Masai Mara Holiday Packages: How to Choose the Right One
The Masai Mara is Kenya's best-known safari destination, and with so many packages on offer it can be hard to decide which one fits you. The right choice depends on how long you have, what you want to see and how you like to travel. Use this guide to compare options sensibly.
Decide how long to stay
- Two to three days. Enough for several game drives and a taste of the Mara, especially if you fly.
- Four to five days. The sweet spot for most visitors, with time for dawn and dusk drives and a cultural visit.
- A week or more. Ideal for combining the Mara with other parks or the coast.
Road or air
A road transfer from Nairobi takes around five to six hours and costs less, and it lets you see the countryside along the way. A flight to a Mara airstrip is much quicker, which is valuable on short trips, but it adds to the cost and limits luggage space.
Choose your accommodation style
- Budget camps. Simple tents or rooms and a shared vehicle.
- Mid-range lodges. Comfort, good food and flexible game drives.
- Luxury camps. Spacious tents, private guides and often conservancy access.
The migration
From roughly July to October, huge herds of wildebeest and zebra move through the Mara and cross the Mara River. It is a spectacle, and also the most popular and expensive time to visit. If you can travel at another time, you will still see lions, elephants, giraffe and cheetah on the plains, with fewer vehicles at each sighting.
What to check before you book
- Are park fees included?
- How many guests share one vehicle?
- Are meals and drinking water included?
- Is the guide a qualified driver guide?
- What is the cancellation and change policy?
Add-ons worth considering
A sunrise hot air balloon flight, a Maasai village visit and a guided bush walk in a conservancy can turn a good trip into a great one. Tell us what you would like, and we will build a package around it.
Ready to plan it? Browse our safari packages or talk to a consultant and we will shape a trip around your dates and budget.
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
