Reviews of safaris to Maasai Mara National Reserve
123 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Maasai Mara.
"Our January 2018 trip"
"Kenya 2017"
Loldia House is a good place to start, offering a beautiful house that is not difficult to get to from Nairobi.
The Mara was ... the Mara! Cats all over the place - we even saw leopard on four occasions - the weather was lovely during the day, with rain just on a couple of occasions late on.
The standards at Governors' were as high - in all aspects - as we have previously experienced and although not the cheapest place to stay, you do "get what you pay for". Note, if you want to get best value from them, opt to take breakfast with you on the early drive ... we were out for the best part of six hours each morning with another 3 - 31/2 hour pm drive.
The Serena group have consistently high standards for what they offer." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Kenya safari
"My Nov 2017 trip"
My stay was extraordinary - I was lucky enough to have the luxury or time and an exceptional guide at my side in a place where the wildlife never fails to demonstrate the cycle of life on a moment by moment basis" Read full review: 30 nights in Africa; 29 on a Kenya safari
"Our Kenya 2017 trip"
"My September 2017 Visit to Kenya and Botswana"
"A week in the Mara"
The Serian camps are really our type of place with a good focus on wildlife and quality guiding. We could spend ages in such camps.
We had some amazing sightings this year as well, and are again thinking about how soon we can return (probably not next year, but who knows...)." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Kenya safari
"Very enjoyable experience"
"Loved every second!"
The overall experience on our trip was wonderful - Little Governors camp was a delight. You have to get to the camp by a little boat across the river (takes about 30 seconds) but I would flag it for people who are perhaps not physically able to walk up and down stairs really easily - there aren't many stairs, and the boat is easy to get on and off, but it does require a little agility!
The camp itself if pristine, the staff are lovely and the drivers are such experts at what they do. We say ALL of the Big Five, including the leopard, which was the whole reason we wanted to go on safari again. Our drive, Colin, was so patient and persevered through our constant requests to 'please find us a leopard' and eventually found one for us. Amazing. The food at the camp is really great, and they even provide a water drinking tap in our rooms.
The hotel and beach at Diani were also brilliant - really clean and nice rooms, and great food at the restaurant. Would recommend the beach restaurant over their fine dining one, only because it has a bit more atmosphere. However, there are little Bush Babies that visit the fine Dining restaurant, which is quite nice! The weather was wonderful, and the beach really beautiful - just expect to be chased into the sea by the people on the beach trying to sell you their goods!
Loved our holiday and can't recommend Expert Africa highly enough. Thank you James! Can we go back now please!?" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Kenya safari
"Fallen back in love with Kenya"
On our last day in the Mara we were lucky to see not only wildebeest crossing the river in their hundreds if not thousands and a lioness picking them off as they came up the bank. She took three down and went for a fourth but failed. What a spectacle!
But the Toyota Migration was something else! Way too many vehicles, too much speeding and too many vehicles (probably unlicensed) out from Nairobi with their customers. We came across one vehicle who'd got stuck in mud. The driver didn't even have a tow rope.
The Naboisho Conservancy was much quieter without the crowds, the beach divine. Yes, we've fallen back in love with Kenya." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 17 on a Kenya safari
"Nostalgic trip to Kenya 2017"
Our 3 favourite places are Samburu, Masai Mara and Diani Beach.
We had already decided on Little Governors Camp as this is a family favourite. Richard helped us choose Saruni and Kinondo Kwetu.
The entire trip was a fantastic success. The lodges/hotel complimented each other perfectly.
They were all different but the overall trip included 2 different, both fabulous, safari locations and a wonderfully relaxing beach location.
I can't fault it, its a trip we all loved and will remember for a long time.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No, I really can't think of anything!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 10 on a Kenya safari
Where to stay in Maasai Mara
Our suggestions for safari camps in Maasai Mara National Reserve
Rekero
Rekero is an unpretentious, high-end safari camp, for travellers who take their wildlife watching seriously and are prepared to pay for an exceptional location.
Little Governors'
Little Governors’ Camp sits by a swamp (an old oxbow of the Mara River) in the Mara Triangle sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. It has its own balloon-launching site.
Tangulia Mara
Tangulia Mara is a rustic and traditional safari camp on the border of the Maasai Mara National Reserve owned by Jackson Looseyia of Big Cat Diary fame.
Governors' Camp
Governors' Camp is a large tented camp on the Mara River and one of the oldest in the Mara region, dating from 1972. Although unfenced, and regularly visited by elephants, the whole compound is always busy with human activity.
Serian Nkorombo
Serian Nkorombo is a luxury bush camp in the Musiara sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve on the east side of the Mara River.
Sand River Camp
Luxury colonial-style tented camp on the banks of the Sand River close to the Tanzania border – a great spot to see the wildebeest migration.
Sala's Camp
Sala’s Camp is a comfortable and intimate tented camp, with seven tented rooms, located on the banks of the Sand River, in the far south of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Governors' Il Moran
The smallest and most expensive of the three camps in the Governors’ group, Governors’ Il Moran Camp hugs a meander of the Mara River just 1km north of the main Governors’ Camp.
Mara Expedition Camp
Mara Expedition Camp is a small luxury camp located in a slightly elevated area of bush and woodland, just outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Basecamp Maasai Mara
Basecamp Maasai Mara is a family-friendly, award-winning eco-camp on a U-bend on the north bank of the Talek River, on the boundary of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Ilkeliani Camp
Ilkeliani Camp is a smart elegant camp overlooking the Talek River, on the edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Angama Mara
Angama Mara is a top-end luxury tented camp on the Siria-Oloololo escarpment of the Maasai Mara ecoystem, just above the Mara Triangle sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Ngenche Safari Camp
Mara Ngenche is a non-hosted, luxury tented camp with an antique style, which is perfect if you're looking for private dining while staying somewhere small and personal.
Tipilikwani Camp
Tipilikwani Mara Camp is a larger, mid-range tented camp offering good value from its base on the Talek River just outside the Mara National Reserve.
Mara Serena Safari Lodge
Mara Serena Safari Lodge is a large safari hotel with views of the Mara River, in the Mara Triangle sector of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Mara Explorer Camp
Mara Explorer is a smart tented camp is in a scenic location on a bend in the Talek River.
Governors' Private Camp
Located on a secluded bend of the Mara River, Governor’s Private Camp has just eight tents and is booked on an exclusive basis.
Entim Camp
Entim Camp is well located in the heart of the Mara National Reserve, offering traditionally styled tented accommodation.
Naibor Camp
Naibor has a great location in the Mara reserve, and offers accommodation to suit different budgets, with stylish high-end tents and some simpler ones too.
Ishara
Ishara is a highly luxurious safari camp in the Maasai Mara, located on the Talek River, which is one of the best areas in Kenya for wildlife.
