Planning your own Masai Mara safari: costs and considerations
How to plan your own safari in Kenya, and how to do it on a budget
Embarking on a thrilling safari adventure in Kenya's Masai Mara is a dream for many wildlife enthusiasts. While booking through a travel agency is a popular option, it is entirely possible to plan your own affordable safari experience.
Self-camping: a cost-effective, exciting way to safari in Kenya
In most of Kenya’s national parks, self-camping is an option. Many of you safari-goers that live in Kenya will know this. In the Masai Mara, owing largely to its wide international appeal and the massive amount of tourism revenue the park makes, most of the camping options are slightly higher end.
However, there are a few self-camping campsites in the reserve and, if you’ve got the kit or are prepared to borrow or rent it, then self-camping is a great way to safari on a budget.
Tor's Camp: a perfect starting point
Obviously, we’ll be using this platform to plug our own camp but Tor’s really is - and this is by design - the perfect starting point when planning your own safari in Kenya.
Located in a secluded area within the reserve, this camp offers a range of accommodation options catering to different preferences and budgets. For those seeking a truly authentic camping experience, Tor's Camp provides completely do-it-yourself campsites where you bring your own tent, camping gear, and supplies. We provide showering and toilet facilities, access to electricity for the charging of phones, and a few amenities (a BBQ, a gazebo-style mini-mess tent and gas lamps) but it’s still largely do-it-yourself.
On the other hand, if you prefer a more comfortable stay, Tor’s also offers glamping tents equipped with en-suite toilet and showers, making it convenient for international visitors or those who prefer not to bring their own tents.
Travel considerations when planning your own affordable safari in Kenya
The expertise of people with local knowledge can go a long way anywhere in the world. So, whether you’re staying with us at Tor’s or not, here’s a little of what you can expect if you’re planning your own safari to the Masai Mara.
First, let’s tackle park fees.
The Masai Mara National Reserve’s park entry fees:
There are different prices for National Reserve entry. The prices depend on whether the ticket is for someone legally (and provably) resident in Kenya and whether the ticket is for a camper who is spending their camping nights in the reserve.
One of the recent changes that has been made to Masai Mara National Reserve admissions is in what the purchase of a ticket means. Previously, the rule was that you bought a ticket and it lasted you 24 hours. That meant that international tourists could buy their ticket at 3 pm on a Thursday and they’d have until 3pm on a Friday to see all they wanted to and then leave.
As of the 26th of June, 2023, day entry tickets now allow for a set 12-hour span of entry to the reserve. Time of entry no longer has an influence on time of exit. If you pay for one day’s entry, and you’re sleeping outside of the reserve, you are allowed in the park for that day, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.
For those that are looking to stay their nights in accommodation inside the reserve, you pay for park fees based on the number of nights you are staying. The major change for those campers who wish to stay in the reserve is that, they will have to have left the reserve by 10:00 am the morning following their last night in the reserve. If they don’t, they’ll be expected to buy another day pass.
Non-resident adult staying in accommodation outside of the reserve: 80 USD per day.
Non-resident child staying in accommodation outside the reserve: 45 USD per day.
Non-resident adult staying in accommodation inside the reserve: 70 USD per night
Non-resident child staying in accommodation inside the reserve: 40 USD per night.
East African resident adult: 1,200 kshs per day or night
East African resident child: 500 kshs per day or night
*Resident rates are for individuals who can prove, through visa documentation or national IDs, that they are resident in either Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda or Burundi.
Kenya citizen adult: 1,000 kshs per day or night
Kenya citizen child: 300 kshs per day or night
Driving yourself around the Masai Mara
First, lets start with this: Yes, you are allowed to drive yourself around the home to some of East Africa’s most magnificent beasts.
There are fees that you’ll have to pay, of course.
If you are driving a vehicle with less than 6 seats, entry fees for the National Reserve are kshs 400 per day or night.
If you are driving a vehicle with between 6-12 seats, the entry fee is 1,000 kshs per day or night.
If driving yourself around the Masai Mara is something you’re considering, we’d hugely recommend it. There are few greater experiences than being able to adventure off your own back. Of course, you must adhere to park rules and regulations so make sure you follow any instruction given to you by rangers at the gate and follow the rules on engagement clearly sign-posted at the reserve’s entry points.
One great way of getting around Kenya if you aren’t resident here is by renting a car and making your safari into a road trip.
We’ve been working with a great company that does 4x4 vehicle rental in Kenya. Black Leopard 4x4 Hire and Guide company rents out a range of vehicles, variedly equipped for self-driven and guided safaris around Kenya. If you’re considering how to do your own self-driven safari in Kenya, you might consider looking at, and making an enquiry through, Black Leopard’s website.
Black Leopard’s vehicles are available with a wide range of added on equipment. So, if you’re looking to self-camp on your road trip, your Black Leopard-outfitted vehicle can come with everything you need to turn up at a camping spot ready to safari.
Organising travel to and around the Masai Mara National Reserve:
Driving yourself around Kenya, or inside the Masai Mara, isn’t for everyone. Fortunately, if it isn’t your cup of tea, there are other options.
Taxis from Nairobi to the Masai Mara’s Sekenani Gate go for 20,000 kshs (that’s one way). If you need a van (6-seater) the price is 25,000 kshs.
At the gate, you can organise to be picked up by a guide who will bring their own vehicle (usually an eight-seater Land Rover of Land Cruiser). If you want help organising a guide or a taxi driver that will safely get you to the Mara, give us a call and we can give you a hand.
Freelance guides (with the vehicle hire) will usually cost between 18,000 kshs and 20,000 kshs per day.
