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Masai Mara Safari - Compare 1,048 Tours
If Africa had a Big Five for safari parks, the Masai Mara safari would easily make the final cut. It’s a classic safari destination and one of the best places to see lions, leopards and cheetahs, as well as being home to iconic savannah country that long ago came to define the East African safari. It also has the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), a good mix of public areas and private conservancies, and extraordinarily rich accommodation offerings.
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Top Rated Operator
5-Day Semi Luxury Private Safari in Kenya
$1,840 to $2,150 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLuxuryTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Ol Pejeta (Laikipia), Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Mufasa Tours and Travels
5.0/5 – 324 Reviews
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6-Day Big Five Safari Kenya Marathon Safari
$1,150 to $1,350 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Amboseli NP, Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Meektrails Safaris
5.0/5 – 65 Reviews
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3-Day Masai Mara Budget Group Joining Safari
$300 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Karibu Safaris In Kenya
4.8/5 – 1074 Reviews
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Best Seller
6-Day Roaring Kenya - Mid-Range
$1,510 to $2,000 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Amboseli NP, Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Spirit of Kenya
5.0/5 – 378 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
9-Day Luxury Kenya Safari Tour
$6,735 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Samburu NR, Diani Beach, Nairobi (End)
Wayfairer Travel
4.9/5 – 132 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
7-Day Amboseli Tawi Lodge & Masai Kichwa Tembo Fly In
$4,424 to $6,188 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Amboseli NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Image Travel
5.0/5 – 140 Reviews
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9-Day Best of Kenya Wild Lands Safari
$2,127 to $2,687 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & HotelYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Samburu NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara NR, Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
BuyMore Adventures
4.8/5 – 28 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Adventure in Masai Mara
$300 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Jocky Tours and Safaris
4.9/5 – 651 Reviews
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3-Day Group Joining Trip
$300 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Lenchada Safaris
4.9/5 – 413 Reviews
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3-Day Mara Chui Joining Group
$440 to $550 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Axis Africa Expedition & Safaris
4.9/5 – 675 Reviews
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3-Day Masai Mara Daily Join Group Budget Safari
$290 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Okoa Africa Tours
4.1/5 – 78 Reviews
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3-Day Masai Mara Joining Safari - Daily Departure
$585 to $660 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Samson’s Safaris
5.0/5 – 31 Reviews
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5-Day Masai Mara Fly-in Luxury Safari
$2,300 to $3,650 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLuxury+Tented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Ongeri Expeditions
5.0/5 – 38 Reviews
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Best Seller
11-Day Leisure Game Safari and Beach Holiday Combo
$2,640 to $3,425 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli NP, Diani Beach, Shimba Hills NR, Kisite Mpunguti (Beach), Jomo Kenyatta Airport (End)
Morning Star Tours & Travel
4.8/5 – 30 Reviews
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10-Day Magical Kenya Safari Experience
$2,488 to $3,850 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Aberdare NP, Sweetwaters (Chimp Sanctuary), Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Kameraz of Afrika
5.0/5 – 40 Reviews
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3-Day Maasai Mara Group Joining Safari in a Safari Van
$320 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Perfect Wilderness Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 1 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
4-Day Luxury Lake Nakuru / Masai Mara Safari
$995 to $1,535 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Explorer Kenya Tours & Travel
5.0/5 – 174 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
14-Day Kenya Wildlife Safari & Beach Holiday
$3,605 to $4,645 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Ol Pejeta (Laikipia), Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli NP, Tsavo West NP, Diani Beach, Nairobi (End)
Tekko Tours and Travel
5.0/5 – 111 Reviews
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5-Day Kenya Private Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru & Mara Safari
$1,793 to $2,380 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Ol Pejeta (Laikipia), Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Bush 2 City Adventure
5.0/5 – 49 Reviews
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3-Day Mara Exciting Safari - Group Joining (Midrange)
$510 to $600 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Savannah Woods Safaris
5.0/5 – 40 Reviews
8 Questions About Masai Mara Safaris

Answered by
Anthony Ham
Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.
8 Questions About Masai Mara Safaris

When is the best time to see the Great Migration?
“A word of warning: no one knows the exact moment when the herds of wildebeest and zebra, more than 2 million strong, will cross the border from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park into Kenya and the Masai Mara. And nor can anyone predict with certainty the precise weeks when the wildebeest will funnel down the banks of and across the crocodile-infested Mara River. But there are some reasonably reliable parameters to help when choosing the time to visit in order to maximize your chances of witnessing one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet. In most years, the herds arrive in the Mara around mid-July and into August. This stage is when the massed crossings of the Mara River usually occur. In September and October, the herds usually remain in the Mara, a moving mass of wildlife that is quite extraordinary to see. By late October and almost certainly by November the herds leave Kenya and return to Tanzania.”
› More about the best time to visit the Masai Mara 1What opportunities are there to meet local Maasai people?
“The Maasai are indeed the most soulful human presence in Masai Mara safaris and meeting them and getting to know something about their lives is a highlight of any visit here. Many lodges and safari companies employ Maasai as guides and drivers, and also as employees in their lodges and tented camps. Most can also arrange visits to local Maasai communities – ask your safari operator if this is possible before booking your Kenya safari. It can be difficult to interact meaningfully with the Maasai on such occasions, although you can learn a great deal if you take the time to talk with those guiding you, serving your food or cleaning your rooms. If you want to organize something yourself, there are a number of simple accommodation and Maasai homestay places just outside the Masai Mara’s Sekenani Gate, where you can spend time with a local family and gain an unfettered insight into their lives.”
2How can I avoid the crowds?
“The easiest way to avoid the crowds is to plan your Masai Mara safari to avoid the period when the migration is in full swing. If that’s not an option, it is almost impossible to shake off the convoys of safari vehicles that surround the Mara River crossings – you might just have to grin and bear it if that’s why you’re here. That said, while all of those vehicles line up along the riverbank, much of the rest of the reserve can be surprisingly quiet. Another option is to stay outside the reserve on one of the private or community conservancies that surround the Masai Mara National Reserve to the north and east. Some of these – Mara North, Naboisho, Olare Orok and Olderikesi, in particular – have some of Africa’s highest population densities for Big Cats and, though expensive, are only accessible for those staying in one of the conservancy’s small lodges or tented camps. And if you’re staying here, you can always enter the reserve to see the migration, and then return to the relative quiet of the conservancy when you’ve had enough.”
3What animals can I expect to see in the Masai Mara?
“Big Cats are the highlights of Masai Mara tours – there’s a reason the BBC filmed 'Big Cat Diary' here. Sightings are by no means guaranteed, but healthy lion populations mean you’d be very unlucky not to see a pride or two. Further, the long sightlines of the endless grasslands are ideal for spotting cheetah, while the tree-lined rivers that snake through the reserve are perfect leopard habitat. There’s also elephant, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, hippo, crocodile, jackal, all manner of gazelle, spotted hyena… It all adds up to something of a safari smorgasbord, with the very real possibility that you could, on a good day, see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) on a safari drive before breakfast. It’s why you’d need a very good reason not to pencil in the Masai Mara on your itinerary when planning your Kenya tour.”
› More about the Wildlife of the Masai Mara 4How long is the drive to the park?
“Some safari companies, lodges and tented camps will try to tell you that you can drive from Nairobi to the Masai Mara in just three hours, but I’ve never managed it in much less than five. The last stretch of road from Narok to the gates of the Masai Mara is unpaved and, despite constant promises that things will improve, access remains slow. Remember also that your lodge may lie deep within the reserve, adding extra driving time to the journey. It is also possible to drive via Nakuru, visiting Lake Nakuru National Park on the way, but the journey will generally take longer to get to the reserve proper, although it is a shorter journey if you’re traveling to the Mara North Conservancy. It is, of course, possible to fly into one of the Masai Mara’s airstrips from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport and avoid the road journey altogether.”
5What condition are the roads in within the Masai Mara?
“Considering the traffic of 4WD vehicles and safari minivans that crisscross the Masai Mara every year, the Mara’s safari tracks are usually in remarkably good condition. A 4WD is preferable, but if you stick to the tracks, which you really should, then you can easily get around without too much trouble except after rains. The short rains occur in October and November and rarely cause more than a few puddles that are easy to avoid. Rainfall and muddy roads are more of an issue in March, April and, to a lesser extent, May. All of that said, I visited once in April and enjoyed fine weather, quiet trails and excellent track surfaces. It all depends on the year.”
6What are the best vehicles to have on a safari?
“A 4WD vehicle is always best, and it should usually be one with a reasonably high clearance. It’s even better if it has open sides (which most mid-range and top-end lodges and safari operators use) or a pop-up roof. Even so, the workhorse of many a Kenyan safari is the white minivan that has a pop-up roof – you stand on the seats and can see in all directions, which is ideal for taking photos. Most of these minivans are 2WD vehicles and most have little difficulty in negotiating all but the more rugged Masai Mara trails; however, if you’re the one driving, remember that local drivers are experienced in these conditions and you’ll need to be cautious if driving a 2WD vehicle here, especially in the beginning.”
7What lodges or camps would you recommend?
“There are too many to choose from! When selecting where to stay on Masai Mara tours, remember that the Masai Mara is vast and, if time permits, it may well be worth planning to sleep in a couple of locations in the reserve itself to enable you to enjoy different sectors of the park, plus a couple of the private conservancies. The latter are especially good if you’d like to experience all that Masai Mara safari packages have to offer – stirring scenery, abundant wildlife, Maasai culture – without the crowds. In Mara North, I enjoyed Saruni Mara, while over in Naboisho Conservancy I loved Asilia Naboisho Camp and Kicheche Valley Camp. And in Olderikesi Conservancy, Cottar’s 1920s Camp is a Mara classic.”
8Masai Mara Safari Reviews

Stuart is a travel writer and author of numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.
East Africa at its Exotic Best
Nowhere else sums up the East African dream like the Masai Mara. Always the best place in Kenya to see huge herds of grazers and a seemingly endless procession of carnivores big and small the Masai Mara is the one place in East Africa I...

Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.
Big Cat Diaries made flesh
The Masai Mara is where the BBC’s Big Cat Diaries were filmed, and unsurprisingly it ranks as one of the finest reserves anywhere in Africa for big cat sightings. Above all, I associate it with lions: I’ve often encountered four or five...

Undoubtedly the best and must-visit place to be to see all types of wildlife at close quarters. Visiting Masai Village is a must. The price paid to visit the village is utilized for the village itself.

We had some great sightings in Masai Mara - 12 lion, cheetah, leopard as well as lots of birds. We visited in February and were glad that there were not hoards of tourists. Highly recommend a visit.

We saw the famed Big Six of Africa, but also, a family of ducks, a hippo alone in a water hole, a leopard trotting across grassland, the famed Mara River with its crocs and hippos and the landscape takes your breath away. We didn't expect...

Masai Mara is a superb safari destination. It's large expanses are home to plenty of wildlife. Driving through it is definitely back-country, with mostly off road trails. There are very few improved "roads" in the reserve, so it has a...