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Maasai Mara Conservancies
Maasai Mara Conservancies
Maasai Mara Conservancies
Maasai Mara Conservancies

The conservancies are exclusive to their guests...

...bush walks...

Most of the camp staff come from the region’s Maasai communities.

You will often see no other vehicles around you...

Maasai Mara Conservancies

Reviews of safaris to Maasai Mara Conservancies

386 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Mara Conservancies.

Showing 61-70 of 386
Duration
Arrival date
Ms J from FL & IL
USA

"My Oct 2023 trip"

I visited Kenya between 21 Oct 2023 and 3 Nov 2023
"Fantastic; exceeded all expectations.

Every component was top drawer -- pre-trip info, the accommodations, meals, guides, service, schedule -- even the animals all cooperated!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

As a non-drinker, I wonder how much of my cost was allocated towards alcohol.

A non-alcohol pricing option might be something to consider for guests who'd agree not to indulge." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Gwendolyon
Ithaca,NY

"The trip of a lifetime "

I visited Kenya between 21 Oct 2023 and 3 Nov 2023
"WOW! WOW! WOW! This was truly the trip of a lifetime.

For 6 decades (since I fell in love with Born Free) I have wanted to travel to Africa. The opportunity arose when I ceased the opportunity to go on safari with a wildlife photographer I followed on Facebook. I had no idea what going on safari with her meant, but knew from her photos and connection to Africa and the animals that this was how I wanted to do it. Her trips are completely organized through Expert Africa with Richard Trillo, organizer and planner extraordinaire!

The information, the attention to detail, planning, everything was managed perfectly. Expert Africa (Richard) walks you through every step along the way; and if they can’t answer a question specifically for you (like which travel insurance should I get), they provide necessary information to perform your own research and make the decision that fits your needs. Informative packets are sent with answers to all the questions you may have (as well as ones you didn’t know you needed the answers to). Weather, culture, money, gratuities, obtaining the appropriate visas, etc. Everything is planned so that you are never alone once you arrive, and never need to figure out how to do something.

Everyone is sent an itinerary for the trip including everyone’s flight information, who will be meeting you at the airport and helping you through customs, driving you to your destination(s). All travel, including flights within Kenya, are taken care of, including providing day rooms on your last day prior to your flight and bringing you back to the airport at the end of the trip. And when they ask on their booking form what your food preferences are, make sure to fill it in (no matter how silly you think it may be, this from my own experience). All the destinations, camps, and lodges want to accommodate you as best they can.

The camps are perfect. Perfect accommodations, perfect food, amazing staff. Joyful always. Informative always. Welcoming everyone into the family.

I didn’t have the opportunity to research other travel companies, but from this experience with Expert Africa, I have absolutely no reason to look into any other companies. I plan on returning to Africa. And I plan on ONLY going through Expert Africa. And I am telling everyone I meet that indicates they’ve “always wanted to go”.

Thank you for the service your provide, Expert Africa.

Thank you for providing opportunities to travel to this most cherished continent in a way that respects, sustains, and helps to protect these lands and all their inhabitants." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms D.
Canada

"My Oct 2023 trip"

I visited Kenya between 21 Oct 2023 and 3 Nov 2023
"It was an experience of a lifetime!!!

I can't wait to hopefully one day go back again, and I wouldn't change a thing, the trip from start to finish was everything I had dreamed it would be and so much more!!!

A special thank you Expert Africa, Richard Trillo, Nancie Wight, and to everyone else that made this trip one I will never ever forget!

The memories will live on in my heart forever.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Nothing at all, totally pleased with everything." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 11 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs R.
Chicago

"My Oct 2023 trip"

I visited Kenya between 20 Oct 2023 and 1 Nov 2023
"Many thanks to Expert Africa, and our wonderful advisor, Jessica Plumb, for working with us to plan our amazing adventure. We could not be happier with the camps she suggested and the itinerary.

Each location offered something special - something different - but with the same high-quality surroundings and excellent service. It was truly seamless and a trip of a lifetime.

If we are ever lucky enough to get back to Africa, I would only turn to Expert Africa to plan our trip.

I can't imagine how this trip could have been better!

Thank you so much Jessica and Expert Africa!!" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Liz C
Sussex

"My Oct 2023 trip"

I visited Kenya between 19 Oct 2023 and 29 Oct 2023
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs H.
Canada

"My Oct 2023 trip"

I visited Kenya between 11 Oct 2023 and 22 Oct 2023
Overall trip
Excellent
Foxy
Yorkshire, UK

"My Oct 2023 trip"

I visited Kenya between 11 Oct 2023 and 26 Oct 2023
"Fantastic, trip of a lifetime. All venues/facilities were excellent as were staff and food. Thoroughly recommend it." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 15 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms LW & VB NH
USA

"My Oct 2023 trip"

I visited Kenya between 10 Oct 2023 and 22 Oct 2023
"The trip was fantastic.

The airport drivers were courteous and informative. They took good care of us. The overall organization was great. We didn’t have to worry about a thing. All we had to do was ask for something and it was taken care of.

Not sure we mentioned the Game Drivers specifically. They were superb!!! Silver rated but Gold Platinum in our books.

Our amateur group was pretty tired with the schedule and although we knew we could skip a game drive if needed- we didn’t want to miss out on anything. Next trip might be organized differently for our needs. Now that we have more knowledge and know what to expect.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Richard was very responsive and thorough. It would have been nice to have received the book sooner to give us more time to review and customize/expand our itinerary. Having the logistics taken care of allowed us to focus on our experiences." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Ms B
Florida, US

"Our 2023 trip to Kenya"

I visited Kenya between 16 Sep 2023 and 16 Oct 2023
"Before visiting Kenya, we have been to four countries in Southern Africa (Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) five times, and each one of those trips were highly enjoyable.

Nonetheless, we figured it was time to check out East Africa for a change. To be honest, we were a little apprehensive about this trip, because many guidebooks or websites tell you that in both Kenya and Tanzania visitor numbers are much higher than in the South of Africa. As the New York Times wrote earlier this year, they witnessed a cheetah hunting and making a kill in the Maasai Mara, and in no time, the poor animal was surrounded by 50 vehicles. Well, even though the number of cars per sighting was, on average, higher than in Southern Africa, we experienced none of such extremes. I guess, we were lucky with the choice of camps and/or locations.

For instance, we took great care in picking camps that are using open vehicles with a maximum of six passengers and not vehicles with pop-up roofs, let alone minibuses. For a serious photographer, such conditions would seriously limit your freedom to move, and in the case of pop-up roofs you would have to stand up and, often, you would look down on animals. In other words, it would be a nightmare ruining my trip. I realize that the camps we picked are significantly more expensive, but this goes hand in hand with providing better guides, better amenities and facilities, and better service. The good news is that in our experience, the camps in Kenya are not quite as pricey as Botswana accommodations.

One more comment about the number of cars per sighting: The official rules in the Maasai Mara clearly state that the maximum number of vehicles per scene is limited to five (per animal, not animals!). Taken literally, a pride of 8 lions could be visited by 40 cars, and we have witnessed scenes with up to 20 cars. On other occasions, for instance when observing cheetahs or leopards, we have noticed that local wildlife rangers do in fact make sure that there are no more than 5 cars on the scene. Throughout the entire trip, we were blessed with guides that showed great patience and perseverance to stay at a scene for longer. Quite often we were also lucky enough to be the only two guests in the vehicle. The only camp where there were six passengers in a car was Lewa Safari Camp.

As in previous years, I enjoyed recording our wildlife sightings. Overall, we saw more animals here than in any other place in Africa. And our encounters with the big cats were especially noteworthy, because often they were full of drama. I should point out though that we did not see any wild dogs anywhere. Of the four areas visited, the Maasai Mara was, thanks to our guides, and despite the higher number of vehicles, a photographer’s paradise.

What we also appreciated in all five camps was that they allowed each party to have their own tables at mealtimes.

To summarize, this trip was so good that we are almost certain to return to Kenya in the near future." Read full review: 30 nights in Africa; 20 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Lady C
UK

"OurSep 2023 trip"

I visited Kenya between 15 Sep 2023 and 28 Sep 2023
"Fabulous trip. Learnt a lot even though we have been on many safaris.

Great range of experiences between the 2 camps - loved both of them - and wonderful relaxation at the beach.

I should like to discuss the Wildlife Survey form and the animal sightings you put on your website. I thought looking at your website that these were the animals with some chance% of what we might see. But of course there are lots and lots of others. Also find the more detail bit on this questionairre a bit confusing." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Kenya safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Showing 61-70 of 386
99%
386 reviews of Mara Conservancies by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
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Where to stay in Mara Conservancies

Our suggestions for safari camps in Maasai Mara Conservancies


Kicheche Bush Camp

Kicheche Bush Camp

Kicheche Bush Camp is a smart and intimate tented camp with a relaxed atmosphere and the perfect base in the Mara for keen photographers.


100% (104 reviews)
Kicheche Mara

Kicheche Mara

Kicheche Mara Camp has just ten tents and a rustic and comfortable feel. It is set by a stream in a pretty area of the Mara ecosystem's Mara North Conservancy.


99% (94 reviews)
Kicheche Valley

Kicheche Valley

Kicheche Valley is a boutique tented camp in a wooded district of the Mara ecosystem's Naboisho Conservancy, with plenty of wildlife in the area.


99% (65 reviews)
Naboisho Camp

Naboisho Camp

Naboisho Camp is one of the most luxurious of the handful of camps in the Naboisho Conservancy. It offers day and night game drives, game walks and full creature comforts in the bush.


98% (49 reviews)
Offbeat Mara

Offbeat Mara

Offbeat Mara is a small traditional camp that appeals to safari traditionalists, located in one of the Maasai Mara’s quiet conservancies.


98% (42 reviews)
Encounter Mara

Encounter Mara

Encounter Mara is located in the private Naboisho Conservancy – a game-rich area of the Mara ecosystem – and offers a contemporary take on the traditional, low-impact luxury safari camp.


92% (18 reviews)
Elephant Pepper Camp

Elephant Pepper Camp

Elephant Pepper Camp is a small 10-tent bush camp, put together in the traditional "campaign" style, and including a large honeymoon/family tent.


99% (17 reviews)
Serian

Serian

Serian is a luxury tented camp on the east bank of the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy. It is the sister camp of Ngare Serian, on the west bank.


97% (15 reviews)
Mara Plains Camp

Mara Plains Camp

Mara Plains is one of the very best camps in the Mara ecosystem. Located in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, just outside the Mara reserve, it has access to three wildlife-viewing areas.


100% (13 reviews)
Kicheche Walking Wilderness

Kicheche Fly Camp

Kicheche Walking Wilderness Fly Camp is a temporaray dome tent camp set up for participants in Kicheche's two-day walking safari between Kicheche Valley and Kicheche Bush Camp.


96% (10 reviews)
Basecamp Eagle View

Basecamp Eagle View

Basecamp Eagle View is a community-focused safari camp in the Naboisho Conservancy, with a strong emphasis on responsible tourism and a spectacular location.


96% (10 reviews)
Hemingways Ol Seki Mara

Hemingways Ol Seki

Magnificently located tented lodge on a bluff looking south across the Naboisho Conservancy toward the Maasai Mara National Reserve.


96% (9 reviews)
Saruni Wild

Saruni Wild

Saruni Wild is a rustic and traditional safari camp in the Lemek Conservancy, with just three tents and limited electricity.


98% (8 reviews)
Porini Lion Camp

Porini Lion Camp

Porini Lion Camp is a pioneering, community focused eco-camp, with excellent guides and game viewing, in the predator-rich, Olare Motorogi Conservancy.


83% (8 reviews)
Offbeat Ndoto

Offbeat Ndoto

Small and intimate, Offbeat Mara is set in a valley above the (often dry) Olare Orok River within the Mara North Conservancy.


100% (7 reviews)
Porini Mara Camp

Porini Mara Camp

Porini Mara Camp is a small, pioneering eco-camp in the first private conservancy in the Mara region, with comfortable accommodation and a range of activities.


96% (5 reviews)
Ngare Serian

Ngare Serian

The luxurious Ngare Serian and its sister camp Serian face each other across the Mara River on the western side of the Mara North Conservancy


96% (5 reviews)
Basecamp Leopard Hill

Basecamp Leopard Hill

With six beautiful tents, Basecamp Leopard Hill is a smart safari camp in the Naboisho Conservancy in the Maasai Mara ecosystem.


100% (5 reviews)
Karen Blixen Camp

Karen Blixen Camp

Karen Blixen Camp sits on a meander of the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy, just beyond the northern boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.


92% (5 reviews)
Cottars 1920s Camp

Cottars 1920s Camp

Cottar's 1920s Camp is a classic, luxury tented camp with a 1920s safari theme, located in its own conservancy on the southeast border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.


92% (5 reviews)
Leleshwa

Leleshwa

Leleshwa was a delightful, boutique safari camp on the picturesque banks of a tributary of the Talek, with an extensive, little visited game area on its doorstep.


90% (2 reviews)
Mahali Mzuri

Mahali Mzuri

Mahali Mzuri is a strikingly modern tented camp in the Virgin Limited Edition group, in a remote part of the Mara ecosytem's Olare Motorogi Conservancy. It has lovely views and all the luxuries of a five-star hotel.


100% (2 reviews)
Saruni Mara

Saruni Mara

Saruni Mara is a luxurious permanent lodge, on the remote northern edge of the Mara North Conservancy, with stunning views, good guiding and very private and comfortable rooms.


80% (1 review)
Mara Nyika

Mara Nyika

Mara Nyika is one of the newer additions to the Naboisho Conservancy and offers a luxurious and exclusive safari.


100% (1 review)
Basecamp Wilderness Camp

Basecamp Wilderness

Basecamp Wilderness Camp is a simple, traditional tented camp, set in a remote valley in the Naboisho Conservancy in the Mara ecoystem.


100% (1 review)
Mara Bushtops

Mara Bushtops

Mara Bushtops is a luxury safari hotel on a private concession, outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, with the emphasis on comfort, relaxation and good food and wine.


No reviews yet
Mara Toto Tree Camp

Mara Toto Tree Camp

Mara Toto Tree Camp is located on a wooded bend of the Ntiakatek River, 1km south (as the pied crow flies) from its sister camp, Mara Plains. It's the offspring of the original "Mara Toto" which was swept away in floods.


No reviews yet
Cottars Private House

Cottars Private House

Cottar's Private House is one of the few truly luxurious, modern private houses in the Mara ecosystem, spoiling its guests with first-rate staff, a swimming pool and wonderful views.


No reviews yet
Basecamp Mara Houses

Basecamp Mara Houses

Basecamp Mara Houses consists of three private houses located in the northernmost part of the Mara North Conservancy.


No reviews yet
Entumoto

Entumoto

Entumoto is a high-end tented camp, with a swimming pool, situated in a very pretty location on the east side of the Maasai Mara ecosystem.


No reviews yet

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