Mara vs Tanzania - Safari
 

In a few days I will be in Kenya with my Husband, and we have 5 nights to spend in Mara/ August 09.
It is possible to choose 2 different lodges/ Tent Camps? With different experiences?
Or try to stay one more night, and put together Mara + Tanzania (3 nights +3 nights)…

Waiting for your opinion…

Regards
Filipa

Hi Filipa
Generally speaking it's possible to do 3+3 but you will be forced to spend lots of time getting from Kenya to Tanzania.
That cost you at least half a day as there is no direct border post connecting the Mara with the Serengeti. But as this is one ecosystem it doesn't make a big change where you will be watching the migration.
Mara has a bigger densitity of all kinds of big/small cats per skm plus the migration.
As the Mara river right now is pretty low - the rainy season was not very sufficient - the crossings are not that spectacular compared to years when the river is full.
Taking into consideration that the migration is already partly in the Massai Mara you won't add some extra experiences by crossing the border into TAZ.

If I were in your shoes and travel to the Mara anyway I would rather stay in one place within the reserve or at max change from let's say central Mara (Governnor's camp, Naibor, Entim,) to one of the conservancies and stay in either Kicheche Bush camp, which is close to Talek gate which makes it easier to cross into the reserve again if you have got the desire or stay at Ilkeliani camp.

It's also depending on availability and budget where to stay.
Maybe you also take into consideration to book your SUV (sole use of vehicle) which offers max flexibility in view to game drives!

I am curious what the experts say....

Enjoy!

Cheers!

SV

Tks a lot for your help.
As someone from Fodors advised me about bad roads inside Mara, I decided to fly...
We really like to self drive, but I am a little concerned about driving in a Park with bad roads...with Ellis around...
So if we decide to fly, I believed we can stay 3 nights + 2 nights in 2 different lodge/ tents in MARA (I agree with you, and I will visit Tanzania next time).
I do not understand what you intended to say, "one of conservancies" like Kichele Bush Camp...


Regards

Whether flying or driving, you still drive in the Mara for game drives. Ellees or lions or giraffe or zebra or whatever game, that's the reason to be there.

For August, definitely the Mara. AS SV above, can't get between Mara and Serengeti direct, so takes up a full day of travel.

Split the time with a camp inside the Reserve/Triangle and on the adjacent private group ranch/conservancies where night game drives and bush walks can be done. Unlike in the Reserve where you can't.

Dear Sandi...
My problem is self drive around Elles or lions...in a bad road. And find our self in a mud road...as it happens to us once in Chobe...
If we are with a Guide, or someone who knows we will be ok.
And hoping to see every kind of animals...

Regards

Filipa, sorry I think I should have explained:
Sole use of vehicle means you book a car/guide for your exclusive use. You fly in, get fetched by the camp you booked and do the game drives with the camp vehicles. If you book with that specific camp a SUV you have the guide plus the vehicle for your own means you can leave camp shortly before sunrise and get back after sundowner if staying in one of the conservancies north but ajacent to the masai mara reserve.
If you stay within the reserve you must be back at camp at around 18.30pm - park closes and everybody staying within must be back at camp!

The advantage for splitting into 3/2 Massai Mara area Kenya will be
- you can stay 3 nights within the reserve going to the crossing points and drive around further
- you then proceed to one of the camps just outside the reserve (conservancies) where you have also plenty of wildlife and due to easy access to e.g. Talek gate you can return to the reserve for game drives as well.

As we don't know you budget I would suggest you check out the short term booking conditions either now or when you arrive in Nairobi - still risky to wait till then!

www.kicheche.com mid range rates - approx. 350$pppd plus fees - but reasonable SUV for approx. 210$/full day
you can choose between Kicheche Mara camp (Kicheche pride of lions close by, a leopardess having her cubs close by plus all other kind of game. Wildebeest migration is in front of camp as to their news yesterday.
Kicheche Bush camp slightly more expensive is close to Talek gate where the leopüardess Bella (big cat diary) lives.
www.ilkeliani.com (reasonable camp approc. 220$pppd + fees when you go to neighbor conservancies or reserve but more expensive when it comes to SUV which is 300/full day)
www.governorscamp.com midrange to expensive but 3 game drives a day.
Entim camp via www.ilkeliani.com at the Mara river within the reserve. Approx. 220US$pppd plus fees.

There are plenty of camps within and outside the reserve. It's all depending on to your budget and interests.

SV

Try also www.theartofventures.com
They have got NAIBOR within the reserve. Upmarket camp. Extremely good/comfortable vehicles which provide leather boxes for your cam gear!

SV

Tks a lot for all support...
If we do not have budget, or find room available, we may choose to buy a package to 3 nights at Governors Camp.
I believed it will be a great experience.
We could afford 4 nights, I believed, but it is too much to stay at same place…
Maybe 3 night at Governors Camp and o1 night at Kicheche. Then return by transfer to Nairobi (how many hours driving?).

Tks a lot again

Regards

5 - 6 hours driving from the reserve to Nairobi.

Honestly - I would not change for one night into another camp - doesn't matter which one.

If you would like to have 2 different experiences make it 3/2; you spoke about 5 nights in the mara so that would be my choice.

Kicheche most probably will fetch you or Gov takes you halfway.

Of course it's going to be fantastic!

SV

>>My problem is self drive around Elles or lions...in a bad road. And find our self in a mud road...as it happens to us once in Chobe...<<

The reason we suggest having a vehicle/guide to drive to/from the Mara, handle your game drives and if you split your stay between 2/camps, this guide handles that.

If flying in/out, as SV explains, game drives on a shared basis with other guests, will be conducted by camp guide//vehicle and a transfer fee between the 2/camps. You have option to have Sole Use of Vehicle (SUV) at most camps, but expense for this can range between $200-$400+/day.

I have been in Kenya last year and never made any prior arrangements. I arrived at the airport and made my way with my sister to Nairobi and tried different companies but landed with Spirit of Africa Safaris, who are in Sonalux house 7th floor and well recommended in the guide book. i took only four days safari to Maasai Mara and stayed at a camp by the name Flamingo Camp. And a night in Mara sopa . Good value for your money.

Check www.spiritofafricatours.com.