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Maasai Mara Safari Guide: Best Time to Visit, Park Fees and Accommodation

Everything you need to plan a Maasai Mara safari — when to go, what the reserve fees are, where to stay and how to get there.

By YARDI Editorial· · 3 min read
Maasai Mara National Park

The Maasai Mara is Kenya's most famous wildlife destination — 1,510 square kilometres of rolling savannah in Narok County, contiguous with Tanzania's Serengeti. This guide covers the practical decisions.

Best time to visit

  • July to October: the wildebeest migration. Over a million wildebeest and zebra cross from the Serengeti, and the Mara River crossings are the spectacle everyone comes for. Book months ahead; prices peak.
  • January to March: hot, dry, excellent big-cat viewing with far fewer vehicles.
  • April to June: the long rains. Some camps close, roads get difficult, but rates drop sharply and the reserve is lush and empty.

Reserve fees

The Mara is managed by Narok County, not KWS, and fees were revised upwards in 2024. Non-resident adults pay in the region of USD 100 per day in the low season and around USD 200 in peak season; Kenyan citizens and residents pay much lower rates with ID. Fees are per 24 hours (or per entry, depending on the gate arrangement) and are usually paid at the gate or through your camp. Always confirm current fees before travel — they have changed several times recently.

Where to stay

  • Inside the reserve: lodges and camps near the Talek, Sekenani and Musiara areas put you closest to the action. Mid-range tented camps typically run KSh 20,000–45,000 per person per night full board; luxury camps far more.
  • Mara conservancies (Naboisho, Olare Motorogi, Mara North and others): private land adjoining the reserve with strict vehicle limits, night drives and walking safaris. Pricier, but the experience is quieter and more exclusive.
  • Budget: campsites and simple camps around Talek and Sekenani gates from a few thousand shillings per person. Our camping guide has more on camping generally.

Getting there

  • By road: about 5–6 hours from Nairobi (270 km) via Narok. The last stretch to Sekenani/Talek is rough — a 4x4 is strongly recommended, and essential in the rains.
  • By air: daily scheduled flights from Wilson Airport to several Mara airstrips take about 45–60 minutes. Expect roughly KSh 25,000–45,000 return depending on season and airline.

Practical tips

  1. Carry your national ID or passport for citizen/resident rates.
  2. A 4x4 with a pop-up roof makes game drives far more comfortable.
  3. Gate receipts are checked on exit — keep yours.
  4. The migration is never guaranteed on a specific day; allow at least two to three nights in season.
  5. Budget the full picture with our Kenya safari cost breakdown.

Related articles

  • #wildebeest migration
  • #safari
  • #maasai mara