Top 13 Travel Tips for a Masai Mara

Top 13 Travel Tips for a Masai Mara Budget Safari in Kenya | Blog | Sojourn Safaris Ltd| Travel Tips

Get Best Masai Mara travel tips before your go. The Masai Mara budget lodge safari packages are offered in the vast Maasai mara game reserve located some 240km southwest of Nairobi in Kenya. Immerse yourself in an intriguing adventure through the most densely populated masai mara game reserve with all sorts of wildlife. The mara is famous for the large numbers of the big five, the ugly five animals and the millions of grazers and apex predators. Nothing prepares you for the thrill of the few days you will have in the mara in terms of viewing animals and seeing the local cultures and friendly guides. The drive to Masai mara by road from Nairobi takes anywhere between 5 to 6 hours but the roads are all tarmacked. Here are 13 things to know before going on a Masai mara budget safari.

Masai Mara, the Top Wildlife Cauldron of the World- Your Budget Safari Climax
Masai Mara the Most Popular Natural Game Viewing Amphitheatre of the World on a Budget
Places to Stay in Masai Mara on budget Shared Package
The Masai People of the Mara – Make a Budget tour to a Masai Village in the Mara
Bird Watching in Masai Mara on Budget or Lodge Safari
What to Wear for Masai Mara
Bugs and Insects in Masai Mara
How Much Is The Tip To Give to Driver Guides in Masai Mara Safari
Where To Change Money To Local Currency
Local Currency To Carry Around For Expenses On Mara Safari
Yellow Fever, Covid 19 and Malaria Prevention on Safari
Visa Application for a Safari to Masai Mara Kenya
Transport

1. Masai Mara, the Top Wildlife Cauldron of the World- Your Budget Safari Climax

The mara is known for its great abundance in wildlife. It is estimated that there are more than 5 million animals in this 1510sqkm area of land. In comparison to the Serengeti, which is 13 times bigger, the Masai mara has way higher density of wildlife per square mile. This means that you are surrounded by wildlife in every direction you look, literary. Staying in a budget tented safari camp in mara means, that wildlife get to roam freely in your camp and you sometime may see a rhino right outside your tent.

The grazers including the elephants, zebras, antelopes, gazelles and buffalos form the vast majority of wildlife in the mara. Their vast numbers ensure that they can support a larger population of big cat predators like lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and jackals. Nowhere in Africa will you see more than 4 prides of lions in a single day other than the mara. The prides are sometimes so large that they have over 20 individuals. The leopards are easier to see and the rhinos though rare are relatively easier to spot with some little effort. An affordable budget safari in Masai mara might present to you over 25 lions and a couple of leopards.

You are more likely to see a lion chase or a cheetah run in Masai mara than you are in the Serengeti, its next-door neighbor in Tanzania. The fact that so many animals are located in a smaller area earns that your game drives are rich in wildlife. In the mara, you will see the big five animals (lion, buffalo, leopard, elephant, rhino) in a single day, guaranteed. The ugly five are also common including the wildebeest, common warthog, spotted hyena, marabou stork and the vulture. You would be so unlucky to end a 3 day Masai mara budget safari without see in the big five animals and others like giraffes, zebras, Thompson gazelles, hippos, hyenas, jackals, topis, waterbucks, grants gazelles, elands, crocodiles, aardvark and many more.

As if that was not enough, add into that mix, the great wildebeest migration where more than 1.5 Million animals move in and out of Tanzania and Kenya in a circular exodus 300 mile loop. This event happens between July and October in Kenya. The migration consists of 1.1million wildebeests forming the majority in the group. They are followed closely by the zebras which number around 250,000 and the rest are gazelles. The great wildebeest migration route is cyclic in a clockwise direction. The wildebeests start the migration starts from Ngorongoro plains shortly after the February breeding season. During the 1-month breeding season, over 250,000 calves are born. These calves are born to run and within an hour can outrun a leopard. The calves have a brown coat as compared to the mother’s grey and black coat. This makes them distinct and very colourful among the green plains of Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Unfortunately, it also attracts the largest party of predators from lions, cheetahs, leopards to hyenas. It is a feeding frenzy before the animals can out run them and head north for the migration. Such wanton killing of young ones might look calamitous, but it is also natures way to keep a balance on the populations of these nature’s lawn mowers of the plains.

The herds move into the Seronera area of Serengeti as they move northeastwards towards Masai mara. By July, they are entering the mara where they will feed and move around for 3-4 months before the large herds return back home to Serengeti.

Any river they cross presents an opportunity to the big cats on the opposite riverbank. They, the predators will sit for days in a welcoming committee waiting for the beasts to cross. The Mara river crossing is your ultimate safari experience when thousands of the wary wildebeests literally pour into the overflowing river with a lot of drama.

On your second day of a 3-day Masai mara budget migration safari, the driver will take you to the mara river crossing to join part of the predators welcoming committee. Here, drama at high noon unfolds right in front of your eyes as thousands of wildebeests push and jostle for the river frontage. For hours, they will bleat neee neee neeh neeh but none will want to take the first jump. Down, below the sharp embankment is a raging flooded Mara river, in the water several small rock islands seem to float in the raging river. But Alas! These are no islands but 18feet long Nile crocodiles ready to snap their jaws on any unlucky soul. Such are the stakes of crossing the mara river that the wildebeests will stand their ground for hours before unwillingly making the jump.

New arrivals at the rear of the herd keep building the pressure on the now almost solid block of grey wildebeest and zebra brawn. They jostle and wriggle at the riverbank until the pressure on the front-runners is too much to bear. It only takes one mad individual to make the leap of faith into the water and the wall of wildebeest bodies is jumping, falling and tripping into the water like a breached dam wall. In their attempt to distract the crocodiles, they will jump 10 feet high into the air to land into the water with a great splash, sometimes on the backs of their friends who then suffer broken limbs and spines….it’s a carnage.

The mara river wildebeest-crossing stampede causes such a melee that the splash on the water is heard from the opposite bank. Thousands and thousands pour into the water and swim as fast as possible to the opposite bank. Crocodiles start to drift along the edges of the swimming wildebeest and zebra’s profile. Some are grabbed and drowned but most make their way across only to be met by the welcoming committee of lions and leopards on the opposite bank. It sure does not pay to be the first arrivals in a wildebeest migration. Many die here but even more survive to come back a year later, sure that their survival on the next exodus will be guaranteed by their sheer numbers…..until it’s your turn to take one for the team…and its curtains! Do not miss the mara river crossing when you go for a 3 days Masai mara shared budget safari whether in a group or solo.

2. Masai Mara the Most Popular Natural Game Viewing Amphitheatre of the World on a Budget

Your Masai mara private or shared budget safari package will take you to the most scenic and even plains ideal for game viewing. The mara is blessed with thousands of kilometers of undulating and unending plains fraught with millions of all types of wildlife. In what resembles the wheat fields of Ukraine, the Masai mara plains extend to the horizon in some light yellow and brown hues. There is little tree cover in most areas of the Masai mara game drive plains which means your game viewing drives are not interrupted by forests.

The gentle and expansive plains of Masai mara are at midday interspersed with the dark shadows of the small clouds. The shadows cast on these yellow plains resemble a leopard’s rosette coat and creates one of the most symbolic artistry of nature. It’s like the plains are declaring to the world what they are known for- wildlife viewing. Absolutely amazing.

From the early azure of the morning sunrise to the midday shadows on the plains and finally the sinking golden sunrays over the horizon at sunset; the Mara’s drama unfolds like a Chinese face fan. The Masai mara plains, wildlife, the sun and clouds act like a punctual cast in a natural theatric performance that unfolds right in front of your eyes daily. The lumbering dark silhouettes of wildebeests, giraffes and elephants against the downing sun at sunset presents you with the final act of this Masai mara daily theatre concert.

But you have to know how to appreciate the big and little things and happenings in the mara to enjoy a wholesome experience. Let your guide while on an affordable Masai mara private lodge safari package; show you the little insects, the fauna, let him explain the inter-play between the weather, the animals and the Masai people that make the mara ecosystem.

Your best bet to experience the best of the Masai mara plains is to do it in the air, and not in a noisy enclosed aircraft. You need to take a hot air balloon flight at dawn to really enjoy the silence, beauty and expanse of the mara plains. Masai mara group balloon safari rides start at 5.00am with a pick up from your lodge to the airstrip. The basket takes 12 pax and you are in the air just before sunrise. Feel the fresh, cool and crispy early morning air in the open hot air balloon. The only noise is the occasional blast of hot gasses and flame into the colourful balloon over your heads.

Every day, the sun reveals some stunning scenic and golden hue raising the curtain to the daily Masai mara concert. One by one you start to see the wildlife below including the majestic giraffes, the multitudes of wildebeests and the cacophony of gazelles. Startled by the silently moving shadow of your balloon, the animals break into a short run and stop to gaze up nonchalantly. Soon you see the whole expanse of the ground below, the millions of animals are now clearly visible as they lazily wake up to their daily routines.

This 1-hour balloon ride is your climax for a Masai mara game viewing experience. On descent, the team has a bush champagne breakfast to warm your insides. The breakfast leaves nothing to your imagination as you get to experience a 3-course meal in the bush. A glass of champagne to celebrate your experience is offered on landing. Later the team takes to an hour of game drive enroute back to your lodge for the rest of the day’s game viewing activities. A hot air balloon ride allows you to see the full expanse of the wildebeest migration herds and the lion prides. You also get a certificate of participation upon landing. It is highly recommended in your Masai mara affordable family lodge safari package or a senior citizen hot air balloon safari. A lot of American family safaris prefer to take the hot air balloon ride safari at the end of their stay in mara.

3. Places to Stay in Masai Mara on budget Shared Package

The mara has many accommodation options that you can choose from depending on your budget. One thing we agree on is that there is no need to break your bank trying to watch the big five animals. Moreover, the Masai mara safari planner has an option for all kinds of budgets from the high end $1,500 a night luxury camps to the budget tented camps for $40 a night and the basic ground camping options. In between these are hundreds of comfortable lodges.

You can contact a Kenyan Masai mara family safari planner in Nairobi directly and they will advice you on which accommodation options are suitable for you. The vast majority of people visiting the Masai mara usually stay in the budget tented camps, which are comfortable but utilitarian. All of these budget tented camps and camping grounds in Masai mara are located right outside the park boundary. There is no fence however and wildlife are free to move in and out of the reserve. Moreover, all game drives are done inside the Masai mara game reserve even for camp guests located outside the park.

The greatest advantage of using a Masai mara budget shared camp is that you get to share the vehicle and tents with total strangers. Meeting new people and making friends is part of these packages and the only sacrifice you make to enjoy a mara safari on a shoestring budget. The tented camps include a general tent equipped with a comfortable bed and clean beddings, you have a hot water shower area and a private WC toilet at the back of the tent. The furniture is basic safari seats and table and you have a balcony to yourself. All of these camps offer simple but fresh buffet meals at their common restaurant and have a bar that stocks the common spirits and beers in Kenya. An example of popular budget tented camps include Mara Sidai budget camp, Mara Manyatta camp, Enkorok Mara camp, Miti Mingi tourist camp, Mara Hippo camp, Rhino Camp, Talek river camp, Lenchada tourist camp, Wajee camp, Acacia camp, Flamingo camp, Simba and Oryx camp, Jambo safari camp among others.

Following the budget tented camps are the safari lodges in Masai mara. Most of the luxury family safari lodges in the park are located right inside the Masai mara game reserve. These lodges tend to be sighted in very scenic areas of either deep acacia forest, high on a cliff with a view or around the mara river bends and curves. These Masai mara safari lodges offer the most comfortable and homely stay for an affordable Masai mara family vacation with young children as they have large grounds. These family friendly mara lodges also feature family rooms with interconnecting doors and dinning and seating rooms. They also offer the most secure family safari lodge environment in Kenyan parks. The children friendly Masai mara family lodges also offer nanny services and animators that will keep your kids occupied at the lodge.

Masai mara family lodges also come with business centers, a health spa and sports bars to cater for Dads and Moms that want to be pampered while on an African safari in Kenya. For the senior citizens, a lot of these lodges have provided for ramps in place of stairs in all common areas as well as support bars in washrooms and wet areas. Most of these lodges also provide free Wi-Fi for you to be able to upload your safari pictures in the evenings. You also get camera and phone charging power sockets on the walls in your room to make sure you never run out of power while on a game drive. The food in these mara safari lodges is A+ with most meals being a buffet catering for all dietary regimens including Vegetarians.

These Masai mara wildlife lodges have an average of between 50 to 100 rooms and this means they are very large and can be crowded at peak seasons. The cost of staying in these lodges ranges from $170 a night to $ 350 per night per person. An example of some of the best family and children friendly lodges in Masai Mara include Mara Serena game lodge, Sarova Mara Game camp, Mara Sopa Lodge, Mara Simba Lodge, Keekorok Mara lodge, Ashnil Mara Camp among others.

The most expensive and luxurious accommodation in Masai mara are the high-end exclusive camps. These are few and located in remote areas within the Masai mara game reserve. These are small camps that offer exclusivity and luxury with the largest of them having only 10-12 units. The idea here is to offer the best luxury to a very few couples or individuals who can dine and wine on a single dining table hosted by the resident managing couple. The tents are located great distances from each other to offer privacy.

The furnishing f these tents is high end with rustic beds and architecture reminiscent of the colonial hunting expedition’s luxuries of the early 20^th century. You will have open showers or open-air bath tubs with a view to a river and the tents are mostly completely open on the front end. When resting in your tent, you feel like you are in the Masai mara entirely alone. They want you to feel like you are all alone, left to enjoy the Masai mara wildlife, nature and views all by yourself but pampered with extreme luxurious furniture, linen, furnishing and ambience. Some even offer you a personal plunge pool or a Jacuzzi right outside your tent frontage. The price you pay for a night in these high-end luxury camps starts from $700 to over $1800 a night. Most of the safaris organized to these high –end luxury camps in Masai mara are mostly 3, 4,5,6,7 day air safaris by scheduled flights or charter.

An example of top end luxury tented camps in Masai mara Kenya include Governors camp, Mahari pazuri, Ollare Kempinski camp, Batelluer camp, Cottars camp 1920 among others.

4. The Masai People of the Mara – Make a Budget Tour to a Masai Village in the Mara

You cannot mention Masai mara safari without mentioning the people that have safe guarded this ecosystem for ages. These are the people that have lived side by side with this wildlife and conserved them for us to enjoy. The Masai people are nomadic pastoralists that depend on cattle for their livelihood. It is the predominant community that surrounds the Masai mara game reserve as well as the Serengeti national park in Tanzania.

Masai people have retained their traditions for ages and they still wear the red colored shawls around their body. They have mastered the art of living in the wilderness and among the most dangerous wildlife peacefully. Traditionally, a Masai warrior was inducted to the adulthood through an initiation ceremony that involved killing of a male lion. Although such practices no longer exist, it does show how brave and War some these community has been over the years. The Masai warriors were among the most feared among old Africa communities. They have retained most of the less injurious traditions, which they still practice to date and are more than happy to share with you in your next visit.

Masai community own and occupy the vast lands that surround Masai mara game reserve. Infact, the land owned by the Masai is many times larger than the actual area of the Mara reserve. Since there are no fences separating the mara and the community lands, the wildlife are free to roam in and out of the park. The Masai lands therefore become dispersal areas for the animals especially in drought seasons. This means that the Masai literally live inside a wildlife area; and that calls for grit.

The community has built settlements called Manyattas and that dot the landscape in their characteristic rounded shapes. The village will usually be fenced with thorny branches of the acacia trees to keep away the lions and other animals at night. Their houses form a circle within the thorny fence and in the middle of the houses is the livestock kraal, which is also surrounded by a thorny fence.

These Masai villages in the mara are open to visitation by tourists that come for game viewing in the park. For a small fee, visitors can come to the villages and learn the traditional Masai culture and traditions. First, to welcome you are Women with their dances and white smiles. The men will show you to do the Ajuma dance, which is some kind of levitational hops, which seem to defy gravity. This jump dance of the Masai and their heavy bass singing is the hallmark of all activities in the village.

They will also teach you how to throw a traditional spear at a target and make fire using just two stick and some dry elephant dung. In some villages, you can even go for a walking safari among the wildlife, although this is offered strictly outside of the park boundaries. Later, you may buy some souvenirs from their village Masai market for some African jewelry, beadwork, carvings and footwear. The mood is merry and fun as you dance and get to learn how they all live among the game with a big smile and warm hearts.

5. Bird Watching in Masai Mara on Budget or Lodge Safari

The mara is home to more than 400 species of birds and has some wetlands, which form Important Bird Areas. Many birders also visit the park for bird watching as opposed to game viewing. The Masai mara game reserve has 3 main habitats that support different types of birds namely the savannah grasslands, the forest areas and the wetland swamps. Each of these areas supports different types of birds with the bigger birds of prey occupying the savannah grasslands.

The fish, frogs and water organisms eating birds are mostly found wading in the swamps or resting up on trees near the wetlands. The African fish eagle is one such bird that waits patiently with its acute vision trained on the water below. On seeing a fish or snake in the water, it will swoop down at tremendous speed and wing control to grab the it off the water and perch on a tree branch for its meal. The herons and hadada and sacred ibises florick the edges of the swamps looking for the frogs and other water insects.

The tawny eagles are large and scout he savannah in search of antelope fawn, hares, snakes and rats to grab. The secretary bird and kori bustards simply walk the plains in their majestic gait looking for snakes to kill and eat…what a diet.

The-bustard-of-mara

In the air making circular motions are the vultures that will circle a carcass and drop to the ground to wait their turn to finish off the remains. The vultures are very patient and will wait on the bit cats and hyenas to finish the meat on bone and they come in in their hundreds to clean off the scene with their sharp curved beaks.

The large ostriches can be seen walking the plains and some with their chicks in tow. They are wonderful to watch and are in plenty throughout the grasslands. The African crested cranes are always in pairs near wetlands as they florick with the bright colors. If you are luck you may form, the audience of a male crested crane doing the dance of his lifetime to woo a female…it doesn’t always end well for the dancer.

Sometimes you will get a blacksmith plover having nested in the middle of the road near a swamp. He makes a lot of noise as you approach as if to alert you that she has her nest right on the road. It will be up to you to respect her right of way and veer off the road to avoid damaging her next.

A small kingfisher is perched on a thorn tree near the swamp with a fish twice its length inside its mouth. You are sure that if it swallows the fish head first, the head is going to come out its rear end before the fish’s tail gets into its mouth…but nature is magical and now you see the fish and next minute you don’t!!!

If you take your time and spend a full day watching birds in Masai mara, you will be amazed at how much you can learn in these plains. You will be astounded at how much you have missed by not giving time to watch the birds and their concert.

As if you haven’t seen enough of birds, you round a corner and you meet this old buffalo male. Nothing is unusual with him as he trots lazily across the plains. All but the fact that there is an ox-pecker bird that is busy building its nest using wet mud, right in the middle of his horns. The buffalo has finally given her the consent to become a tenant on his horns, if that will allow him report to tick picking duty on time. Sort of like taking residency on the company grounds sort of thing. Rent free.

Such is the fun in watching birds in Masai mara in a 3 or 4-day bird watching budget safari itinerary. You will definitely get help from our resident bird guides to identify and tick off over 250 species of birds in the 2 nights birding tour in Mara.

6. What to Wear for Masai Mara Safari

Masai mara game reserve has a large di-annual temperature range. This means that the nights can be extremely cold and the day can be brutally hot. You will therefore need to be prepared either way for the cold and the heat of the day. You can pack some light t-shirts and shorts for the daytime. A straw hat or cap is advisable for the sun when you have to step out of the vehicle. East African sun has high dose of ultra violet rays, which are harmful. Long sleeves and khaki trousers might actually be advisable if you will going for a walking safari to avoid the sun and cuts from grass and sticks.

For the morning game drives carry a shawl or buy one of the Masai shukas/kikoi, they are great for covering yourself by creating a layer of warm air around your body in the dawn game drives. It can be extremely chilly. At night, the lodges provide enough warm beddings but tents can become very cold especially in the July winter in Kenya. Carry some warm fleece jacket that you can wear in the evenings and even sleep in at night. If you wish, you can carry an extra blanket just to be sure especially in the months of June-august.

Your footwear need to be flat soled with good grip for walking. Open shoes are discouraged due to injuries and snakes when you have to walk in the tall grass.

7. Bugs and Insects in Masai Mara

Masai mara is a malaria area and especially during the wet season when mosquitoes are at their breeding time. Yes…it’s the wilderness and bugs and insects are part of the package you will buy into. Most lodges and camps provide you with a mosquito net for your bed but you still need to take care to avoid bites when you are around the camp.

Nairobi supermarkets sell very good pyrethrum based insect repellant in the form of a lotion or spray. So you are able to choose between both. Wearing a short has one advantage in the mara walking safaris in that you can feel as the ticks crawl up your legs. However, at the same time, your legs are exposed to cuts from grass and sticks. A trouser on the other hand protects your legs from cuts but provide the ticks a highway to your upper body.

Let me explain, ticks when fully-grown climb to the tips of grass strands waiting for the next animal to hitch a ride and feed on. If that happens to be you with your trousers, you will be removing ticks from your balls a week after the African safari. Therefore, it’s also advisable to check your Netherlands areas every evening during your shower. Ticks love it there as its warm with lots of blood flow which is their food….suckers!! I once went for a similar walking safari and I removed ticks off my Cajones 2 weeks after the walk…and the only reason you notice they are there is when you start to feel the itch….hahahaha!!

8. How Much Is The Tip To Give to Driver Guides in Masai Mara Safari

Tips are optional and dependent on the service delivered. Having said that, the salaries that these drivers are paid are hardly enough to make ends meet. Moreover, these guys guy over and beyond their call of duty to make sure that you have the greatest time in Masai mara. So it’s only fair to say thanks in the way of a good tip.

The recommended but by no way the maximum tip is $10 – $20 per day per person. So if you are 4 in a car, you can tip anywhere from $40 -$80 every day of the safari for the entire group. However, as I mentioned, tips are discretionary but recommended.

Tips in restaurants are usually standard as anywhere else around the world where its 10% of the value of the food or drinks consumed. Unless of course one is, a celebrity or a ball player and they can try to knock the waiter/waitress unconscious with a shock of a tip….

Having said that, not all standards of service deserve a tip and the decision is entirely yours to make based on the circumstances. You can decide to carry some local cash for the tips to make your work easier.

9. Where To Change Money To Local Currency

There are foreign exchange bureaus right at the airport where you can change dollars to Kshs but the rate is afew shillings less than the ones in the CBD. Therefore, you can ask your driver to take you to a forex exchange bureau for some change before the safari. This will give you some local currency to spend for your local expenses.

The exchange rate changes frequently and sometimes drastically, you can check the current Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) exchange Rates on google. The CBK rates are however estimates of the market rates and may vary by a shilling or 2. It is also fare to mention that rates at hotels are very low and you should avoid changed large amounts of money at your hotel. Your best bet are the foreign exchange bureaus which are everywhere on the streets of Nairobi.

Alternatively, you can get to an ATM and withdrawal money in local currency to spend. This is convenient but again the exchange rates you get are bank rates and they are not known to be very friendly. Your last point where you can access an ATM before going to the Masai mara is the last major town known as Narok Town. Narok is located about 100km from Masai Mara.

10. Local Currency To Carry Around For Expenses On Mara Safari

A safari package mostly includes the major elements like park fees, accommodation, meals and transport to and flo. The meals included are the buffets and rarely are drinks covered in the cost of the tour. This means that you will need extra cash to buy drinks as well as any other souvenirs that might interest you along the way. Please note that the local traders are unable to process card payments, buy can accept both Kenya shillings and us dollars. You are at an advantage if you are buying in Kenya shillings nonetheless.

On average, you can spend anywhere between Kshs 1,000 – Kshs 3,000 if you are entertaining friends. That is about $20 a day. Of course you can use much less than this if you wish. For buying souvenirs, the amount you will need will depend on what type and quantity of items you want to buy. You could budget anywhere between usd 30 – usd 100 per day if you want to do piecemeal purchases. You could opt to buy at the end of your safari on a single location but you would lose the choice of buying cheaply from vendors in rural areas like the local Masai markets in Masai mara area.

11. Yellow Fever, Covid and Malaria Prevention on Safari

Entry to Kenya requires you to have a yellow fever injection at least 2 weeks before date of travel. Kenya is classified as a yellow fever area and you are advised to check with your doctor about vaccination jab. You will be issued with a yellow fever vaccination card, which you will present on entry.

Recommended immunizations before coming to Kenya include the below. By no means do you need all of them:

Malaria
Tetanus
Typhoid
Diptheria
Yellow fever
Cholera

Covid 19 travel restrictions have since been lifted for visitors to Kenya. You therefore do not need Covid vaccine certification prior to travel to Kenya. Precautions on safari like wearing of masks and use of hand sanitizer have also been relaxed since. However, it is best to practice hand hygiene while on safari like frequent watching of hands to avoid other surface borne ailments.

In the case of malaria, you are advised to make sure you start prophylactic or preventive treatment at least 1 week before travel. You should continue with the dosage during travel and a few days after return home. There is a dose given for preventive malaria treatment and your doctor is best suited to give you that advice. In the event that you arrive in Kenya and have not started the treatment, some pharmacists in Nairobi will help you start the right dose.

12. Visa Application for a Safari to Masai Mara Kenya

You will need a tourist visa if you are coming from a country that has not waivered visas with Kenya for their citizens. You can access the full list of which countries that do not need a visa to Kenya from the Kenya immigration website here: https://immigration.ecitizen.go.ke/index.php?id=6

Luckily, visa application can now be done online using the government’s portal at https://evisa.go.ke You will need to submit copies of your passport for the application and pay the requisite fee for a tourist visa at $51. (see: https://immigration.ecitizen.go.ke/index.php?id=7 )

Make sure to apply at least a week or more before departure to help you with your planning. Visas are processed depending on its urgency. This means that visas whose arrival dates are close will get priority. This means, that if you apply late for your visa, it will also be approved late and close to your travel date, which can cause uncertainty to your travel plans.

13. Transport

There are several airports and airstrips in the major cities and towns in Kenya including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, Isiolo. There are also tens of bush airstrips in the national parks, which serve the tourists visiting parks and staying in lodges in Masai mara, Amboseli, Samburu, Tsavo etc. Local or civil air services are extensive with scheduled and chattered services offered from major towns.

There is now a very reliable train service between Nairobi and Mombasa with the Standard Gauge Railway or SGR. The SGR Mombasa train takes 4 hours from Nairobi to Mombasa and is quite prompt. The western end of the railway line to Kisumu and Kampala in Uganda is still work in progress and is frequently ceased until an SGR line is built. Train travel to Mombasa through the SGR is however a lot of fun. Most of the locals use the cheaper economy class for $8 while tourists usually use the first class for $26 a ticket.

The public road transport is by means of privately owned taxis, minibuses and buses that ply the city routes as well as upcountry areas of Kenya. All routes of Kenya are well covered and these taxis can take you to any end of the country. However, make sure to negotiate the prices before boarding the vehicle as prices can be jerked at any time the conductor feels like it.

Get more details on how to book a 3 days Masai mara safari package on whatsapp +254 722 661 827 or email us on info@sojournsafaris.co.ke

admin Blog 3 days camping safari, 3 days masai mara joining safari, 3-day masai mara safari, Adventure & Outdoor, masai mara, masai mara safari, Wildebeest Migration

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Masai Mara 3 Days Joining Safari Package

Joining Masai Mara 3 days camping safaris are three day and 2 nights in Mara reserve from Nairobi. It is the most optimal time to see all the wildlife in the Mara. You will join a group of six other guests and share the game drive vehicle as well as the twin bed tents at the camp. If you do not mind sharing a tent with a friend, then the Mara joining tours are what you need to save money.

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3 Days Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, Tsavo & Mt Kenya Joining Budget Safari | Camping Package

Fun-filled 3 days budget camping safari to Kenya’s Mara, amboseli, Samburu, tsavo and mt kenya parks. This 3-days safari includes hiking, game viewing, birdwatching, sightseeing, nature walks, camping and walking safaris…

Explore 3-Day Safari in Kenyan Parks. Kenya offers you exciting 3-day safaris in big five wildlife national parks and game reserves around the country. Some three-day joining safari in Kenya packages that you can including Masai Mara 3 day group joining safari, 3 days Amboseli lodge and camping safari, Samburu 3 days camping safari, Tsavo national park 3 day tour and Aberdare and Mt Kenya three day hiking safaris.

Going for a 3-day safari in Kenya, you need to consider these budget safari options:

3 Day Masai mara game reserve safari
3-Days Amboseli national park safari
3 Days Samburu Game reserve safari
3 Days Tsavo East and west national park safari
3 Days Mt Kenya hiking safari

Here are the most popular 3-day joining budget safaris you can take in Kenya at a budget or in luxury game lodges in some of the most visited national parks for big five wildlife viewing.

1. Visit 3 Days Masai Mara Safari for the Big Five and Migration

If you are looking for the most popular wildlife park in Kenya, then Masai mara is at the very top of game areas. The best time or duration to go to Masai mara is 3 days, you will have at least 1 full day game drive on the second day there. The Masai Mara is the top 3 day safari in Kenya. A short 3-day Masai mara itinerary for you to consider is as below:

Day 1: Nairobi – Masai Mara

Your driver will pick you up from your Nairobi hotel for the 3-day safari to mara. We will drive north westwards through kikuyu highlands, drop into the great rift valley with a 30 minute stop over for the views into the valley.

We arrive in Masai mara in time for check in at our lodge or camp and lunch. After some relaxation in the lodge, we will go on a 2hr game drive in the park at 1600hrs until dusk. This is the best time to see the big five as they step out in the cooler evening weather.

Your driver will drive you back to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Masai Mara Full Day

This is our day to explore all of Masai mara game reserve to see all the animals here. Your second day is a full day game drive with packed lunch. We will drive around the park after a buffet breakfast. We have a target of tracking the great wildebeest migration across the plains and at least see a mara river crossing stampede.

After that we will cross the plains looking for the big five animals including lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and buffalos. After a picnic lunch, we have an option of going to visit a Masai village outside the park or to continue with our game drive inside Masai mara game reserve.

In the evening, our game drive driver will driver us back to our lodge or camp for dinner and overnight. You can always spend some time at the campfire sharing stories with new friends.

Day 3: Masai Mara – Nairobi

This is our last day in the Masai mara and we will start early with some bitings and a hot cup of coffee at 0600hrs. We will drive out into the park for a last minute game drive in this morning. We will be looking out for the rare animals we may not have seen earlier. Look out for the leopards, rhinos and wild dogs.

We will drive back to lodge at 0800hrs for a full breakfast and later check out of the lodge or camp by 1000hrs. Our driver will drive us back to Nairobi with an en route lunch at Mai Mahiu or Narok town.

Our 3-day Masai mara safari ends with a drop off in Nairobi at 1600hrs or earlier if you have early flights out of Nairobi.

End of 3 Day Masai mara game reserve safari. You can combine this 3 day camping safari in Kenya with other destinations if you have more days in the country.

2. Explore Amboseli National Park 3 Days Safari in Kenya South

2. 3- Days Amboseli National Park Safari

Your second most popular national park for a 3- day safari in Kenya is the Amboseli 2 – night safari. Amboseli is the 3^rd most popular national park in Kenya in terms of visitation numbers per year. The biggest attractions that will see you going to Amboseli include the Mt Kilimanjaro and the over 1500 wild African elephants found here. 3 Days amboseli national park safari is a great way to also see the masai tribe.

Day 1: Nairobi – Amboseli

Your driver will pick you up from your hotel in Nairobi at 0800hrs for the drive south westwards to Amboseli national park. We will drive along the Mombasa highway A109 up to Emali with some nice views of wildlife along the way. We turn right at Emali town into oloitoktok road and drive to Erimito gate arriving at your Amboseli lodge by 1200hrs.

After some buffet lunch in our lodge or camp, we will have a siesta until 1600hrs. This is when we will go for our first game drive to see the Mt Kilimanjaro and the hundreds of elephants. There are hundreds of other animals that we will see in our game drive including buffalos, lions, hippos, giraffes, hyenas, baboons, zebras, cheetahs, leopards, gazelles, wildebeests, impalas among others.

We will drive back to our Amboseli lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Amboseli

This is our full day game drive in Amboseli national park. We will start at 0800hrs after a full buffet breakfast at our lodge. Drive into the park for your full day game drive seeing the elephants, lions, and buffalos in the park. Make sure to take a lot of pictures of animals with the Mt Kilimanjaro as your background.

We will go for a picnic lunch at the observation hill and have an elevated view of the whole park from this small hill. You still have an option of going back to your lodge for a buffet lunch which splits your game drive into two instead of the full day option.

You will drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight with some of the best vies of the Kilimanjaro right in the evening from 5.00pm to dusk.

Day 3: Amboseli – Nairobi

The third day is our last day in Amboseli national park safari. We will go for an early game drive in the park on this day before breakfast to try and see the rare animals including leopards and wild dogs. You will be sure to take some of the best pictures this morning.

After the morning game drive, we will drive back to the Amboseli lodge for full breakfast and depart at 1000hrs for Nairobi.

Exit the park with an en route game drive and drive to Nairobi arriving at 1330hrs.

Go for a lunch at the carnivore restaurant before you are dropped off at your Nairobi hotel.

The Amboseli three day tour is probably the second most popular 3 day safari in kenya.

End of 3-day Amboseli national park safari.

3. Discover 3 Days Samburu National Reserve Safari in Northern Kenya

3. 3-Day Samburu National Reserve Safari

Discover the drier wilderness of the Samburu in this 3-day Samburu national reserve safari in some of the most picturesque rangelands in Kenya. Samburu is known as the land of contrasts from the blue mountain ranges to the semiarid grassland and from the yellow dry grass to the ever green riverine forest along river Ewaso Ngiro.

See the wildlife in Samburu which is different from their cousins in the south of the equator. Watch the elephants come to drink water besides your vehicle as you park along the beaches of river Ewaso Ngiro. Don’t forget to take in the picture perfect natural rock sculpturing on the banks of this river as you sip in some wine on one of the river beach sundowner dinners.

Day 1: Nairobi – Samburu

Our drive starts from Nairobi at 0800hrs driving northwards through central Kenya highlands and past Karatina town. You will see Mt Kenya on the right side as you drive towards to Nanyuki. We will have a short stop over at the equator to experience the collioris force demonstration on either side of the northern and southern hemisphere.

We will drop down into the semi-arid northern Kenya arriving at Samburu, Ashnil, Sopa or Serena lodge. Check into your lodge, shower and enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch with majestic views from the restaurant. The sun is hot but an afternoon breeze sooths your senses as you watch the vast landscape from your restaurant wide open windows.

A 1600hrs game drive around the now cooler park will reveal hundreds of animals including lions, elephants, giraffes, leopards, hyenas, gerenuks, Oryx, gravy zebra and the blue necked Somali ostrich. Most of the animals here will amaze you with their different morphologies to their cousins in the south of the equator.

Our driver will drive us back to our lodge for a hot dinner and overnight accommodation at any of the Samburu lodges.

Day 2: Samburu

We will spend the whole day exploring the Samburu game reserve and have some interesting game viewing at the Ewaso Ngiro River. There are hundreds of interesting places and animals to see in Samburu and the river is one of the greatest attractions here. Buffalo springs game reserve next door is full of natural springs that emanate from the white limestone ground.

You can have the option for a picnic lunch or return to the lodge for lunch and siesta depending on how zealous you are to watch the game. We return back to the lodge for our dinner and overnight accommodation after a rewarding game drive in Samburu game reserve.

Day 3: Samburu – Nairobi

We start with an early wake up at 0600hrs followed by some hot coffee and biscuits. Thereafter our driver will drive us to an early game drive to try and catch the elusive animals that we may have missed. Look out for the hyenas, the crocodiles and the wild dogs. A sighting of a leopard in the early morning sun is always a welcome surprise.

You will return to the lodge at 0800hrs for a proper breakfast and thereafter departure at 1000hrs for Nairobi.

We will arrive in Nairobi at 1300hrs for a lunch at the Blue Springs hotel in Thika. Our drop off in Nairobi hotel after the Samburu national reserve 3-day safari is at 1500hrs.

3 day Samburu private safari is the most unique short 2 night safari from Nairobi.

End of 3 days Samburu game reserve safari.

4. Travel to a 3 Day Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Park Safari

4. 3- Days Tsavo East West National Park Safari

Tsavo east and west national park are the largest wildlife areas in Kenya. The parks are located mid-way between Nairobi and Mombasa and you can therefore start this 3-day safari from either of these towns. Known for their notoriously aggressive and testosterone pumped lions, Tsavo is also a gem in contrasting landscape and mighty rivers. The Tsavo as they are endearingly referred to, are rich in wildlife and different landscapes to view including mountain ranges, natural springs, volcanic lava flows, plateaus, huge rivers and dams. This is the most popular 3 day safari from Mombasa to Tsavo East and West national park.

Day 1: Mombasa/ Nairobi – Tsavo East

Your driver will pick you from your Nairobi or Mombasa hotel for the drive to the Tsavo east national park. Arrive in time for a sumptuous buffet lunch and great views of the wildlife at the Voi safari lodge. There are hundreds of elephants to see at the watering hole right outside your lodge. The park has red soil and the elephants have a red tinge as well.

Relax for the afternoon with a siesta until 1600 hours in time for an evening game drive. Drive to Aruba dam to see the hundreds of animals here. There are lots of animals you will see here like the lions, elephants, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, buffalos, giraffes, zebras and many others to see here. Your driver will drive you back to the lodge for dinner and overnight after the tour.

Day 2: Tsavo East – Tsavo West National Park

Wake up to the singing of birds and watch have some bitings and hot coffee. We will drive for our last game drive here to try and look out for the animals we may have missed so far. Look out for the elusive leopards, wild dogs and the rhinos.

You will drive back to your lodge for a proper breakfast and check out at 10:00am. Drive out of the park and into Tsavo west national park. Check into Ngulia lodge or Serena Kilaguni lodge for lunch. You are free to take a swim in the pool or have a siesta in the afternoon.

We will go for an evening game drive in Tsavo west national park to see the rhino sanctuary, shetani lava flows and the mzima springs. This park is full of exciting landscape views including mountains and rivers.

Return to the lodge by disk for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Tsavo West Nairobi / Mombasa

On this day we will wake up to a sumptuous breakfast followed by a game drive in the park enroute to the gate for exit. You will see the mane less lions of Tsavo and the large herds of red coloured elephants.

Arrive in Mombasa or Nairobi in time for lunch at 1300hrs.

End of 3 days Tsavo east Tsavo west national parks safaris.

5. Go Hiking on a 3 Days Mt Kenya National Park Climbing Safari

5. 3 Days Mt Kenya National Park Hiking Safari

If you are a lover of active tours, then a hiking 3 day safari climbing Mt Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa is up your alley. Mt Kenya peaks are a beautiful scene with the ice capped Batian, Nelion and Lenana tops. Your 3-day Mt Kenya climbing safari can follow the Naro Moru route which has banker beds and camps all along or the scenic route of Chogoria.

Day 1: Nairobi – Mt Kenya

Our driver will pick us up at our hotel at 0800hrs and drive north through the central Kenya highlands. Arrive in Nanyuki town for some food shopping and lunch in a local hotel. You will pick your cook and mountain guide and porters in Nanyuki.

Drive out to Sirimon or Naro Moru route to access the park gates. After the gate formalities, you will drive to the first camp of either Old Moses or met station depending on the route you are using to climb. Check into your camp and set up your lodgings with dinner in the evening. This is a climatisation day at 3300m above sea level.

Day 2: Old Moses to Mckinders camp

On day 2, depart after breakfast for a 9 hour hike to the Mackinders camp, closer to the peaks. You will be able to summit to point Nelion on the morning of the 3^rd day.

Day 3: Summit – Nairobi

At midnight depart for a 5 hour hike to point Lenana summit arriving at dawn to take the awesome pictures with the sunrise.

Later you will descend to the Mackinders camp for lunch and hike further down to old Moses base camp. Your driver will pick you from here for the drive back to Nairobi. Drop off in your Nairobi after end of the Mt Kenya 3-day hiking safari.

End of your 3 days Mt Kenya climbing safari from Nairobi.

There are many other 3 days Kenyan safaris but the above 5 tours are the most popular among three day trips from Nairobi and Mombasa.

Find out more details on 3-day Kenya safaris by sending us a whatsapp message on +254722661827 or email us at info (at) sojournsafaris.co.ke

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Masai Mara Camping Safari Packages

3 Days Masai Mara Camping Safari in Kenya

2 Days Maasai Mara Budget Camping Safari

7 Days Masai Mara Camping Safari Galore

8 Days Samburu Nakuru Masai Mara Camping Safari Expedition

2 Days 1 Night Masai Mara Camping Safari

Masai Mara Day Trip – Tour | African Safari Holidays

5 Days Lake Nakuru – Masai Mara – Lake Naivasha Camping Safari

8 Days Masai Mara Serengeti Jaunt

4 Days Lake Nakuru Masai Mara Camping Safari

8 Days Mt Kenya, Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara Safari

10 DAYS MASAI MARA, LAKE NAKURU, LAKE NAIVASHA, AMBOSELI, TSAVO,

12-DAY SAFARI MAASAI MARA, SERENGETI, AND ZANZIBAR FROM NAIROBI

2-Days Masai Mara Air Safari from Nairobi

7-Day Samburu Nakuru Naivasha Masai Mara Family Lodge Safari

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Masai Mara 2-Day Group Joining Camping Safari

Explore Masai Mara game reserve on a Maasai Mara 2-day group joining camping safari from the JKIA NBO airport. This is a great tour for visitors on a work travel and would like to sample the Masai Mara in an overnight tour. You will get to see the big five animals among many other attractions.

5 Tips on Masai Mara 2-Day Group Joining Camping Safari

Masai Mara-2 day group joining camping safari is a popular tour from Nairobi for people who have limited time. You can go on a join in 2 day Masai Mara safari joining camping safari from NBO Nairobi airport or hire a private vehicle for the trip from Nairobi.

Day 1: Stop at Great Rift Valley viewpoint to view the valley enroute to Masai Mara 2 day’s group joining budget camping tour
Day 1: Watch evening game drive in Masai Mara joining camping safari for the big 5 animals.
Day 1: Find the Wildebeest Migration in the Masai Mara safari plains
Day 2: Soar over Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari at dawn from your budget camp.
Day 2: Visit a Masai Village enroute back to Nairobi.

Masai Mara 1 night overnight safari in a group is one of the cheapest ways to experience the Mara. This tour has 2 game drives only but with Masai Mara even 2 game drives are more than enough to see lots of wildlife. Invite a few friends to go to Mara and enjoy the 2 days group joining camping safari and do game driving, hiking, walking, balloon ride and bird watching.

1. Stop At Great Rift Valley View Point

Enroute to the Masai Mara, you will stop at the view point to have a look into the Great Rift Valley and marvel at this scar of nature. The view from the eastern escarpment is just amazing as you watch the floor of the valley below with its brown landscape.

The rift valley is so great that it has lakes and mountains on its floor. You will be looking at Mt Longonot below and Mt Suswa. Further ahead are the vapor plumes of the hells gate geothermal wells also on the rift valley floor.

2. Watch Evening Game Drive in Masai Mara for Big Five Animals

You will watch the big five animals on your first game drive on day 1 in Masai Mara. It’s only in the Mara that you can see all the big five animals in a single day. The big five animals include the leopards, lions, elephants, buffalos and rhino. You will also get a chance to see the much other wildlife which are said to be more than 2.5million in total.

3. Find the Wildebeest Migration in the Mara Plains

If the wildebeest migration is in season between July and November, you will watch the largest wildlife exodus. The migration is 1.5million animals strong and moves between Kenya and Tanzania in search of pasture. You will be able to track and follow the wildebeest migration in Mara for the few days that you are here.

Make sure to go to the Mara River and watch the river crossing where the stampede is just too exciting. Over 10,000 wildebeests dies each year at the Mara River crossing from drowning, stampede and crocodiles.

4. Soar Over Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari at Dawn from Your Budget Camp

Fly in a balloon safari in the Mara 2-days migration safari. You will be picked from your camp at 0500 for the ride. The hot air balloon ride lets for an hour and you will be able to see the sunrise and the animals below.

It’s an amazing feeling riding in a balloon in Masai Mara especially during the wildebeest migration. The balloon ride comes with a bush breakfast and you are also served with champagne.

5. Visit a Masai Village enroute back to Nairobi

Go and visit a Masai village in Masai Mara before your departure. There are several Masai villages around the Masai game reserve which you can choose to visit. Your driver guide will make the arrangements to visit the Masai village.

The Masai at the village will show you all about the intricate Masai life including how they live, their traditional rites and dances. You also get to enter one of their houses. This is a good way to end your Masai Mara 2-day group joining safari.

Book a Masai Mara 2 day’s group joining camping safari; Send Robert a Message on whatsapp on +254722661827 or an email on info@sojournsafaris.co.ke

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4-Day Masai Mara Nakuru Joining Group Safaris

Discover 4-day Masai Mara and Nakuru joining group camping safaris from NBO airport and watch the big five animals and the wildebeest migration. Combining Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru national parks is a good way to see all big 5 and the flamingos among many other animals.

6 Highlights of a 4 Day Masai Mara Nakuru Group Joining Camping Budget Safari

Going to 4 day Masai Mara Nakuru group joining camping budget safari allows you to do various enjoyable activities. Get together with friends and enjoy a 4 day group joining safari to Masai Mara game reserve for hiking, riding horses, walking, and balloon safaris among others. Here are 4 day Masai Mara nakuru joining group camping safaris from Nairobi NBO Airport below:-

Day 1: Explore Mara Game drive to see animals on a 4-day masai mara joining group camping safari
Day 2: Fly in a hot air balloon in the Masai Mara 4 days group joining adventure
Day 2: Follow the Wildebeest migration in Masai Mara 4-day group joining safari
Day 2: Visit a Masai Village to know the Maasai culture
Day 3: View the Flamingos of Nakuru national park
Day 4: Watch the Scenic sites of Nakuru including Makalia falls, Baboon cliff and the lake

There many other things to do on Nakuru national park including camping, picnicking and sightseeing. You can join a group and enjoy a 4 day camping safari in Mara and Nakuru from the NBO Nairobi airport.

1. Explore Mara Game Drive to View Animals on a 4-Day Joining Group Camping

You will have more than 8 comprehensive game drives in Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru national parks. The game drives primary goal is to find the big 5 animals and allow you to take photos of them from up-close as possible. The big 5 animals include lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinos and leopards. These are the primary animals that your guide will be looking for. However all the other animals are important and you will also be taking pictures of giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, elands, wildebeests, gazelles, impalas and many others.

2. Fly In a Hot Air Balloon in Masai Mara 4-Days Group Joining Adventure

Join a group for a balloon ride in the Masai Mara. Balloon ride safaris are the ultimate experience for a 4-day Masai Mara joining group safari. You will be picked up from your lodge or camp at 0500hrs on your second day in Mara. You will join the other people doing a balloon ride for that day at the field before dawn. Very soon the balloon will be filled with hot air by the pilot and you start your flight just before dawn. The Masai Mara sunrise is an amazing experience especially when seen from a hot air balloon ride.

The sun will come up mid-flight and you can now start seeing the animals beneath you. It’s an awesome experience and you can take as many photos as you can. After the 1 hour balloon flight, you will be served a champagne breakfast on the savannah bush. Thereafter you get a 1hr game drive and drive back to your hotel or camp. Don’t miss a hot air balloon ride next time you visit the Masai Mara. It’s the stuff of your bucket list!

3. Follow the Wildebeest Migration in Masai Mara 4-Day Group Joining Safari

Great wildebeest migration in Mara takes place every year in summer from July to November. It is the single largest movement of wildlife probably the world where over 1.5million wildebeests, gazelles and zebras move across 3000miles of savannah in search of pasture. The wildebeest migration is a huge movement which can actually be seen from space as a black moving mass across the Serengeti and Masai Mara plains. You will be able to follow the migration day by day from the plains to the Mara River.

The Mara river stampede is the best place to see these animals as they cross river Mara in their thousands. A lot of these wildebeests die from the crocodiles while others drown in the flooded river Mara. An even bigger number die from stampeding on each other and others from the tens of waiting big cat predators on the opposite side of the river.

4. Visit a Masai Village to Know the Maasai Culture

You are advised to also visit a Masai village to learn how the Masai people live in this wildlife area. The Masai villages are located outside the Masai Mara game reserve and they are managed by the Masai elders. These are owners of the group ranches and conservancies surrounding the Masai Mara. In most cases and if your group is interested, you driver can arrange to take you to visit the Masai village on the afternoon of day 2. You will be guided and told about the intriguing Masai tribe and how they have lived side by side with wildlife.

The Masai village guide will tell you all about their life, their traditional customs, rites of passage including birth ceremonies, initiation ceremonies, and elder ceremonies. Their war rituals are the most interesting and the aduma Moran jumping dance. The Masai will teach you how to survive in the bush by making fire from 2 sticks and you will also be invited to enter one of their houses. Finally visit their Masai market and buy some souvenirs and curios made by the Masai women to support their children in school.

5. View the Flamingos of Nakuru National Park

Your third day will see you go to see the flamingos and wildlife in Lake Nakuru national park. Nakuru is a 177 sqkm park located right in the middle of the Great Rift Valley. It is part of the 9 lakes along the length of the rift valley in Kenya. The lake is home to one of the largest population of flamingos numbering more than 2 million birds.

Nakuru park is also a sanctuary for the white and black rhino, the Rothschild giraffe and a bird sanctuary. The flamingos are a special pull factor to Nakuru national park and in most cases it’s included in a any masai Mara itinerary longer than 3 days.

6. Watch the Scenic Sites of Nakuru Including Makalia Falls, Baboon Cliff and the Lake

Lake Nakuru is strewn with many scenic spots to visit and take in the wonder of natural landscapes and scenery. The lake itself is an awesome sight to take pictures of flamingos and great white pelicans swimming and swimming on the lake. Nakuru national park has a magnificent fall called the Makalia water falls which is next to a camping site.

The Makalia falls are a sight to behold especially in the rainy season when the fall is at its heaviest and loudest. The baboon cliff is another high point where you can go and watch the whole of the park and lake from a vantage point to see the flamingos and animals below.

There are many other activities you can do in Lake Nakuru national park in a 4-day Masai Mara group joining camping safaris from Nairobi airport.

Book your 4 days Masai Mara game reserve joining group camping budget safaris from NBO; Send Robert a whatsapp message on +254722661827 or send us an email on info@sojournsafaris.co.ke

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2-Day Masai Mara Safari from NBO Airport

Explore Masai Mara game reserve in a 2 day or 1 night camping site safari in Kenya. Masai Mara is the best 1 night group joining tented camp safari to see the big five animals and the wildebeest migration. The Mara is also home to the Masai warrior tribe and you can see them in their Masai village in Maasai Mara.

5 Tips to 2 Days Masai Mara Joining Camping Safari

2-Day Masai Mara budget camping safari direct from NBO airport is a great way to spend your time from the airport. You can be picked directly from the Nairobi airport to Masai Mara for game drive. Go on a 2-day Masai Mara budget camping safari from NBO Nairobi airport below:-

Day 1: View scenic rift valley from the eastern escarpment enroute to 2-day Maasai Mara budget camping safari trip
Day 1: Cross the rift valley floor with views of Mt Longonot from the NBO airport
Day 1: Track wildlife and big five animals in your first game drive in Mara 2 day camping tour
Day 2: Follow the wildebeest migration in your 2-day Mara camping trip from JKIA airport
Day 2: Visit the Masai village to see how the people live with animals

Enjoy a full 2 days camping safari in the masai Mara living in a budget tented camp as you enjoy exciting game drives to watch the big five animals and the millions of wildebeest during the migration. You can invite a friend and go to the Mara for game drive, hiking, walking safaris, bird watching, balloon safaris etc.

1. View Scenic Rift Valley on Eastern Escarpment Enroute to Mara 2 Day from Airport Safari

The Great Rift Valley is the awesome sight when you are driving down to Masai Mara. The great rift is the scar that remained when tectonic forces tried unsuccessfully, to tear Africa into two. It is a wide depression which on its floor contains volcanic mountains, fissures, geysers and hot springs. You will make a scheduled stop at the Great Rift Valley view point only 1hr from Nairobi to view this geographical marvel. Mt Longonot towers right inside the rift valley and it’s still active to date.

2. Cross the Rift Valley Floor with Captivating Views of Mt Longonot

You will drive across one of the most scenic valley floor while Mt Longonot towers above you on the rift and Mt Suswa some distance to the left. The rift valley crossing is amazing as you drop down on the eastern escarpment and drive straight across the valley. Later you will climb up onto the green western escarpment dotted with amazingly beautiful wheat fields.

3. Track Wildlife and Big Five Animals in Your Game Drive In Masai Mara 2 Day Safari

On arrival to Masai Mara, you will do your first game drive that evening to see the big game. Look for the big five animals like lions, leopards, rhinos, elephant and buffalo. The leopards and rhinos are difficult to find but with some patience and hard work you will see them. There are also many thousands of other animals in Masai Mara to see in a game drive as well.

4. Follow the Wildebeest Migration in Your 2 Day Masai Mara Trip from the Airport

Go to the Mara River to the north of the park and witness the wildebeest migration crossing the river Mara. It’s an amazing sight to see the wildebeest migration river crossing. Thousands of wildebeest stampede into the river Mara to cross the flooded river full of crocodiles. The crocodiles will usually grab tens of them in the river and others die from stampede, drowning or from capture by leopards and lions on the opposite bank.

5. Visit the Masai Village to See How They Live

You can opt to visit a Masai village in Masai Mara 2 day safari from NBO Nairobi airport. You will be met with happy faces of the men and women. A Masai guide will take you through the village explaining to you the culture and customs of the warrior Masai people. You will have a chance to get into one of their houses, learn survival skills of making fire using sticks and elephant dung learn to throw a spear and their famous traditional dancing and songs. Finally you can buy a souvenir at their Masai market in the village.

2-Day Masai Mara Camping Safari Directly From Nairobi NBO Airport Itinerary

Day1: Nairobi – Masai Mara

0800hrs: Arrive in NBO Nairobi airport

0830hrs: Pick up from the airport for the 2-day Masai Mara camping safari from the airport

0930hrs: Stop at the Great Rift Valley for a view of the rift valley below

1200hrs: Lunch at the season’s hotel in Narok town

1600hrs: Check in to your Masai Mara tented camp and go for a game drive in the park until dusk

Dinner and overnight at the Masai Mara budget tented camp

Day 2: Mara – Nairobi

0630hrs: Morning game drive in Masai Mara to see the elusive animals

0800hrs: Return to tented camp for a sumptuous breakfast.

1000hrs: Depart from the tented camp with an enroute game drive or a visit to a Masai village.

1100hrs: Drive back to Nairobi

End of your 2-Day Masai Mara Budget camping safari directly from NBO Nairobi Airport

Book your 2 day Masai Mara budget camping safari from Nairobi airport. Send us a whatsapp message on +254722661827 or an email at info@sojournsafaris.co.ke

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How to Book a Masai Mara Camping Safari in Kenya

Explore Masai Mara game reserve in a camping safari from Nairobi. Exploring Masai Mara will see you view the big five animals and the wildebeest migration in July to October. Immerse yourself in this amazing wilderness staying in some of the most comfortable lodges or tented camps. The tented camps of Masai Mara can be either luxury camps or budget tented camps.

8 Steps to Booking a Masai Mara Safari in Kenya

For some people, booking an Masai mara safari is as easy as walking into a travel agency and picking a holiday off the rack. While this is the easy way to buy a package, it is also the most expensive. You can use this article to do your own research and find a local operator to book with hence saving hundreds of dollars.

For example, if you want to book a Masai Mara safari, you generally should;

Do your research
Use a local tour operator company
Check their tripadvisor reviews
Request for tailor made Itinerary
Bargain on the prices
Pay a down payment of not more than 40%
Request for proof of payments
Pay the Balance on tour cost

While this may look hard, its pretty easy to follow these steps and get a fairly priced local tour operator in Nairobi Kenya. Follow this step by step article and you may save some good money in booking your next tour to Masai Mara.

1. Do your research

You will need to do some research for find a good local agent to book a Masai Mara camping safari with. A quick search online will give you a sample of good tour companies in Nairobi Kenya. Based on the prices, you can tell which company is making an effort to give you discounted rates. You can look for group joining safari packages so as to save money by sharing the vehicle. You will find that many Nairobi tour companies offer daily departures from Nairobi. Depending on the number of days you want to go on safari, you will get a very good idea on what is the range between budget and pricy packages.

2. Use a Local Tour Operator Company

Local tour operator prices generally tend to be cheaper than prices from foreign travel agents. The reason is simply the fact that, by the time packages get to the international agents, the prices will have been marked up at least twice. So you are likely to get better Masai Mara safari deals from local operators if you deal directly with them. You can get many of the local tour operators listed on Online Travel Agents (OTAs) websites like Safari bookings, Viator, Expedia among others. It’s also possible to simply Google the package you want like 5 days Masai Mara safari in Kenya, and check the prices and deals being offered by the various local tour companies.

3. Check the Operator Tripadvisor Reviews

Trip advisor is a destination and tour company review platform where travellers can look up what past customers are commenting about a company. Trip advisor also provides a forum where travellers can ask questions to past visitors about a certain destination they want to visit. It’s a highly respected website in the travel industry. A good local tour operator will have some good reviews posted by their past clients. You can easily tell a not-so-good company by the frequency and number of negative reviews they have received as compared to the positive ones. Make sure to check out your selected companies before you can engage them.

4. Request for a Tailor-Made Itinerary

Once you have selected the local tour company you want to work with, you can now request them for an itinerary based on your number of days available. Make sure to ask them to make a tailor made itinerary and not necessarily buy off the shelf from their website. Try and explain in great detail, what you are interested in terms of number of days of safari, places you are interested to visit or animals you would like to see. The tour operator will go to great lengths to try and make a perfect-fit itinerary for you. This tailor-made maasai mara itinerary will also depend on your group dynamics including age, family, lifestyle and interests. You will have a back and forth with the tour operator until you have an itinerary that suits your needs in price and places included.

5. Bargain on the Prices

Local tour operators are usually fairly priced and you should be able to get a good deals when booking directly. However, you can always try to bargain for discounts on the quoted price especially if you feel your tour group is large enough to justify it. Most of the local Kenyan tour operators will be able to offer you a small discount especially for the lodge based safari packages to Masai Mara. However, masai mara budget tour packages are mostly fixed in price due to their already reduced pricing points. So unless you feel that a tour package is overpriced, the budget Masai Mara safari packages are usually take-as-is.

6. Pay a Down Payment to the Safari

Once you have agreed on the safari itinerary content and prices with your tour outfitter, you can proceed to pay a down payment on the safari. In most cases, the safari operators in Nairobi will request you to pay 40% deposit on the tour and the balance at least 45 days to arrival date. This is more so important if you are booking within the peak season between July and October. During this peak season, rooms are scarce due to demand and you should make an effort to book your safari as early as possible. This will help the tour operator to secure your rooms in lodges well in advance.

7. Request for Proof of Payments

Your local tour operator in Nairobi will furnish you with proof that your lodge has been booked. This will help you to know that some part of your safari has already been confirmed. Kindly note that any cancellation from this point onwards will come with cancellation fees. The hotels usually charge between 25% to 100% of any payments if your booking is cancelled anywhere between 45 days and a no show.

8. Pay the Balance of Tour Cost

For bookings during peak season, make sure you have paid the balance of 60% of the tour cost at least 45-30 days before your arrival date. Most hotels insist that full payment of the booking should be done 45 days before arrival especially in the peak season. In case you are paying at last minute, 100% payment for the tour may be requested of you as a 1 off payment. Rooms are seriously scarce during the months of July to October and any chance you get to secure your masai mara accommodation should be taken as quickly as possible.

Make your booking today for a Masai Mara 3, 4, 5 or 8 day safari in Kenya; send us a whatsapp message here: +254722661827

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Top 8 Masai Mara Game Reserve Highlights in Kenya | Sojourn Safaris Ltd

Discover Masai Mara game reserve safari from Nairobi. Explore Maasai Mara 3, 4 or 5 day safari staying in luxury lodges or budget tented camps. Watch the big five animals and the great wildebeest migration and the Mara river crossing stampede. Whichever Masai Mara tour package you choose, you will be in for a treat in one of Africa most sought after wilderness vacation.

Here are 8 best Masai Mara game reserve safari highlights and things to do in Mara.

Explore Big five game drives
Discover Mara Walking safaris
Camp in tented camps
Watch the birds
Track the Wildebeest migration
Visit a Masai village
Ride a horse
Fly in a Masai Mara balloon safari

1. Explore Big Five Game Drives

Explore Masai Mara game reserve in 2 daily game drives to look out for the lions, elephants, buffalos, leopard and rhinos. You will experience a game drive at 6:00am and again an evening game drive at 16:00hrs until dusk. Drive along the expansive Mara plains with wildlife strewn all over the plains. Masai Mara is home to over 3 million animals including giraffes, zebras, hyenas, cheetahs, gazelles, hippos, jackals, baboons, wild dogs among other millions of animals. You will be able to view the big five animals in a single day in the Masai Mara.

2. Discover Mara Walking Safari

Discover Masai Mara walking safaris in private ranches around the Masai Mara game reserve. Most of the group ranches around the Masai Mara offer walking safaris. You will be picked by an armed Masai warrior and walk among the wildlife in the plains in the early morning to view wildlife as close as possible. Your Masai Mara guided walking safari will last s for 1hr or 2 hours and you are able to see the lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos at a much closer proximity.

3. Camp in Tented camps

You can camp in tented camps in Masai Mara to get that exciting oneness with nature feeling. Experience immersion in nature by sleeping in a tented camp complete with a bed, private bathrooms and a verandah to watch the sunset from. You don’t have to break the bank by staying in lodges while you can stay in some of the Masai Mara budget tented camps just next to the Masai Mara game reserve. Enjoy a bon fire in the evening outside your tented camp as you savor the day’s exploits in the game drives.

4. Watch the Birds in Masai Mara

Go on bird watching trips in Masai Mara and watch the more than 400 species of birds in the game reserve. Masai Mara has many species of birds in the various ecosystems including the riverine and ponds, the savannah grassland birds and the forest area birds around the forested areas. There are some resident masai mara bird’s species and some migratory birds that you can watch in Masai Mara. Some of the birds you will see in grasslands include secretary birds, kori bustards, ground hornbills, jaunty crowned plovers etc. on swampy areas you will see the saddle billed storks, yellow billed storks, sacred ibis, goliath heron and rufous bellied heron. Birds of prey include the martial eagle and the pigmy falcon including the majestic bateleur eagle.

5. Track the Wildebeest Migration in Masai Mara

Track wildebeest migration for 3 or 4 days across the plains of Masai Mara safari. You will go on long game drives viewing the millions of wildebeests across the grasslands. Get a chance to see most of the 1.5 million wildebeests, zebras and gazelles migrating from Tanzania into Kenya and back. Your wildebeest tracking game drives will see you get close to live lion kills, cheetah chases and leopard ambushes. All the big cats will keep you entertained as they chase around the wildebeests. Mara river crossings are great places you will visit to see the awesome river stampedes as thousands of wildebeest scram and swim in the flooded river. Against all odds and marauding crocodiles, the wildebeests cross the river Mara in great numbers and you will able to witness and discover the migration in all its greatness.

6. Visit a Masai village

You can visit a Masai village on your second day in Masai Mara. You have option of several Masai villages to go to in one of the afternoons. Learn how the Masai people dance the jumping dance, how they make fire from sticks, how they marry and many other local traditions. Visit one of their houses that have little ventilation and made from dirt and cow dung. Visiting the Masai village, you should also be ready to be asked to buy some trinkets and curios made by the Masai. These are mostly beadworks as the traditional knives and daggers won’t get into a plane. The Masai will be happy to invite you to join in their traditional jumping dance.

7. Ride a Horse

Ride a horse and go on horse riding game drives in the private conservancies around Masai Mara game reserve. You will go on a guided horseback game drive in Masai Mara to watch the animals up close on horses. These are very popular safaris that allows you to ride off road as opposed to going on a game drive in a car which restricts you to the motorable tracks only. This will ensure that you are able to get as close as possible to the game and wildlife.

8. Fly in a Masai Mara Balloon safaris

Go fly in a balloon safari in Masai Mara and watch the wildlife from up above. You will be picked early before dawn for your balloon safari in Masai Mara. Your Mara balloon flight starts before dawn and you will be able to see the sunrise and the animals below as they scamper from your balloon. The cool morning weather coupled with the millions of animals below and the thrill of the actual ride makes a Mara balloon safari a must activity. After the flight, you will be served with a champagne breakfast and go on a 1hr game drive as well as get a certificate after the ride. Make sure to go on a Masai Mara balloon safari. The Masai Mara balloon safari cost is worth the time you will spend and the experience.

Book your Masai Mara safari from Robert; send him a quick whatsapp message here +254722661827

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