Maasai Mara, Kenya: travel guide
Kenya's flagship safari destination — big-cat country and the stage for the Great Migration river crossings between July and October.
- Country
- Kenya
- Currency
- KES
- Time zone
- Africa/Nairobi
Top places to visit in Maasai Mara
Mara Triangle
Wildlife · 4.7 rating · about 6 h
The well-managed western third of the reserve below the Oloololo Escarpment — superb game viewing and Mara River crossings.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Wildlife · 4.7 rating · about 8 h · entry USD 200
Kenya's most famous reserve — lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and, from July to October, the wildebeest of the Great Migration.
Things to do
- Full-Day Maasai Mara Game Drive Safari · 8 h · from KES 15,000 per person
- Hot Air Balloon Safari over the Mara Balloon · 4 h · from KES 60,000 per person
- Maasai Village Cultural Visit Cultural · 1.5 h · from KES 2,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Maasai Mara Full-Day Safari 10 h · from KES 15,000
Where to stay in Maasai Mara
Hotels
- Mara Serena Safari Lodge 4-star · KES 28,000 to KES 45,000 per night
- Sarova Mara Game Camp 4-star · KES 24,000 to KES 38,000 per night
- Keekorok Lodge 4-star · KES 20,000 to KES 32,000 per night
- Mara Sopa Lodge 3-star · KES 18,000 to KES 28,000 per night
Getting around
- Offroad Vehicle main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Budget-safari deposit scam
Booked from Nairobi / online
Unlicensed operators sell rock-bottom Mara safaris, collect a deposit, then cancel, downgrade or disappear.
How to avoid it: Use licensed, reviewed operators; confirm park fees, vehicle and lodge in writing; pay by traceable means.