Spotted hyena crossing green Maasai Mara grassland dotted with bushes as the sun sets

Safari region · Kenya

Maasai Mara

The national reserve and the conservancies around it, in south-western Kenya.

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Photo: Shafiq Jagani, Maasai Mara, 2024 Scroll

What we mean by the Mara

One name, several kinds of destination.

The Maasai Mara is the name most people give to the wider Mara landscape in south-western Kenya. At its centre is the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Around it are conservancies on land held by local landowners.

The reserve and each conservancy have their own rules and fees, so where you stay shapes what you can do. We explain the differences when we plan your journey.

Within the safari region

Destinations in the Mara.

Each destination has its own camps, guides and rules, so where you stay shapes what you can do.

Elephant and calf grazing in long grass in the Maasai Mara, with another elephant on the horizonPhoto: Shafiq Jagani, Maasai Mara, 2024
National reserve

Maasai Mara National Reserve

The protected heart of the wider Mara, in south-western Kenya, managed by Narok County Government.

Our selection of camps
Aerial view of canvas tents among acacia trees on green hills in the Mara TrianglePhoto: Angama
Reserve sector

Mara Triangle

The north-western part of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, run by its own not-for-profit manager.

Our selection of camps
Tent bedroom with open doors onto a deck looking over bush and plains at Naboisho CampPhoto: Asilia Africa, Naboisho Camp
Conservancy

Mara Naboisho Conservancy

A conservancy bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve, on land leased from Maasai landowners for wildlife conservation and tourism.

Our selection of camps
Aerial view at sunrise of tents scattered along a winding stream at Kicheche Mara NorthPhoto: Kicheche
Conservancy

Mara North Conservancy

A conservancy in the north-west of the Maasai Mara ecosystem, run as a partnership between Maasai landowners and tourism partners. It borders the national reserve.

Our selection of camps
Lone tree on open grassland with the sun low behind clouds and hills in the Enonkishu ConservancyPhoto: Enonkishu Conservancy
Conservancy

Enonkishu Conservancy

A community conservancy at the northern edge of the greater Mara, where cattle and wildlife share the land.

Elephant walking through golden grass with low hills behind in the Mara Lemek ConservancyPhoto: Lemek Conservancy
Conservancy

Mara Lemek Conservancy

A northern Mara conservancy, registered in 2009, that grew out of a community wildlife trust from the 1990s.

Zebras grazing in long grass with cattle and woodland behind in the Mara Olchoro ConservancyPhoto: Mara Olchoro Conservancy
Conservancy

Mara Olchoro Conservancy

A northern Mara conservancy that began as a wildlife trust in 1991 and runs a project for southern white rhinos.

Cheetah standing on a flat rock in a shallow river at golden hour in the Ol Kinyei ConservancyPhoto: Porini
Conservancy

Ol Kinyei Conservancy

A conservancy set up in 2005, between the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the Loita plains.

Two tents with curved roofs set in thick green bush at Mahali Mzuri in the Olare Motorogi ConservancyPhoto: Virgin Limited Edition
Conservancy

Olare Motorogi Conservancy

A conservancy on Maasai-owned land along the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Our selection of camps
Four smiling women rangers in green uniforms standing among acacia trees in the Olderkesi ConservancyPhoto: Cottar's Safaris
Conservancy

Olderkesi Conservancy

A conservancy at the south-east corner of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, just north of the Serengeti.

Our selection of camps
Conservation area

Pardamat Conservation Area

One of the newer Mara conservancies, just north-east of the national reserve and next to four other conservancies.

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Planning

Planning time in the Mara.

Male lion with a full mane lying half-hidden in tall grass in the Maasai MaraPhoto: Shafiq Jagani, Maasai Mara, 2024

  1. Getting there

    Most guests fly from Nairobi to an airstrip near their camp, and some travel by road. We plan the route with you.

  2. Seasons

    Kenya Wildlife Service names July to December and December to March as high seasons, and the long rains usually fall from April to June. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

  3. Reserve or conservancy

    Rules for walking, night drives and off-road driving differ between the reserve and each conservancy. We check them for wherever you stay.

Practical details checked on 19 October 2026. Entry rules for Kenya are on the Kenya page.

Where to stay in the Mara

Our selection of camps and lodges.

Aerial view of Naboisho Camp tents scattered among trees on green plains in the Mara Naboisho ConservancyPhoto: Asilia Africa
Mara Naboisho Conservancy

Naboisho Camp

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A camp of nine tents, two of them family suites, run by Asilia Africa in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy.

Tented camp
Aerial view of Kicheche Mara North tents among trees beside a winding stream, with hills on the horizonPhoto: Kicheche Safari Camps
Mara North Conservancy

Kicheche Mara North

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A small, solar-powered tented camp above a stream in the Mara North Conservancy.

Tented camp
Two Maasai men by a lone tree at sunrise, beside a campfire, chairs and a safari vehicle on the Mara plainsPhoto: The Ritz-Carlton, Masai Mara Safari Camp
Maasai Mara National Reserve

The Ritz-Carlton, Masai Mara Safari Camp

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Twenty tented suites with plunge pools, raised among the trees on the Sand River.

Tented camp
Elephants and other animals in silhouette on the Maasai Mara plains at sunset near JW Marriott Masai Mara LodgePhoto: JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge
Talek River

JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge

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Twenty-four tented suites on the Talek River, looking over the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Lodge
Tents and a deck with a red seating area on the wooded Oloololo Escarpment at Angama Mara, plains belowPhoto: Angama
Oloololo Escarpment

Angama Mara

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Thirty glass-fronted tented suites on the Oloololo Escarpment, high above the Mara Triangle.

Lodge
Two tents with curved roofs set in thick green bush at Mahali Mzuri in the Olare Motorogi ConservancyPhoto: Virgin Limited Edition (Mahali Mzuri)
Olare Motorogi Conservancy

Mahali Mzuri

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Twelve tents on a valley side in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, in the path of the migration.

Tented camp
Three giraffes on rocky grassland with the tents of Mara Nyika Camp behind them in the Naboisho ConservancyPhoto: Great Plains Conservation
Mara Naboisho Conservancy

Mara Nyika Camp

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Four raised suites and a family tent beside a small river in the Naboisho Conservancy.

Tented camp
Lit canvas tent among tall trees in the grassland at Angama Safari Camp at duskPhoto: Angama
Mara Triangle

Angama Safari Camp

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A private camp of four tents inside the Mara Triangle, with its own guides, chef and vehicles.

Tented camp
Two staff members holding trays on a rope suspension bridge among trees at Mara Plains CampPhoto: Great Plains Conservation
Olare Motorogi Conservancy

Mara Plains Camp

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Seven canvas suites on raised decks in the private Olare Motorogi Conservancy.

Tented camp
Lit dining tent beside acacia trees at dusk at Kicheche Bush Olare in the Olare Motorogi ConservancyPhoto: Kicheche Safari Camps
Olare Motorogi Conservancy

Kicheche Bush Olare

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Six tents in an unfenced corner of the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, run by Kicheche.

Tented camp
View from above of a white tent and lawn on a wooded hillside at Cottar’s 1920s CampPhoto: Cottar's Safaris
Olderkesi Conservancy

Cottar’s 1920s Camp

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Eleven tents furnished in 1920s safari style in the private Olderkesi Conservancy.

Tented camp
Guest in a hat on a deck at &Beyond Bateleur Camp, looking over plains dotted with trees and grazing herdsPhoto: &Beyond
Kichwa Tembo concession

&Beyond Bateleur Camp

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Two small camps of nine suites each, below the Oloololo Escarpment on the western edge of the Mara.

Tented camp
Tented suite with lit interior beside grassland under an orange sunset sky at Wilderness MaraPhoto: Wilderness
Mara Triangle

Wilderness Mara

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Twelve tents beside the Mara River in the Mara Triangle, rebuilt in 2026 on the site of Little Governors' Camp.

Tented camp
Two loungers beside a plunge pool on a suite deck at Kinara, above the Mara River at sunsetPhoto: Kinara
Mara River, Maasai Mara National Reserve

Kinara

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Twenty tented suites and a private villa above a bend of the Mara River, each with its own plunge pool.

Tented camp
A guest resting at the edge of the infinity pool at Mara Bushtops, looking over tented roofs to the green plainsPhoto: Bushtops
Mara Siana Conservancy

Mara Bushtops

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Large tented suites on a hillside east of the reserve, each with a wide deck and its own hot tub looking over the plains.

Tented camp

See all places to stay
Dirt vehicle tracks through Maasai Mara grassland, with topi and impala grazing among the bushes

Africa, Private & Personal

Thinking of the Mara?

Tell us how you like to travel, and we will suggest where in the Mara to stay, and why.

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Email
enquiries@etanasafaris.com
Phone & WhatsApp
+254 795 887765
Office
The Piano Building, Brookside Drive, Nairobi
Your enquiry is answered personally by the family.
Photo: Shafiq Jagani, Maasai Mara
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