, waterbucks, hippos, ostriches, hyenas, wild dogs, giraffes among others.

Tourists all over the world visit the Mara to participate along and experience the world’s largest migration of ungulates including 2,000,000 wildebeests, 400,000 zebras crossing from Serengeti national park to the Maras for fresh pastures, 850 to 900 lions, 200,000 antelopes, 300 cheetahs, 35-50 black rhinos, 33,000 giraffes, 2,500 elephants, 25 snake species, 21 lizard species. This great animal movement comes along heavy weight fights, deaths, animal families and escapes from giant water killers; the Nile crocodile at great multitudes cross to the vast Mara lands.

Best time for Masai Mara game reserve safari

The best time to visit Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya is during the dry seasons of June to September and December to March. During the wet seasons, the park becomes very boggy and not easily maneuverable. 

Entry fees in Masai Mara game reserve

Entry fees in Masai Mara game reserve be at $200 for adults during the high season and $100 during the low seasons. Children aged between 3-17 years pay $50 fees for Masai Mara game reserve safari tours.

Private & budget Masai Mara game reserve safari packages

Private & budget Masai Mara Kenya safari

3 days Masai mara experience

3 days Masai Mara experience for a focused great wildebeest migration in June- October and Africa's big 5 safari (lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, rhinos) from December- February. The 3 days Masai Mara Kenya safari from Nairobi on a 1 hour domestic flight or 5 hours drive. Experiences for travelers while in Masai Mara game reserve include air balloon tours, game drives, horseback riding tours, Masai culture, bird watching, camping, wildebeest migration river crossings etc.

Luxury & affordable Masai Mara Kenya safari

6 DAYS MARA- KENYA WILDLIFE SAFARI

6 days Masai Mara Kenya wildlife safari is a travelers' top itinerary that takes you to lake Nakuru, Nairobi game park, Masai Mara game reserve and Amboseli national park. Expect the great wildebeest migration, long horned African elephant herds, the best mtn. Kilimanjaro snow capped scenes, game drives & Africa's big 5 (lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos), giraffes, zebras, hippos and more than 500 bird species.

Private & budget Masai Mara Kenya safari

7 DAYS MASAI MARA- SERENGETI SAFARI

A great Serengeti Mara ecosystem exploration with the highest concentration of wildlife on the continent and in the world. The 7 days Masai Mara Serengeti safari starts from the Kenyan side and finally into Tanzania's savanna expanse. While on this 7 days safari helps you to fully track the wildebeest migration and Africa's big 5 (lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos) throughout the year. Top experiences also include game drives, air balloon tours, Masai culture, birding, horseback riding tours, camping etc.

Flamingos

7 DAYS BIRDING MARA- KENYA SAFARI

The 7 days birding Kenya experience in the country's most popular game parks which are Nairobi national park, lake Nakuru, Masai Mara game reserve and Amboseli national park. Exciting birds to see are flamingos, pelicans, warblers, sunbirds, grey crowned cranes, eagles, kingfishers, Europe immigrant species, secretary birds, kori bustards, ostriches etc. Along the bird watching experience, you'll enjoy many other wildlife activities for example air balloon tours, Africa's big 5 (lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, rhinos), game drives, camping, culture tours, photography, nature walks, mountain Kilimanjaro snow peaks etc.

Private & budget Masai Mara Kenya safari

19 days gorillas-masai mara-Diani beach experience

19 days Uganda Kenya safari combines great experiences in the East African region. The 19 days safari starts from Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable forest, Queen Elizabeth national park, Kibale forest, Murchison falls and Jinja. Into Kenya's wilderness, you will go into lake Nakuru, Nairobi game park and finally to Diani beach for a tropical white sand beach holidays. This adventure give you encounters for gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, rhino tracking on walking tour, source of the river Nile, wildebeest migration, Africa's big 5, shoebills, hippos, boat cruises, Flamingos, city tours, snorkeling, scuba diving, kite rafting, sea creatures, dolphin watching etc.

Murchison falls

23 DAYS RWANDA-UGANDA-KENYA SAFARI

A tri-national tour on a 3 weeks/ 23 days Rwanda-Uganda-Kenya safari is a slow long travel adventure to encounter the region's most unique wildlife and features. The 23 days East Africa safari itinerary has gorilla trekking, double chimpanzee tracking, golden monkey tracking, Murchison water falls, source of the Nile, the great wildebeest migration, mtn. Kilimanjaro snow capped scenes, white sand beaches etc. Other experiences and sightings are of flamingos, Africa's big 5 (lions, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes, elephants), giraffes, zebras, shoebills, secretary birds, kori bustards, hippos etc.

Masai Mara game reserve

Masai Mara eco-system encompasses on the 400km long River Mara that moves forming ox-bow shapes from Kenya and crosses the border to Tanzania supporting several animals with its waters that flow throughout the year and the river side vegetation. Wildebeests move 800km to reach the Masai river crossing, some get exhausted and die only to be fed by scavengers.

Activities done on Masai Mara game reserve safari

  • Hot air balloon tours
  • Wildlife game drives
  • Nature walking tours
  • Maasai community walks
  • Birding & bird watching
  • Lodges & photography
  • Bush dinners
Masai Mara game reserve safari

Masai Mara national game reserve entrances & gates

Masai mara game reserve is one of the most exciting tourist attraction and destination in Kenya, Africa. The Mara being rich in wild game as well has enough entrances through various gates which are;

  1. Sekenani gate -located on the outskirts of Sekenani town on the Eastern side of Masai Mara game reserve. Sekenani is the main gate & most preferred because it is on the main road from Narok town.
  2. Talek gate -located at the North Western side of Masai Mara game reserve, the gate is named after Talek river which acts like a natural boundary between the Eastern & Western region of Maasai Mara.
  3. Musiara gate is located on the North Eastern end of Masai Mara game reserve which is near the Oloololo gate to the East.
  4. Oloololo gate -located on the North Eastern region of Maasai Mara game reserve shortly south of one of the tributaries for the Masai Mara river. The gate is accessed through Aitong road & Singor- Kaboson road.
  5. Oloolaimutia gate -on the outskirts of Oloolaimutia town amidst the hilly eastern end of Masai Mara game reserve.

How to get to/ access Masai Mara national game reserve by flight?

Masai Mara national game reserve is located in the southern part of the country along the border with Tanzania. Masai Mara game reserve is 229km from the capital Nairobi on a 4 hours 20 minutes by road. The Maras can also be accessed via domestic flights on various airstrips. Some of the airstrips in Masai Mara game reserve include:

  • Keekorok airstrip (KEU) at 1.359° S, 35.156° E
  • Serena airstrip (MRE) at 1.2418° S, 35.0360° E
  • Musiara airstrip (MDR) 1.17588° S, 35.3314° E
  • Siana conservancy -1.483° S, 35.417° E
  • Ol Kiombo airstrip (OLX) 1.2430° S, 35.636° E
  • Ngerende airstrip (MSC) -1.084° S, 35.186° E
  • Olare Orok airstrip (OLG)
  • Mara north airstrip (HKR) 1.0873° S, 35.0748° E
  • Angama airstrip (ANA) 1.1619° S, 34.5738° E
  • Ol Seki airstrip (OSJ) -1.378° S, 35.378° E

Some of the domestic airliners that transfer tourists to Masai Mara game reserve safari include: Air Kenya, Silverstone air, Safari link, Mombasa air safari, Governors aviation.

Where to stay on Masai Mara game reserve safari

Being a top destination, Masai Mara game reserve has numerous safari lodges that range from super luxury lodges to affordable tented camp lodges for example Mara leisure camp, Sand river Masai Mara lodge, Base camp Maasai Mara, Mara Maisha camp, Mara simba camp, Mara sweet acacia lodge, JW Marriott Masai Mara lodge, Iretet Mara lodge, Mara serena safari lodge, Mara interepids tented camp among others.

Sand river safari lodge in Masai Mara, Kenya

Sand river Masai Mara

Sand river lodge is located at -1.61937° S & 35.16171° E, 254km from the capital Nairobi on a 5 hours drive. Also Sand river lodge offers various options for guests for example;

  • Single occupancy starting at $978
  • Double occupancy starting at $1,461
  • Triple occupancy starting at $2,210
  • Family tent starting at $3,910

While at Sand river lodge you can engage in many activities in the Masai Mara for example;

  • Wildlife game drives
  • Bird watching
  • Air balloon safaris
  • Sceneries & photography
  • Masai culture tours

Mara leisure camp

The Mara leisure camp nestled in the heart of Masai Mara at -1.45942° S & 35.25061° E reached at on a 5 hours drive from Kenya’s capital Nairobi given the 258km distance that has to be covered.

Mara leisure camp offers accommodation that give you excellent planning for Africa safari for example;

  • Single occupancy starting at $540
  • Double room starting at $340 pp
  • Extra bed at $202
  • Children room for 3-15yrs old starting at $202 pp
  • Child sharing with adult at $135
  • Child below 3yrs- FREE

Don’t exciting Masai Mara experience while at Mara leisure camp such as:

  • Wild game drives
  • Bird watching
  • Masai culture tours
  • Air balloon tours
Mara Maisha lodge in Masai Mara game reserve, Kenya

Mara Maisha camp

The Mara Maisha camp is one of the perfect Africa safari lodging places in the Masai Mara game reserve. Situated at -1.41463° S & 35.22178° E, Mara Maisha camp is a 5 hours drive away from the capita Nairobi.

Mara Maisha camp has single rooms, double rooms, triple rooms and family tents starting at a rate of $761. While staying at the camp, you can engage in various activities in the Mara such as:

  • Game drives
  • Bird watching
  • Air balloon safaris
  • Camp fires
  • Masai cultural tours
Mara serena safari lodge suite in the Masai Mara, Kenya

Mara serena safari lodge

Mara serena lodge is a top standard accommodation nestling deep in Masai Mara game reserve. Serena safari lodge is located at -1.40218° S, 35.02616° E arrived at after a 6 hours drive from Nairobi on a 290km drive.

You’ll get Mara serena safari lodge offers for standard lodge rooms and suites starting at $734. Your stay at Serena lodge will guarantee several safari activities in the park for example;

  • Game drives
  • Bird watching
  • Masai cultural tours
  • Air balloon tours
  • Sceneries & photography
JW Marriott Masai Mara lodge, Kenya

JW Marriott Masai Mara lodge

JW Marriott is one of the top rated luxury safari lodges in the Masai Mara game reserve offering some of the best lodging services in this game reserve. This luxury facility is situated at -1.46316° S, 35.26759° E on a 5 hours 258km road drive from Nairobi.

With JW Marriott Masai Mara lodge, lodging packages are at:

  • Single occupancy at $2,780/night
  • Double room at $4,980/night
  • Triple room at $13,500/night

Given the lodge’s deep position in the park, you will be able to engage in any safari activity in the Masai Mara for example:

  • Safari game drives
  • Air balloon tours
  • Masai culture tours
  • Bird watching experience