Masai Mara National Reserve is a reserve located in Narok County, about 188 miles from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.
How to get to Masai Mara
To get to Masai Mara from Nairobi, one can either take an approximately 5-hour drive or 45-minute flight. While driving to Mara, you will get to enjoy beautiful sceneries along the way, one of them being the Great Rift Valley. This is the largest valley in the world. It stretches from Lebanon in Asia to Mozambique in Africa, passing through Kenya. At the Rift Valley view point, you will also find curio shops where you can buy gifts and souvenirs.
Accommodations in Masai Mara
There are different accommodation categories in Masai Mara to cater for different individuals’ needs and budget. You can either book your accommodation in a tented camp or lodge depending on your preference. The main difference between the two is that camps are made of safari tents while lodges have concrete or wooden walls. In terms of budget, Masai Mara offers three main categories of accommodation. These are budget, mid-range and luxury accommodation. All these can either be in form of camps or lodges, the main difference being the amenities in each. Budget accommodation is considered one with basic amenities while luxury is considered one with most luxurious amenities, which are also in most cases modern.
Accommodation in Mara can also be classified based on their location. There are camps and lodges located inside the reserve and those that are outside.
Masai Mara National Reserve 2024 Entrance Fee
Narok County Government recently revised the entrance fees for Masai Mara National Reserve. The revised fees apply effective 1 January 2024. In order to enter the reserve, non-resident adults will now pay 100 USD per day from 1 of January 2024 to 30 of June 2024 and 200 USD per day from 1 of July 2024 onwards. Non-resident children aged between 9 and 17 years will pay 50 USD per day while children who are 8 years and below will be allowed free entry.
Activities in Masai Mara
There are several activities that one can do in Masai Mara depending on interest and preference. Here are some of the activities you can consider while at Masai Mara.
Game viewing
The number one activity, which is the obvious reason for most tourists visiting Masai Mara is game drive. Masai Mara is home to several wild animals, including the Big Five; Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos and Buffalos. In addition to these, several other animals such as giraffes, cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, zebras, antelopes and many others are found in Mara. Masai Mara National Reserve is also home to over 500 bird species. These make the reserve a great safari destination. If lucky, one may get to see all the big five animals and more during the safari.
Maasai village tour
While in Masai Mara, one of the most spectacular activities one can engage in is paying a visit to the Maasai villages. This is where you find the local people, who are known as the Maasai. Maasai people are nomadic pastoralists who live in Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania. Maasais have a rich culture, which is very distinct; from their unique dressing to their houses, the manyattas, which most are built around wildlife reserves. When tourists visit the villages, the Maasai people take them through their culture, dances, practices, beliefs and ways of living among other things. At the villages, one also gets a chance to purchase some of the items that are hand-made by the locals.
Hot air balloon safari
Other than game drives, one way in which a tourist can choose to view the wildlife is by taking a hot air ballon safari. This way, one gets to fly around the reserve and view wildlife from above the ground. Balloon safaris usually take place very early in the morning, mostly taking off by 6:00am and goes for an hour. After the safari, tourists get served bush breakfast, after which they continue to explore the reserve through a guided game drive.
Sundowner
Watching the sunset in Masai Mara is something that many tourists like to engage in. This is usually done in specific locations either within the reserve or the camp/lodge where one is staying. A special set-up is usually done for the sundowner and drinks served to the guests. You can therefore enjoy this moment and also take beautiful pictures of the memorable experience.