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Where to stay in Masai Mara
The Masai Mara is a national reserve in south-western Kenya, joined to Tanzania's Serengeti, famous for big cats and the Great Migration. Accommodation is mostly tented camps and lodges, either inside the reserve or in the private conservancies along its northern border, so the choice is about game viewing, crowds and rules.
Inside the Masai Mara National Reserve
Camps and lodges inside the reserve are closest to the Mara River, where wildebeest cross during the migration, and to the plains with lions, cheetahs and elephants. You can start game drives at dawn without a long transfer, but popular sightings can attract many vehicles.
Private conservancies (Mara North, Olare Motorogi, Naboisho)
These conservancies, leased from Maasai landowners, limit the number of beds and vehicles. Camps can offer night drives, walking safaris and off-road driving, which are not allowed in the reserve. You can still drive into the reserve for the migration.
Talek and Sekenani gate area
Around the Talek and Sekenani gates, just outside the reserve, there are more affordable tented camps and lodges used by many group safaris. They are close to the reserve entrance and have simpler facilities, with the same wildlife a short drive away.
One thing to think about
Do not choose a camp only by price without checking its location: some budget camps are far from the best game areas or in busy spots outside the gates. Remember that reserve fees are charged per person per day and add a lot to the cost.
Once you have a bed
The things that sell out first in Masai Mara are the small-group tours and the skip-the-line tickets.
Common questions
When is the Great Migration in the Masai Mara?
The wildebeest herds usually arrive in the Masai Mara around July and stay until about October, crossing the Mara River many times. Timing changes every year with the rains. Outside migration season the Mara still has excellent resident wildlife, including lions, leopards and cheetahs.
How do I get to the Masai Mara?
Small planes fly from Nairobi's Wilson Airport to airstrips across the Mara in about an hour. By road it takes five to six hours from Nairobi, partly on rough roads. Most camps arrange transfers and game drives from the airstrip.
Is a conservancy better than the reserve?
Conservancies offer fewer vehicles, walking and night drives, and support Maasai landowners directly. The reserve is larger, has the main river crossings and is often cheaper. Many visitors combine both, staying in a conservancy and driving into the reserve for the migration.
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