A Luxury Safari Guide to the Maasai Mara, Kenya
I don’t know about you, but going on a luxury safari was one of those pinch me bucket list moments that I’ll never forget. The idea of embarking on a luxury safari is exciting. But planning brings about lots of decisions from the destination, accommodation, packing, etc…
To help make your planning process so much easier, I’m sharing my luxury safari guide to the Maasai Mara, Kenya. In this detailed guide, I’m breaking down everything you need to know about experiencing the Maasai Mara, what you need to know about going on a safari, and the nitty-gritty logistics of planning a luxury safari.
Why Visit the Maasai Mara, Kenya
The Maasai Mara, also known as “The Mara,” is a reserve that was named after the Maasai people who call the area home. “Mara,” which translates to “spotted,” aptly describes the land that is dotted with acacia trees.
Although you have your option of Kruger National Park (South Africa), Chobe National Park (Botswana), Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania), and other safari destinations to choose from, the Maasai Mara is a bucket list safari destination for both first-timers and experienced safari-goers.
Where is the Maasai Mara?
The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania might be on your list when you’re considering locations for your luxury safari. But what most people don’t know is that the Maasai Mara sits along the southwest border of Kenya, which also makes up the northern reaches of the Serengeti.
Open borders are common in this area, meaning animals from the Serengeti will roam across into the Mara frequently. And believe it or not, you’ll have a better chance at wildlife spotting in the Mara since the area is smaller and more densely populated.
With that being said, there are two terms you need to familiarize yourself with before making a firm decision on the location of your luxury safari: conservancies and national parks.
Conservancy Vs. National Park
To help you set the record straight (and in an attempt to convince you to visit the Maasai Mara), here’s a quick breakdown of the differences.
The Maasai Mara is a National Park. While national parks are a great place to experience a safari, you need to be aware of the restrictions that come with them. National parks are managed by the government who oversees the management of systems, rules, security, and the overall maintenance of roads.
While each national park has its own extensive system of roads, they also do not limit the number of vehicles per day. This means your safari experience in a national park will be more crowded, which may or may not affect your likelihood of spotting more wildlife.
Conservancies, on the other hand, are large areas of land that are often adjoining national parks. The Maasai Mara has several conservancies - where landowners enter agreements with safari operators.
This means only conservancy vehicles are allowed to enter the conservancy and they’re allowed to enter National Parks as well. However, the other safari operators are not allowed to enter the conservancies in order to protect the animals, local culture, and land.
How to Get to the Maasai Mara
The easiest way to get to the Maasai Mara is to first fly into Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. From Nairobi, you’ll embark on a bush flight to the Maasai Mara.
But be warned - your baggage limit on a bush flight is limited to 15kgs. So if you’re a heavy packer, you could do one of two things…
Pack lightly
Stay at the Villa Rosa in Nairobi and Olare Mara in the Maasai Mara
Where to Stay for a Luxury Safari in the Maasai Mara
If packing light is easier said than done, staying at the Kempinski’s two properties is the best option for you. The Villa Rosa in Nairobi is the perfect launching point for a luxury safari without any packing restrictions.
Not only will you get white-glove service every step of the way, but the Villa Rosa will also keep your belongings safe and secure in Nairobi as you take only what you need to their other property in the Maasai Mara.
The Olare Mara is also a great place to enjoy a nice glamping experience in the Maasai Mara. For starters, there are only a total of 24 tents, meaning that at full capacity, it still won’t be overcrowded. It is also the only property that is situated in the unfenced Olare Motorogi Conservancy
For those who don’t have a packing issue, staying at Angama Mara will be a seriously luxurious experience. Angama, which in Swahili means “suspended in mid-air,” does not disappoint as it is located above the floor of Africa’s Great Rift Valley.
This owner-run luxury safari lodge overlooks the Maasai Mara, meaning each tented suite offers dramatic views through its floor-to-ceiling glass windows. They also offer experiences from game drives, hot air balloon rides, and walking safaris.
What to Expect From Your Luxury Safari Experience
For the best experience, I highly recommend splitting your luxury safari experience between both a conservancy and a national park. From my own experience, what I saw in the conservancy is very different from what I saw in a national park.
I saw rhinos (ver endangered) and the beginnings of the Great Migration— including a herd of zebra crossing a river with a ton of crocodiles waiting for a bite.
If you didn’t know, the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem is the stage for one of the most incredible events - the Great Migration. Around July, you’ll witness millions of wildebeest, antelope, and zebra race their way across Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya’s Maasai Mara.
Aside from the Great Migration, the Maasai Mara is also home to the Big Five (elephants, lions, buffalo, leopard, and rhinos). Making the Mara the perfect destination for a game drive and bushwalk.
However, your guides most likely will speak and converse amongst themselves in Swahili so as to not get your hopes up for potential wildlife sightings. But prick your ears up when you hear these following words:
Keechwa - lion
Faru - rhino
Cultural Experiences in the Maasai Mara
What makes a luxury safari in the Maasai Mara different from everywhere else is the opportunity to learn about the Maasai culture. For centuries, the Maasai have taken care of and lived harmoniously with the wildlife of the Maasai Mara.
Getting to visit and the locals was easily one of my favorite parts of my trip. And no luxury safari trip to Kenya would be complete without learning about the Maasai culture, their proud warrior society, music, and dance.
What to Pack for Your Luxury Safari
Remember, heading to the Maasai Mara comes with a weight limit on your luggage. And since leaving your camera gear behind is out of the question, your best option is to save on space with clothes.
Although you could pack a simple linen white shirt (which you can’t go wrong with) and some jeans, I highly recommend packing tactical fabrics.
Anatomie has a great selection of clothes that are incredibly lightweight, so you can pack to your heart’s content while still looking stylish on your luxury safari. And if you’re staying at Olare Mara, their laundry service will definitely come in handy.
If you want a more complete post on everything I packed along with details about my outfits, I have a safari packing guide post that’ll make sure you have everything you need.