Masai Mara on a budget

Masai Mara works on a budget with some planning.

Suitability: ★★★★★

The Maasai Mara is a national reserve in south-western Kenya, contiguous with Tanzania's Serengeti. Narok County manages most of it, while the Mara Conservancy manages the Mara Triangle; private and community conservancies surround the reserve.

Why Masai Mara on a budget?

• Budget options are relatively limited here.
• Travelling by road instead of flying in keeps costs down.

What awaits you in Masai Mara

• Wildebeest migration and Mara River crossings (roughly July-October)
• Strong lion, leopard and cheetah sightings
• Dawn hot-air balloon flights over the plains
• Walking and night drives in neighbouring conservancies (not permitted in the reserve itself)
• Maasai village visits

Wildlife you may encounter: lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, black rhino, buffalo, giraffes and zebras.

Suggested time on the ground: 3 to 4 days. The reserve lies about 280 km west of Nairobi, roughly a 5-6 hour drive. Scheduled light-aircraft flights from Nairobi's Wilson Airport serve airstrips in and around the reserve.

Activities that fit

game drives, birdwatching and camping.

When to go

The best period overall is June to October. For quieter months and often better value, try November.

Wildebeest and zebra herds from the Serengeti are usually present from July to October, when Mara River crossings can be seen; exact timing varies each year.

Other destinations on a budget

• Kruger South Africa
• Merzouga Morocco
• Addo South Africa
• Pilanesberg South Africa
• Tarangire Tanzania
• Akagera Rwanda

Full Masai Mara guideBest safaris on a budget

No trips are listed for this destination yet. Send a request and we will check with providers.

Sources: Magical Kenya (Kenya Tourism Board) - Maasai Mara · Mara Conservancy - Mara Triangle · Climates to Travel - Masai Mara · Weather Spark - Narok
Figures are approximate averages and vary from year to year.