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Location
The Mara North Conservancy is based in the northwest section of the Masai Mara, situated in southern Kenya.
Size
The Mara North Conservancy is approximately 100 square miles in size.
History
With a strong desire to save their land, the Maasai community banded together to create the Mara North Conservancy, over 800 warriors succeeding with the conservancy officially created in 2009. The communities worked in conjunction with several accommodation organizations to establish a thriving co-existence for landowners and safari tourism.
Entrance Fees & Permits
The cost to enter the Masai Mara National Reserve is USD70 per adult and USD40 per child under 12 years old, per 24-hr period.
Hours of Operation
The opening and closing times for the gates of the Masai Mara National Reserve will apply to guests staying in the Mara North Conservancy as well. The gates are open between 6am and 6pm daily.
By Road
Travelling by road from Nairobi the 152-mile journey will take approximately five hours. The drive west will be along the B3 and C13.
By Air
A flight to the Mara North Conservancy airstrip covers a distance of 125 miles and will take approximately 50 minutes of flying time.
Weather & Climate
The Mara North Conservancy has a moderate climate with two rainy seasons identified and a dry, cool winter season which falls in June, July and August. The short rains fall in November, while the wettest time of the year is between March and early May. Temperatures during peak safari season, winter, average around 75 F.
Avoiding Crowds
The Mara North Conservancy sees a lot of visitors between July and September, the chance to witness the Great Migration in July a key reason many people visit the Masai Mara at this time of year. Visitors can experience an exceptional safari if they visit outside these months and just before the short rains which start in November. Bird lovers will want to visit in January and February before the long rains fall, to get a chance to see one of the over 500 bird species recorded in the Mara.
Value for Money
Accommodation in the Mara North Conservancy ranges in pricing from USD350 per person sharing per night to, USD1500 per person sharing per night. Basic accommodation options or larger lodges will offer great value for money to guests looking to stay in the famous Masai Mara region. Smaller lodges such as Royal Mara Safari Lodge with 8 rooms and Kandili Camp with 11 luxury tents offer an intimate experience in the conservancy, a luxury experience that offers value for money in this highly sought-after part of the Masai Mara.
Popular Wildlife Sightings in Mara North Conservancy
There are around 90 mammal species and over 500 species of birds. Maasai giraffe, western white bearded wildebeest, Topi and many more incredible wildlife can be seen in this animal-rich part of the Masai Mara.
The Terrain
The terrain of the Mara North Conservancy comprises mostly savannah with acacia and elephant pepper trees scattered throughout the conservancy. On the northern border the Mara River flows amid bushy woodlands.
Game Drives
Game drives in the Mara North Conservancy are conducted in either open 4×4 game drive vehicles or enclosed 4×4 vehicles with a pop-up roof. Early morning and late afternoon drives on the conservancy are normally three hours each, with the option of a night game drive for guests staying within the Mara North Conservancy.
Guided Walking Safaris
Take a walk on the wild side with a Maasai guide as you wander through low grassland and onto open savannahs, keeping an eye open for plains game nearby and watching larger animals from a safe distance. Learn about the flora and fauna around you and enjoy the fresh air of the African bush.
Accommodation is strategically placed around the Mara North Conservancy and ranges in size and style. From intimate luxury tented camps to well-established four star classic lodges, guests will be accommodated in true safari settings in one of the Masai Mara’s key conservancies. Mara North Conservancy Lodging – Distance from park entrance
| Lodge or Hotel | Distance to park entrance (in miles) |
| Royal Mara Safari Lodge | 15 miles from Oloololo Gate in a northeasterly direction |
| Kandili Camp | 2 miles from the Musiara Gate in a northerly direction |
| Neptune Mara Rianta Lodge | 15 miles from Oloololo Gate in a northeasterly direction |
| Mara River Camp | 4.8 miles from Oloololo Gate in northeasterly direction |
Accommodation options in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy range from humble three-star camps to luxury, high-end safari lodges, all set near the wildlife-rich valleys and ravines of the conservancy. Options exist for all types of budgets.Olare Motorogi Conservancy Lodging – Distance from park entrance
| Lodge or Hotel | Distance to park entrance (in miles) |
| Mara Plains Camp | 27 miles from Oloololo Gate in a southeasterly direction |
| Mahali Mzuri | 29 miles from Oloololo Gate in an easterly direction |
| Kicheche Bush Camp | 15 miles from Oloololo Gate in an easterly direction |
There are only nine lodges and camps in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy, making a safari in this region of the Masai Mara ecosystem an intimate experience. Options range from comfortable camps to luxury lodges, suiting a variety of safari budgets.Mara Naboisho Conservancy Lodging – Distance from park entrance
| Lodge or Hotel | Distance to park entrance (in miles) |
| Eagle View Camp | 12 miles from the Sekenani (main) Masai Mara gate in a northerly direction |
| Encounter Mara Camp | 12 miles from Sekenani (main) Masai Mara gate in a northerly direction |
| Naboisho Camp | 18 miles from Sekenani (main) Masai Mara gate in a northeasterly direction |
| Kicheche Valley Camp | 11 miles from Sekenani (main) Masai Mara gate in a northeasterly direction |
| Hemingways Ol Seki Mara Camp | 11.5 miles from Sekenani (main) Masai Mara gate in a northeasterly direction |
Mobile tented camps, eco-friendly basic tented accommodation, luxury lodges and high-end tented accommodation are all available in the Mara Triangle. Intimate experiences to accommodation suited to families and small group establishments exist in the Mara Triangle.
Mara Triangle Lodging – Distance from Park Entrance.
| Lodge or Hotel | Distance to park entrance (in miles) |
| Mara Serena Safari Lodge | 41 miles from the Sekenani Main Gate, driving in a north-westerly direction |
| Mara Engai | 43 miles from Aitong Gate (via Mara Conservancy) in a westerly direction |
Masai Mara National Reserve Lodging – Distance from park entrance
| Lodge or Hotel | Distance to park entrance (in miles) |
| Base Camp Masai Mara | 12 miles from the Sekenani (main) gate in a northwesterly direction |
| Ilkeliani Camp | 15 miles from the Sekenani (main) gate in a northwesterly direction |
| Mara Eden Camp | 15 miles from the Oloololo gate in a northerly direction |
| Sarova Mara Camp | 1.5 miles from the Sekenani (main) gate in a westerly direction |
| Zebra Plains Mara Camp | 4 miles from Talek Gate in a southeasterly direction |
Cultural Visit
Enjoy a walk through a Maasai village with a Maasai guide who will share a day in the life of the local community located near your lodge or camp within the Mara North Conservancy.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Enjoy an early morning hot air balloon ride as you soar above vast savannahs and forested havens in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Launching is from the Mara Triangle, an approximate one-hour drive from Mara North Conservancy
Horse Riding
Enjoy riding alongside plains game such as giraffe, zebra and wildebeest on a horseback ride through the Mara North Conservancy. Enjoy the slow-paced walk through open savannas and along riverbanks under the watchful eye of a professional safari guide.
Rhino Sanctuary Visit
The Ol Chorro Rhino Sanctuary has been in existence for over 20 years, with the local community managing the protection and conservation of these much-loved animals. A passionate community aimed at saving the white rhino and helping their local community through job creation.
The best time to visit the Mara North Conservancy is between the months of June and September when the weather is cool and dry, the perfect time to view game and get an opportunity to witness the Great Migration in the greater Masai Mara National Reserve.
Packaged safaris within the Mara North Conservancy will cost between USD350 to USD1500 per person sharing per night. Options include game drive, all meals and a variety of lodge and camp sizes, providing an option for guests on all budgets to enjoy a safari in the Masai Mara.
The drive from Nairobi will take approximately five hours with guests traveling west along the B3 and C13.
The smaller conservancy means a great chance to see wildlife out on the plains and woodlands, fewer safari vehicles will be out on game drives and guests will have the chance to visit other parts of the Masai Mara National Reserve while staying in the north.
There are over 90 mammal species and over 500 bird species in the Mara North Conservancy, so sightings of plains game favorites such as giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest are highlighted with the chance to spot buffalo, elephant, and lion, for example. Black-Shouldered kites, the Bat hawk, and the Egyptian vulture are just a handful of the birds one can see in the Mara North Conservancy.
The gates of the Masai Mara open at 6am to 6pm so access to the Mara North Conservancy will be between these times.
Yes, guests do need to pre-book their Kenya safari package to the Mara North Conservancy as accommodation availability books up quickly. Consider booking 12 to 18 months in advance.
Game drives in either open 4×4 safari vehicles or enclosed vehicles with a pop-up roof is the best way to experience the wildlife and terrain of the Mara North Conservancy. Bush walks with a Maasai guide are popular too and enjoying a night drive on the conservancy gives guests a chance to spot nocturnal favorites such as porcupine or spotting a leopard up a tree.
Royal Mara Safari Lodge and Kandili Camp are both wonderfully intimate camps with only 8 and 11 rooms respectively. Mara Neptune Rianta is a luxury lodge that offers 20 rooms and the Mara River Camp offers a classic tented experience on the banks of the Mara River.
There are no individual restaurants located in or near the Mara North Conservancy, with guests enjoying their meals at their lodge or camp of their choice.
Guests staying in the Mara North Conservancy can experience a Maasai cultural village, a chance to learn about the rich history and traditions of the Maasai tribes. Horse riding on the conservancy, a hot air balloon experience launching from nearby Mara Triangle and a visit to the Ol Chorro Rhino Sanctuary are other activities guests staying in the Mara North Conservancy can experience.
2-day Masai Mara game reserve tour on a road safari with intensive game viewing drives in search of the Big five.
Transport to the Masai Mara including game viewing drives is in private pop up top safari minivan or 4×4 Land Cruiser jeep.
2-day Masai Mara game reserve tour on a road safari with intensive game viewing drives in search of the Big five.
Nairobi Masai Mara Game reserve safari proceeding by road via the great rift valley escarpment and scenic masai country.
A Kenya safari tour rich in diversity and which offers unlimited game viewing opportunities in private safari minibuses or 4 x 4 cruisers. The Masai Mara Kenya safari tour is themed on scenery, wildlife and masai culture. We start from Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city. The safari drive is via the Nairobi suburbs, past tea and coffee plantations, the Great rift valley escarpment and through masai country.
Join the Nairobi Masai Mara Game reserve group safari. The Masai mara safari tour is rich in diversity.
Transport and game viewing drives are provided in shared safari designed open topped minibuses. A maximum of 6 persons are accommodated in each 8 seater safari minibus. This is to allow for a guaranteed window seat and access to the open roof. The theme of this Kenya safari is wildlife,awesome scenery and masai culture.
Masai Mara 4-day safari tour proceeding by road from Nairobi with a stop to view Great rift valley escarpment and via scenic Masai country.
Fly into Masai Mara from Nairobi on a flight safari tour package exploring the magnificent game reserve. Explore the Mara on rewarding game viewing drives in customized pop up top 4×4 land cruiser jeeps
Here’s your chance to “wing in” to world famous Masai Mara and discover the Big Five.
All game drives feature customized pop top 4 x 4 Land Cruiser Jeeps on this tour package.
Fly into Masai Mara on a flight for 4 day safari tour package exploring the magnificent game reserve.
Explore the Mara on rewarding game viewing drives in customized pop up top 4×4 land cruiser jeeps.
From Beach to Beach
From the Kenya coast you’ll travel by air to the Masai Mara on this 2-day, 1-night fly-in safari. Stay at a camp or lodge of your choice.
The 3 days, 2 nights direct Mombasa Masai Mara air/flight safari.
Masai Mara game reserve safari by air from the Kenya coast with accommodation at camps and lodges.
Game viewing drives are conducted by the host lodges / camps.
Lodges and camps at the Masai Mara conduct game viewing drives in 4 wheel cruisers on a seat in car basis.
Mombasa Masai Mara Game reserve safari from Kenya Coast beach hotels utilizing flight and road via Nairobi.
This is an alternative to the direct Mombasa- masai mara air safari.
The Kenya safari is rich in diversity and offers more game viewing range because we provide exclusive use of safari vehicles for transport and game viewing drives.
From the Kenya coast you’ll travel by air to the Masai Mara on this 2-day, 1-night fly-in safari. Stay at a camp or lodge of your choice.
Your lodge host will lead game drives through the Masai Mara in 4-wheel Land Cruisers.
From the Kenya coast you’ll travel by air to the Masai Mara on this 3-day, 2-night fly-in safari. Stay at a camp or lodge of your choice.
Your lodge host will lead game drives through the Masai Mara in 4-wheel Land Cruisers.
From Beach to Beach
It’s An Easy Flight From Diani To The Mara
From your beach resort it’s a quick flight over Kenya’s scenic landscape to the premier game park of Africa. Natural World Safariswill transfer you to an area airport for your morning flight. We’ll handle all the arrangements and get you from surf to safari in a quick and easy 2-ho
Mombasa Masai Mara Game reserve safari from Kenya Coast beach hotels utilizing flight and road via Nairobi.
This is an alternative to the direct Mombasa- masai mara air safari.
The Kenya safari is rich in diversity and offers more game viewing range because we provide exclusive use of safari vehicles for transport and game viewing drives.
On the date of your hot air balloon flight, the balloon operating company shall collect you from your safari lodge/ tented camp in one of their custom safari jeep at around 5AM for a drive to the hot air balloon launch.
Experience the history and culture of Masai tribesmen while visiting either Masai Mara National Reserve or Amboseli National Park…
This visit is optional while on your Kenya safari.
The best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda is during the dry season (December– February and June - August) when conditions are especially good for trekking to view mountain gorillas. Game drives in the national parks are also fruitful during this time.
Wear neutral colored, lightweight clothing on your Uganda safari. Dress in layers and bring a warm sweater for morning and nighttime game drives. For gorilla trekking, bring a waterproof rain jacket, hiking boots, long socks, hiking pants, bug repellant, and a daypack. A sunhat and gardening gloves are also a good idea; the jungle is dense and thick.
Natural World Kenya Safaris offers Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Uganda with basic accommodations starting at $96 per person, per day, plus the Uganda gorilla trekking permit which costs $700 per person per day (the permits are required, and those fees are non-negotiable.) Costs increase from there.
Natural World Safaris can provide basic, mid-range, and luxury trekking safaris and is eager to work with almost any budget.
Suggested tips range from $10 to $20 per person per day for a private guide and the same amount for your driver if that is a different person than your guide.
If you are on a guided safari or gorilla trek in Uganda, your chances of encountering problems are minimal. However, it is always a good idea to take precautions on your safari, particularly when traveling through urban areas or in regions close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The trek to spot gorillas can be strenuous. It could take anywhere from two to eight hours to find and observe the gorillas, depending on the time of year. Be prepared to hike for multiple hours through uneven terrain at high altitude. It is advisable to train before any gorilla trekking trip by walking uphill, or better yet, by taking day hikes.
When it comes to wildlife viewing, there are never any guarantees. There are no fences in the parks in Uganda and the gorillas are free to roam. However, our expert guides and gorilla trackers have years of experience taking guests to see these magnificent creatures. They know their favorite spots to congregate and work closely with park officials each day to provide the best possible chance of seeing gorillas in the wild.
Most mountain gorillas in Uganda live at between 4,900 to 7,500 feet. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home to the country’s mountain gorillas, has a high point of 8,550ft.
The best time to go on a gorilla trek in Rwanda is during the dry season (June - September) when conditions are best for trekking to view the country’s highlight: the fascinating mountain gorillas.
Wear neutral colored, lightweight clothing on your Rwanda gorilla trek. Dress in layers and don’t forget a sweater for chilly morning and nighttime game drives. For gorilla trekking, bring a waterproof rain jacket, broken-in hiking boots, long socks, hiking pants, bug repellant, and a daypack. A sun visor and protective gloves – such as gardening gloves - are also useful.
Natural World Kenya Safaris offers Gorilla Trekking Safaris in Rwanda with basic accommodations starting at $720 per person, per day, plus the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit which costs $1,500 per person per day (the permits are required, and those fees are non-negotiable.) Costs increase from there.
Natural World Safaris can provide basic, mid-range, and luxury trekking safaris and is eager to work with almost any budget.
Suggested tips for your guide are $25 per person, per day for a private guide and the same amount for your driver if that is a different person than your guide.
Rwanda is one of the safest countries in Africa, particularly if you are on a guided safari or gorilla trek. Your chances of encountering problems are minimal. However, it is always a good idea to take precautions on your safari, particularly when traveling through urban areas. Cross-border travel into the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Burundi is not safe, however, so steer clear of this.
The trek to spot gorillas can be strenuous. It could take anywhere from two to eight hours to find and observe the gorillas, depending on the time of year. Be prepared to hike for multiple hours through uneven terrain at high altitude. It is advisable to train before any gorilla trekking trip by walking uphill, or better yet, by taking day hikes.
When it comes to wildlife viewing, there are never any guarantees. There are no fences in the parks in Rwanda and the gorillas are free to roam. However, our expert guides and gorilla trackers have years of experience taking guests to see these magnificent creatures. They know their favorite spots to congregate and work closely with park officials each day to provide the best possible chance of seeing gorillas in the wild.
Most mountain gorillas in Rwanda live at between 8,000 to 13,000 feet. Volcanoes National Park has a high point of 15,000ft.
Contact us for more information
For more information about our safari excursions, or to book your dream safari trip with Natural World Kenya Safaris, simply get in touch with our friendly travel advisors. Give us a call on +254 704 001 122 or leave your details on our contact us page, and we'll reply as quickly as possible.
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