Most of the travelers coming to Kenya do so in favour of the Maasai Mara. For you to get the best of Kenya safari, you have to go for the great migration of the wildebeests in that area and for you to be there, you have to follow these tips.
Book Early for the Migration
It’s very necessary for you to book in advance because many travelers come for this show. A year in advance is normal, as camps located near river-crossing hot spots get snapped up quickly. Talk to us about getting front-row seats during July to November. Since its real calls for many travelers, you are most likely to miss out if you don’t book in advance.
Take to the Air
Hot-air balloon safaris are a Masai Mara specialty and deliver an unforgettable bird’s-eye view of the Wildebeest Migration. Not every lodge or camp offers them. Let’s book for you such lodges with that service in time. This enables you take a clear view of the Maasai Mara and all its wild encounters.
Meet the Locals with Dignity
Make sure your Maasai cultural interaction genuinely benefits the local community and is an experience that is both meaningful and uncontrived. We’ll recommend accommodation and operators that do it the right way.
Go Private
The Masai Mara National Reserve can get very busy during the Migration’s high season (July to November). The Mara’s private conservancies offer low visitor numbers, excellent accommodation and game viewing as good as the main reserve. Off-road game viewing, night drives and guided nature walks – activities not permitted in the public section of the Masai Mara are also on offer. Furthermore, by staying in the conservancies, you will contribute directly to local communities and conservation.
Make use of the Safari Vehicles
Guided road transfers and game drives in Kenya are conducted in closed 4×4 with big windows and pop-up roofs. Most safari destinations in Kenya have extensive road networks and closed vehicles are therefore the norm when doing long-distance road transfers between airstrips, camps and lodges.
A closed 4×4 game drive vehicle generally has three rows of seating and features a pop-up roof hatch that can be raised for game viewing and taking photographs. If you’re flying to one of the Masai Mara’s airstrips, your transfer vehicle could be open-sided.
Budget Trips in Masaai Mara
Budget Masai Mara safari uses budget type of accommodation typically located just outside of the main Masai Mara Reserve. The safari is booked as a private tour but group departures may be possible based on your travel dates. Prices vary depending on the month or season of travel, with July to October being peak season while April to mid-June is low season.
Your safari starts from Nairobi
Your driver-guide reports to your hotel for start of the safari, with a 7.30am departure for a drive descending the Great Rift Valley and onwards to Masai Mara, Kenya’s famous game reserve. (Drive time 5.5 hours). You will be in your own private safari vehicle. Stop briefly en-route at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint to enjoy the stunning views of the largest Valley system in the world, said to be visible from outer space.
Arrive at Masai Mara for lunch. The afternoon game drive at 3.30pm allows spotting of the magnificent wildlife in the park ranging from the Big Cats such as Lion, Leopard & Cheetah to Rhino, Elephant and Wildebeest. Return to your camp by 6.30pm for dinner and overnight.
Enjoy a Full day in Masai Mara on the next day
You will be taken on two game drives, one in the morning from 6.15am to 9am, before breakfast and the other in the late afternoon after lunch from 3.30pm to 6.30pm. As your safari is private your game drive timings are flexible, useful if you are traveling with children, or are on a honeymoon. You may also choose to have a full day game drive [one for the whole day] with a packed picnic lunch at no extra cost. Return in the evening for dinner and overnight at the camp.
Return to Nairobi
At the break of dawn, you embark on your concluding game drive in the Mara followed by a relaxed breakfast and onward departure for Nairobi. Arrive at Nairobi by early afternoon typically by 2.30pm. Drop off at your hotel, or free onward transfer to the airport for your flight home.
