05 Aug
2016

Masai Mara Safari Planning Guide

Last Updated on October 19, 2026 by African Travel Hub Editorial

Quick answer: Go to the Masai Mara between July and October for the wildebeest migration and river crossings. Go between January and March for good game viewing at lower cost. Stay at least 3 nights. Reserve fees are US$200 per adult per day from July to December and US$100 from January to June. A mid-range safari costs about US$350–600 per person per day, all in. You can drive from Nairobi in 5–6 hours or fly in about 45–60 minutes. Driving is cheaper. Flying saves a full day.

Masai Mara at a Glance

The Masai Mara is Kenya’s best-known safari area. It sits in the south-west of the country, on the border with Tanzania’s Serengeti. Together, the two parks form one ecosystem. The animals cross freely between them.

Fact	Detail
Location	Narok County, south-west Kenya, about 270 km from Nairobi
Reserve size	About 1,510 km², including the Mara Triangle (about 510 km²)
Who manages it	Narok County Government (main reserve); Mara Conservancy (Mara Triangle); local landowners (private conservancies)
Altitude	About 1,500–2,100 m, so nights and early mornings are cool
Big Five	Lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo are common; black rhino is present but rarely seen
Birdlife	More than 450 recorded species
Getting there	5–6 hours by road or 45–60 minutes by light aircraft from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport
Entry for most visitors	Kenya eTA, applied for online before travel (about US$30)

When Is the Best Time to Visit the Masai Mara?

The best time is July to October. That is when the wildebeest migration is in the Mara. River crossings peak in August and September. January to March is the best-value period. The grass is short, the big cats are easy to find and fees are half price. April and May are the wettest months. Some camps close then.

The Mara is good all year. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants and hippos live here year-round. The migration is a bonus, not the only reason to come.

Months	Weather	Wildlife	Reserve fee (adult)	Crowds
Jan–Mar	Dry and warm	Resident cats; herds are south in the Serengeti for calving	US$100	Low to moderate
Apr–May	Long rains	Lush and green; some roads difficult	US$100	Very low; some camps shut
Jun	Drying out	First herds may arrive late in the month	US$100	Moderate
Jul–Oct	Dry, cool nights	Migration herds; river crossings peak Aug–Sep	US$200	High, especially at crossing points
Nov	Short rains	Herds start moving back south	US$200	Low
Dec	Mostly dry	Good resident game; festive season	US$200	Moderate to high

Planning note: The migration does not follow a calendar. Rain decides the timing. In some years the herds arrive in late June. In others they come in mid-July. A stay of 3–4 nights in July to October gives you the best chance of seeing a crossing.

How Many Days Do You Need in the Masai Mara?

Plan 3 nights at least. That gives you two full days of game drives. Four nights is better in migration season, because crossings need patience. Serious photographers often stay 5–7 nights.

Length	Who it suits	What you get
2 nights	Short on time, flying in	One full day plus two half days; rushed by road
3 nights	Most first-time visitors	Two full days; time for a balloon flight or village visit
4 nights	Migration season visitors	Better chance of a river crossing; time to explore both the reserve and a conservancy
5–7 nights	Photographers, repeat visitors	Split stay across two areas; time to wait for the right light and action

If you drive, add a day. The road trip uses most of your arrival and departure days.

Road Safari or Fly-In Safari?

Choose road if you want to save money. Choose flying if you are short on time. A road safari costs less, and you see the Great Rift Valley on the way. A fly-in safari turns a 5–6 hour drive into a one-hour flight. You then use your camp’s game-drive vehicles.

Factor	Road safari	Fly-in safari
Travel time from Nairobi	5–6 hours each way (about 270 km)	45–60 minutes from Wilson Airport
Transport cost	Included in road package price	About US$200–300 / €174–261 / £150–225 one way
Vehicle	4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof, or a safari van on budget trips	Camp’s own open or semi-open 4×4
Guide	One driver-guide for the whole trip	Camp guides who know the local area well
Luggage	Normal suitcase fine	15 kg per person, including hand luggage, in a soft bag
Flexibility	Easy to add Lake Naivasha or Lake Nakuru on the way	Easy to link with Amboseli, Samburu or the coast by air
Best for	Families, groups and budget travellers	Couples, short stays and luxury trips

Our advice: For a stay of 3 nights or less, flying usually makes more sense. For a longer Kenya trip, driving one way and flying the other gives you the best of both.

How Much Does a Masai Mara Safari Cost?

A mid-range Masai Mara safari costs about US$350–600 per person per day. That covers accommodation, meals, game drives and reserve fees. Budget trips start at about US$250 per day. Luxury conservancy camps run from US$800 to more than US$2,000 per night. Prices below are per person. They are rounded at US$1 = €0.87 = £0.75.

Reserve and Conservancy Fees

Fee	Jan–Jun	Jul–Dec	Notes
Non-resident adult	US$100 / €87 / £75	US$200 / €174 / £150	Per day; valid for 24 hours
Non-resident child (9–17)	US$50 / €44 / £38	US$50 / €44 / £38	Children 8 and under enter free
Public campsite	US$30 per night	US$30 per night	On top of entry fees
Private conservancy fee	Varies	Varies	About US$80–150 per night; usually built into the camp rate

Fees are charged per 24 hours in the reserve. On a 3-night stay in August, an adult pays US$600 in reserve fees alone. That is why the same trip can cost far less in February.

Accommodation Tiers

Tier	Per person per night (USD)	EUR	GBP	What you get
Budget camp	$120–250	€104–218	£90–188	Basic tents or rooms outside the reserve gates; shared game drives
Mid-range lodge or tented camp	$300–600	€261–522	£225–450	En-suite tents or rooms, full board, good guides
Luxury camp in the reserve	$700–1,500	€609–1,305	£525–1,125	Spacious tents, private decks, all-inclusive
Luxury conservancy camp	$800–2,000+	€696–1,740+	£600–1,500+	Few vehicles, walks, night drives, conservancy fees included

Sample Trip Costs

Trip	Style	USD	EUR	GBP
3 days by road, shared group tour	Budget	$750–1,100	€653–957	£563–825
3 days by road, private vehicle	Mid-range	$1,300–2,000	€1,131–1,740	£975–1,500
3 days fly-in	Mid-range	$1,900–3,000	€1,653–2,610	£1,425–2,250
4 days fly-in, private conservancy	Luxury	$4,000–8,000	€3,480–6,960	£3,000–6,000

These are indicative per-person sharing prices for July to October, including reserve fees. Expect to pay 20–40% less from January to June. International flights, the Kenya eTA, tips and drinks are extra.

Where Should You Stay: Reserve or Conservancy?

Stay in the reserve for river crossings. Stay in a conservancy for space and extra activities. The main reserve has the famous crossing points, but it gets busy in peak season. The conservancies on its northern and eastern edges limit vehicle numbers. They also allow walks and night drives, which the reserve does not.

Area	Best for	Trade-offs
Central reserve (Talek, Sekenani)	Big cats, wide choice of camps at every budget	Busiest area, many vehicles at sightings
Mara River area	River crossings, July to October	Very busy at crossing points in August
Mara Triangle (west)	Crossings on the western bank, well-managed roads, fewer vehicles	Fewer camps; crossing into the main reserve takes time
Private conservancies (e.g. Mara North, Olare Motorogi, Naboisho, Ol Kinyei)	Exclusive sightings, walking safaris, night drives, bush meals	Higher prices; driving to the river takes 1–2 hours

Good to know: A split stay works well. Spend two nights near the river, then two nights in a conservancy.

What Can You Do in the Masai Mara?

Game drives are the main activity. You will usually do an early-morning drive and an afternoon drive each day. A full-day drive with a picnic lunch is best for reaching the river. Other activities add variety.

Activity	Where	Typical cost per person
Hot air balloon flight with bush breakfast	Reserve and Mara Triangle	US$450–635 / €392–552 / £338–476
Walking safari	Private conservancies only	Usually included
Night game drive	Private conservancies only	Usually included
Maasai village visit	Villages near the reserve	US$20–50 / €17–44 / £15–38
Bush breakfast, sundowner or bush dinner	Most mid-range and luxury camps	Often included; otherwise US$50–150

See our guides to hot air balloon safaris in Africa and to safari activities beyond the game drive for more detail.

Reserve Rules You Should Know

The Masai Mara has strict rules to protect wildlife. Your guide will follow them. If you know them in advance, you can avoid frustration.

Driving hours: Game drives in the reserve run from about 6:30 am to 6:30 pm. There are no night drives inside the reserve.
Off-road driving: Driving off the tracks is banned in the reserve. Guides can be fined for doing it.
At sightings: Vehicles must keep their distance and limit their numbers. Do not ask your guide to get closer than the rules allow.
River crossings: Vehicles must stay back from the riverbank so the herds can cross.
Plastic bags: Single-use plastic bags are banned across Kenya.

Sample Masai Mara Itineraries

3-Day Road Safari

Day	Plan
1	Leave Nairobi at 7 am. Stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint. Reach camp for lunch, then take an afternoon game drive.
2	Full-day game drive with a picnic lunch, heading to the Mara River in migration season.
3	Early morning game drive, then breakfast and the drive back to Nairobi, arriving around 4 pm.

4-Day Fly-In Safari

Day	Plan
1	Morning flight from Wilson Airport. Lunch at camp, then an afternoon game drive.
2	Optional dawn balloon flight, then a full day near the river or in the conservancy.
3	Morning game drive, a walk in the conservancy, and sundowners.
4	Final morning drive, then fly back to Nairobi, or on to the coast or Zanzibar.

Combining the Masai Mara With Other Places

The Mara is easy to combine with other Kenyan parks or a beach stay. Popular pairings include Amboseli, for elephants under Kilimanjaro; Lake Nakuru or Lake Naivasha, on the road route; and Samburu, for northern species. Many travellers end with a beach stay on Kenya’s coast or in Zanzibar. Daily flights connect the Mara with these destinations.

You can also add Tanzania’s Serengeti. There is no tourist border crossing inside the parks, so most trips fly via Migori and Tarime, or route through Nairobi and Kilimanjaro.

Practical Tips

Entry: Most visitors need a Kenya eTA, which costs about US$30. Apply online at least a week before you fly.
Health: Antimalarials are recommended. Carry a yellow fever certificate if you are travelling on to Tanzania or Zanzibar.
Clothing: Pack layers. Mornings can drop to 12–15°C. Choose neutral colours, and avoid dark blue and black, which attract tsetse flies.
Cash and tips: Carry US dollars in small notes. A common guide is US$10–20 per guest per day for your guide and a similar amount for the camp staff tip box.
Booking window: Book 9–12 months ahead for July to September, especially for camps near the river.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Masai Mara worth visiting outside migration season?

Yes. The resident wildlife stays all year. January to March brings excellent cat sightings, fewer vehicles and half-price reserve fees.

Can I see the Big Five in the Masai Mara?

You will almost certainly see lion, elephant and buffalo. Leopard sightings are common. Rhinos are few, so a rhino sighting is a bonus.

Is it better to visit the Masai Mara or the Serengeti?

The Mara is smaller and easier to reach from Nairobi, and it has the best river crossings from July to October. The Serengeti is bigger and better from December to March, when the herds calve in the south.

Is the Masai Mara safe?

Yes, on a guided safari. Follow your guide’s instructions, and never leave the vehicle except at designated points.

Plan your Masai Mara safari with a Nairobi-based team. Hallmark Travel Planners has run safaris to the Mara since 2006. Tell us your dates, budget and whether you prefer to drive or fly, and we will send a tailored itinerary with clear prices.

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By levis / Administrator

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