Masai Mara travel guide
The cost of a Masai Mara trip depends on four things: the type of camp or lodge and its area, the number of nights, the mix of game drives and conservancy visits, and what is included. Flights from India, visa fees and reserve or conservancy fees are often separate. Our packages are land-only.
Facts checked 3 Nov 2026
A Masai Mara safari is a premium trip, and the price is shaped more by the stay and the inclusions than by the number of days alone. Camps and lodges vary widely in their facilities and their access to the reserve, and the same number of nights can cost very different amounts. There is no single published price for a Mara safari, so quotes differ between operators. This guide explains what drives the cost, what is usually included and how to compare quotes fairly.
The research groups Mara stays into four broad levels, and each has its own areas and type of accommodation. Budget stays are in the Talek and Sekenani gate areas or outer reserve villages, in basic lodges, guesthouses or budget tented camps, usually on full board or half board. Standard stays are 3-star to 4-star lodges or permanent tented camps, with full-board meals in areas such as Talek, Sekenani, Ololaimutia and the Mara Serena access area. Premium stays are 4-star lodges or premium tented camps in the Mara Triangle or in Naboisho and Olare Motorogi. Luxury stays are luxury tented camps or safari lodges, in the Mara Triangle, private conservancies and similar areas.
Meal arrangements also vary. Many stays are full board, but some budget options are half board, and some luxury stays include more drinks and activities. Always confirm what is included.
Our packages cover the stay on twin sharing, meals as shown in the itinerary, game drives in a safari vehicle with a driver-guide, transfers between Nairobi and the Mara as shown in the itinerary, and visa assistance for the Kenya eTA. Items such as international flights, visa fees, travel insurance, reserve and conservancy entry fees not listed, drinks and personal expenses are separate. Your planner confirms each inclusion in the written quote.
Several costs are often separate from the land package. International flights to and from Nairobi are booked separately. The Kenya eTA fee and any other visa fees are not included. Reserve and conservancy entry fees differ by area and may be charged separately. Drinks, extra meals and activities not listed in the itinerary are extra. Travel insurance is not included. Ask whether any tips are expected at the camp, and whether they are included in the quote. Ask your planner to list each of these in the quote, so you can compare like with like.
Compare the stay category and area, not just the star rating or the name of the camp. Check the number of nights in each area, how many game drives are included, whether conservancy fees are listed, and what the transfers involve. Ask about the light-aircraft option and the road option, because they change both price and travel time. Ask how long the transfer takes from the airstrip or gate to your camp, because that time shapes the first and last days of your stay. A clear written quote with every inclusion listed is more useful than a single headline figure.
This guide is compiled from published tourism, weather and transport information and traveller reports, and was last checked on 2 November 2026. Fees, stay options and inclusions can change, so confirm them with your planner before you pay.
Ready-made trips
Masai Mara 3N
Masai Mara 4N
*Approximate price per person, excl. GST. Contact us for exact pricing.
Packages cover stays, transfers, sightseeing and meals as listed. Flights are not included. Prices are per person, excl. GST.
FAQs
Short answers to what travellers ask about Masai Mara.
There is no single published price, because the cost depends on the stay type, its area, the number of nights and what is included. Ask a planner for a written quote that lists each inclusion, and compare quotes using the same stay category and length.
No. Our packages are land-only, so flights from India to Nairobi and the connection to the Mara are booked separately. Our planners can suggest timings that fit your itinerary. Your planner can suggest timings that fit your dates, and the written quote shows the exact inclusions.
No. Visa assistance is included in our packages, but the Kenya eTA fee and other visa fees are separate. Check the official Kenya eTA portal for the current fee before you apply. Your planner explains the steps and the documents you need, and the written quote lists the visa items clearly.
They can be. Private conservancies may charge access fees in addition to reserve fees. Ask your planner to confirm which fees are in your quote and which are paid separately. Ask for the fees by name and by day, so you can compare quotes with confidence.
It can be a premium trip, especially in the Mara Triangle and private conservancies during peak months. Choosing a standard stay in Talek or Sekenani, travelling in the wetter months or booking a shorter trip can lower the total.
The price difference depends on the operator, the route and your dates. Ask your planner to compare both options, including the travel time and the drive from the airstrip to your camp, before you choose.
This varies by property. Some stays include meals and selected drinks, and others list them separately. Confirm the meal basis and drinks policy in your written quote. Ask your planner to list the drinks policy and the meal basis for each stay in the written quote.
The wetter months, such as April and May, have fewer visitors, and demand is highest between July and October. Rates are not published in our research, so ask your planner for the rates for your dates and compare them.
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