Is this too good to be true? I have been reading ALL of your amazing helpful info posted here, past and present. Googling until I am dizzy... I happened to fall upon a deal...First I must pay in full - upfront, included is 4 nights, full board.. B L D, 2 drives per day, all taxs incl the 16% vat, 2% levy, 10 % sur chg. Not incl is the $60 per day conservation fee.
Room description is beautiful...solar heated shower, riverfront tent queen, non smoking, safe, phone?, mini bar, deck, tea/coffee maker....ready? $1596 huh? Summer special Fairmont Mara Safari Club! I am shaking...please say book it and all of you have heard great things about this place.....it recently was renovated. The pictures are stunning. Do I have to wake up now?
I have 4 days to figure out Tanzania if this is it for the Mara...Thank you in advance for your opinions....Max

It's a HUGE camp....50+ tents. So it's rather a HOTEL than a camp. That might have an impact onto the atmosphere as well as the game drives as I don't know how they pack their cars. Also you need to do full day drives when you want to watch a crossing.

When are you planning to go?

I don't know anything about the game drives. But it's a looooong way to the crossing points as it is outside the reserve. If you go into the reserve additional reserve fee (60US$pppd) is due. If you go during migration I am sure you will at least enter twice into the reserve - if not 3 times.

Here you can see the location:

north-east of the reserve

http://www.go-safari.com/Masai%20Mar...araApril09.jpg

This camp has a fly-in pachage roughly 1000US$pppn all included and valid till end Sep:
http://www.entim-mara.com/entim/

Entim is in the reserve at the river - close to all the action. Entim will be twice the rate for next year!
So if you can - jump on that offer. At least I would ;-)

location,location,location..well,that's out!!! Thank you for your map....will check out the entim-mara.

I did not want that hotel feel either...just got a bit excited.the research is getting to me...

Maxine
As you can see on the map there are also a lot of camps in the vicinity which adds to the traffic and can have a bad impact on to sightings.

Good luck!

Entim next year will be 490US$pppn + 90US$ reserve fee plus roughly 300 return from Wilson.

Ah - I am by far not an expert I would love to become one :;-)

Maxine,

Don't rule out the private conservancies. On our recent safari we stayed not far from the Fairmont Mara Safari Club and our lodge along with the game viewing was nothing short of fabulous. Yes, its an hour to the Masai Mara gate and then another 30 minutes to the crossing points, but the Mara North Conservancy has fabulous game viewing. If a river crossing is critical to your safari desire then stay within the park. Realistically you will only get one shot at a river crossing if you stay at the Fairmont as you will probably only do one day in the MM whereas at Entim or Governors you can go to the crossing points each day

Read the Mara portion of my trip report to get an overall feel of the area.
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...the-family.cfm

Best of luck

AKR

Agree for the time out of "season" staying in the conservancies if fine - our favourite is Kicheche Mara and Bush Camps! But the Mara Buffalo Camp cars can be REALLY ANNOYING and the traffic jam as well. But yes - we stayed 14 days in Kicheche Mara back in 2006 and enjoyed a leopardess and her cub living in the lugga tremendously; we have a painting of SUPUU now hanging over a couch painted by a South African wildlife painter based on our pic.
That was outside the migration season.

We are thinking of going back to Kicheche in Feb. But between end of Aug and mid Oct - the reserve is the place to be.

I now am going to read your report

When are you planning to visit? Are you a solo traveler?

If solo, then the price for Mara Safari Club is very good, but then the negatives as described above. Besides the location which isn't even on the Mara North Conservancy, but a bit farther north (though game drives done on both conservancies), you'll be sharing game drives with others at a fairly large camp. And though the conservation fees aren't included, if they do take you into the Reserve for a "crossing" there's another fee.

Entim is a lovely camp and well sited, great views, crossings often right there on their front lawn (depending on time of year), hippos in the river, lovely guides/staff and food... but it's only 5/tents. While I've stayed here as the only guest, if you've never done safari before it might be off-putting. Why I asked "time of year." During peak travel time, it's rare for camps to be completely empty.

Have you checked out Royal Mara? While also a small camp with 6/tents, the location is much closer to the Reserve... seems you can negotiate with them.

There are pros/cons to all "deals" why you have to find that which works best for you.

Solo, female, 54.. Going on a surgical mission in katamega,Kenya Oct 3-9 then safari 11-19.

If you've got 8/days for safari, where else besides the Mara do you wish to visit? There are the elephant parks - Amboseli and Samburu, also the Lakes areas or the private conservancy at Ol Pejeta, all of which can be reached by air, though some road travel maybe necessary... depending. If not air, you can arrange for guide/driver who you'll have for entire safari having private game drives at all areas. If flying, then it's shared seat in vehicle with other guests.

It might be best you contact an "in-country" outfitter to arrange all for you. See the KATO www.kato.com (or www.kato.org) site for names. Also there are some that have been mentioned here on Fodor's that many use with great success, as: Eastern & Southern, Wildtrek, Southern Cross.

Thank you Sandi, I will take your advise and begin to look into the private route. Any more suggestions please don't hold back