The Maasai Mara in a nutshell
The Maasai Mara National Reserve lies in southwest Kenya. It is a national reserve, not a national park run by the Kenya Wildlife Service. Narok County sets the entry fees, and the western part, the Mara Triangle, is looked after by a separate non-profit organisation. The Triangle covers about 510 km², roughly a third of the reserve, and the whole reserve is usually given as about 1,510 km². Around it lie private conservancies on Maasai land, which have their own rules and fees.
This guide covers what visitors ask most: safaris, the Great Migration and river crossings, park fees, balloon flights, trips from Nairobi, flights to the airstrips, wildlife, conservancies, Maasai village visits, costs, the best time, lodges and practical tips. It is an independent site. It is not run by Narok County, the Kenya Wildlife Service, a conservancy, a lodge or a safari company. Prices are in US dollars, as charged in 2026, and they change.
Planning at a glance
The main points, with the pages that explain them.
| Topic | What to know | More |
|---|---|---|
| Great Migration | Herds usually arrive in June or July and leave in November. July to October is the narrower planning window. Crossings are hard to predict. | Migration |
| Park fee season | Lower rates from January to June, higher rates from July to December. November and December still count as the higher season. | Park fees |
| Balloon flight | About 45 to 60 minutes in the air, then a bush breakfast. $499 per person with one operator in 2026. | Balloon safari |
| Flying in | Flights leave from Wilson Airport in Nairobi. Baggage on the small safari flights is limited to 15 kg in a soft bag. | Flights |
| Entry to Kenya | An eTA is needed before you travel, and health insurance is required from 5 October 2026. | Travel tips |
No page can promise a sighting. The animals move, and a good guide, patience and the season matter more than any schedule.
Our picks: Maasai Mara tours
A group safari, a balloon flight and a fly-in trip, each with its includes listed.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
3-day fly-in safari with camp stay
Flights from Wilson Airport and back, a mid-range tented camp with full board, 4x4 game drives, a guide and a Maasai cultural visit. Travel insurance and tips are extra.
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Hot air balloon flight with breakfast, 70 minutes
Transfer from your camp or lodge, a balloon flight with a local guide, breakfast and a glass of champagne. A few camps in the far west are not covered by the pickup, so check yours before booking.
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3-day Landcruiser safari with pop-up roof
A 4WD Landcruiser with pop-up roof, a driver-guide, full board and two nights in a private tent with bathroom. Park fees for both days, drinks at camp and the balloon flight are extra.
Check availability →Maasai Mara tours and safaris
Day trips, multi-day safaris and balloon flights, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip
Start with the safari options, then pick the pages you need.
Safaris compared
Group, private and fly-in trips, and what each one includes.
The Great Migration
The usual months, the Mara River and how to behave at a crossing.
Park fees
Daily rates by season, who pays what and how payment works.
Balloon safari
Flight length, breakfast, age limits and the cancellation steps.
From Nairobi
Road transfers, routes and how they differ from flying in.
Flights
Wilson Airport, airstrips, example fares and the baggage limit.
Wildlife
The Big Five, other species and the rules at a sighting.
Places, costs and practical pages
Where to stay, what it costs and how to prepare.
Conservancies
Community land next to the reserve, with its own fees and rules.
Maasai village visit
What a visit involves and how to ask before you take photos.
What a safari costs
Real price examples and the units behind them.
Best time to visit
Migration, rains and the fee seasons side by side.
Where to stay
Reserve, Mara Triangle or conservancy: how the locations differ.
Getting there
Roads, gates and airstrips, and how to choose a route.
Travel tips
eTA, insurance, health points and the plastic bag ban.
A few things to know before you plan
Points that save money and avoid surprises.
A day ticket is not a 24-hour ticket
In the Mara Triangle a day ticket covers 06:00 to 18:00 and does not carry over into the night. If you sleep inside the reserve, check how many park days your quote charges.
Park fees →The higher fee season runs to December
The higher rate starts on 1 July and applies until the end of December. It does not end when the herds leave in November.
Best time →The Migration has no timetable
The usual months are a guide. Herds can move out within days after heavy rain, and crossings cannot be scheduled.
Migration →Health insurance is a new entry rule
From 5 October 2026 most visitors who stay under 12 months need Kenyan travel health insurance. It is separate from the eTA, and a foreign policy does not replace it.
Entry rules →Beyond the Mara
Other places that have their own guides.
The Mara is the northern end of an ecosystem that continues into Tanzania. For the Tanzanian side, see Serengeti National Park. If you want to add beaches to a safari, Kenya's coast has its own guide. This site stays with the Maasai Mara.
Maasai Mara: frequently asked questions
Is the Maasai Mara a national park?
It is a national reserve. Narok County sets the entry fees, and the Mara Triangle in the west is run by a separate non-profit organisation. Private conservancies border the reserve and charge their own fees. See the conservancies page.
When is the Great Migration in the Mara?
The herds normally arrive in June or July and leave in November. July to October is the narrower window most people plan around. These are not fixed dates, and crossings are hard to predict. Details are on the migration page.
How much is the park fee?
For a non-resident adult it is $100 a day from January to June and $200 a day from July to December in 2026. Children aged 9 to 17 pay $50, and children up to 8 years enter free. The park fees page has the full table.
Do I need an eTA for Kenya?
Visitors from Germany, Austria and Switzerland do, and it must be approved before you travel. Some nationalities are exempt. The standard application starts at $30. Passports need at least 6 months of validity and a free page. Since 5 October 2026 Kenyan travel health insurance is also required for most visitors. Check the current rules before you book, and see the travel tips.
How do I get from Nairobi to the Mara?
By road or by air. One camp near the Sekenani Gate gives a road transfer of about 4 hours, and flights leave from Wilson Airport. Read the pages on trips from Nairobi and flights.
Is maasaimaranationalreserve.org an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to Narok County, the Kenya Wildlife Service, any conservancy, lodge or safari operator.