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Location
The Mara Conservancy is located within the famous Masai Mara National Park. It is located in the Oloolaimutia region of the Eastern Masai Mara and comprises open savannahs and forested wilderness. The Mara Conservancy is home to a myriad of incredible wildlife including giraffes, elephants, buffalos and the elusive eland.
Size
Mara Siana Conservancy is 54.69 square miles.
History
Mara Siana Conservancy was established during the “conservancy movement”. Landowners joined with conservations and safari organizations to remove fencing from the land so that wildlife could roam freely, resulting in incredible game viewing for all visitors to the area.
Hours of Operation
Access to Mara Siana is through the main gates of the Masai Mara National Reserve 6.00am to 6.00pm
By Road
Traveling by road, the drive from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport or the city center is a journey of around 135 miles and will take around four and a half hours. Once visitors pass through the Masai Mara gates, they will travel a further 25 miles on the C12 to Mara Siana Conservancy.
By Air
Guests choosing to fly in will depart Nairobi’s Wilson Airport and fly into Siana Springs landing strip. The flying time is around 40 minutes and guests will enjoy a transfer through the wilderness from the airstrip to their camp or lodge.
Weather & Climate
The most ideal time to visit the Mara Siana Conservancy is during the drier, winter season when the grass is low, creating the perfect setting for an incredible safari experience. The weather is cool and crisp, with chilly mornings and incredible sunsets. Temperatures are around 52 – 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The wettest month is April when the long rains fall daily.
Avoiding Crowds
To avoid the rush of vehicles out on the Masai Mara, visitors should consider visiting in the low or green seasons, which fall over the months of October to December and January through to the end of May. While short rains may fall later in the year and early January, the scenery is lush and green, bird life is wonderful and there are fewer visitors in the lodges, camps and out on safari daily.
Value for Money
The value of staying in the Mara Siana Conservancy may come in the form of less crowded game drives in a region of the Masai Mara that is blessed with incredible wildlife. Accommodation options range from moderate, classic lodges to stunning ultra-luxury tented accommodations that offer the best in high-end safari experiences. Being outside the main Masai Mara means that accommodation pricing can be pretty competitive.
Popular Wildlife Sightings in Mara Siana Conservancy
The wilderness that is the Mara Siana Conservancy is positioned perfectly for the wildebeest migration that happens in July and October. The open savannahs create the perfect playground for plains game such as gazelles, zebra, topis, elands and the beautiful giraffe. The land is rich with food and water sources, and sightings are plenty for visitors who are embarking on walking safaris or open-vehicle game drives.
The Terrain
Open savannahs, rolling hills lush with vegetation and forested regions make up the terrain at the Mara Siana Conservancy. The land is vast yet contained in an area that offers outstanding wildlife, a corridor between other parts of the amazing Masai Mara National Park.
Game Drives
Game drives take place both in the Mara Siana Conservancy as well as other parts of the Masai Mara National Park, traversing regions that range from savannahs to forested tracks and rolling hills. Drives take place early in the morning and late in the afternoon, stopping for a truly incredible sunset view. Game drives typically last about three hours.
Guided Walking Safaris
Bush walks are possible for guests to enjoy while staying at lodges and camps in the Mara Siana Conservancy. Qualified guides take safari-goers through vast open spaces and along river banks and forested trails, keeping an eye open for animals such as a distant giraffe or wandering elephant that seemingly blends into the surrounding wilderness.
| Lodge or Hotel | Distance to park entrance (in miles) |
| Mara Tented Camp | 9 miles from Sekenani Gate, Masai Mara |
| Enkorok Mara Camp | 15 miles from Ololaimutia gate, Masai Mara |
| Leleshwa Camp | 12 miles from Sekenani Gate, Masai Mara |
| Entumoto Toto Camp | 5 miles from Sekanani Gate, Masai Mara |
| Mara Springs Tented Camp | 1 mile from the Siana Airstrip and 8.6 miles from Sekenani Gate, Masai Mara |
The main focus of spending time in the Mara Siana Conservancy is to focus on game viewing. Whether on a guided game walk or on a 4×4 enclosed or open-vehicle game drive. These drives can be done in nearby conservancies and throughout the main Masa Mara National Park.
It is best to visit the Mara Siana Conservancy during the winter months between June and the end of August when game viewing is fantastic due to the dry weather and low grass. To avoid crowds, visitors can consider staying in the Mara Siana Conservancy in the green season between December and February or low season months of March and April.
Prices vary from USD250 per person per night for a moderate and basic tented experience to ultra-luxury at tented camps where pricing is around USD1500 per person sharing per night during high season. Guests’s safari experiences include
By road, the drive from Nairobi will be a drive of around 135 miles and take between four and a half and five hours. Flying in from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport will be a flight of 40 minutes. Guests are then driven from the Siana Airstrip to their lodge or camp.
The landscape comprises a blend of open savannah, lush hills and forested regions. The conservancy acts as a corridor in the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve with animals free to roam between conservancies within the reserve. Wildlife sightings are brilliant in the Mara Siana Conservancy.
A plethora of zebra, topi, dik-dik, and gazelle graze and roam this area, as well as larger favorites such as elephants and the gentle giraffe.
The gates to the Mara Siana Conservancy open at 6am and close at 6pm
Visitors embarking on a safari in the Mara Siana Conservancy will have to prebook their accommodation and safari package.
Game drives and safari walks are the best way to experience the wilderness and wildlife wonders of the Mara Siana Conservancy.
There are moderate camping options and luxury tented hideaways, giving visitors a nice range of accommodation options to choose from. Some wonderful options include Mara Springs Tented Camp, Mara Bushtops and Entumoto Toto Camp.
There are no stand-alone restaurants in the area, so guests will enjoy their meals at their lodge or camp.
Game viewing is the key focus of any visit to this area. Game drives in 4×4 vehicles or
Guided bush walks take place daily. The wildlife is wonderful, the terrain scenic and the ambiance peaceful and relaxing.
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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