sclarke1

Are camp/lodge guides limited to a certain area of the Mara based on the location of the lodge?

I was considering staying at the Mara Serena and an agent mentioned that the guides are restricted to the Mara Triangle. She also stated that they are required to follow a certain circuit.

Are the drives at the Serena limited to a morning and an afternoon drive? Is it possible to spend more time on game drives? If so, is this at additional cost?

sandi

Considering everyone seems to want to be in The Triangle during the "migration" Serena is ideally situated and as there are so few properties actually located in The Triangle, the Serena is in high demand. Even this slice - Triangle - of the entire Masai Mara Reserve is darn big. You shouldn't be wanting for game viewing. As to "circuit" guess she means they have to adhere to the rules/regulations and "no off road" driving.

Generally, the Serena does morning and afternoon game drives, but during the migration, they've been known to go out on a third (mid-morning). If there's an additional cost, only your agent or the Serena can advise. If they do... cost can be $70+/person

atravelynn

I met a couple of the Serena guides, Paul and Simon, and was very impressed with their knowledge and enthusiasm on the night drive they conducted. I did not use them for day drives.

Circuit? No, as Sandi states, they do have to stay on the roads or tracks, as does every vehicle.

Midday there is a lot of animal activity around the lodge. If you are interested in trying to see the wildebeest migration, I would definitely plan to stay at the river all day. One advantage of Serena is that from the lodge you can see the wildebeest activity at the river and decide to head out midday if a crossing looks promising. Detecting promising can be tricky though because the wildes so often run to water's edge, wait awhile, then stampede back into the bushes.

You may decide in favor of another lodging to experience a smaller, tented camp. But don't discard Mara Serena because you cannot leave the Mara Triangle. You can spend hours going in one directon and still be within the triangle. Or you can sit at the river for hours waiting for a crossing and go nowhere. Ironically, facilities in other locations offer all day game drives to GET TO the Mara Triangle. That's why morning drives are nice--the other vehicles are still enroute to the region.

But you may wish to split your time in the Mara between the Mara Triangle and another area. I've done that and found it to be ideal.

Richard_Trillo

With all respect to atravelynn, I think it's worth pointing out that Mara Serena doesn't employ *any* KPSGA-qualified guides.

And also there's nothing to stop visitors on either side of the river using the South Mara River Bridge (40 mins south of Serena), to cross to the other side.

Richard

atravelynn

Good point Richard Trillo. If sclarke1 would like a guide who has completed Kenya Professional Safari Guide Association training, that would be important to stipulate up front. The levels are bronze, sliver, and gold.

I think there is only one guide who has reached the gold level if that.

This comment reminds me of a question I wanted to ask about KPSGA, which I'll do on another thread.

atravelynn

This discussion got me searching for some info that will be useful to me too. What I found is readily available on the internet and there may be other deals possible by booking direct or with certain agents or long term stays.

<b>Daily High season rates for ONE PERSON</b>
(Shared accommodations and low season rates were also available at these sites.)

LG $634
http://www.governorscamp.com/

go to this link and search for above link
http://www.governorscamp.com/2011RackRate-Kenya.pdf



Offbeat $495 + $90 conservation fee = $585
http://www.africanspicesafaris.com/m...ara_kenya.html

The above link was copied from the address bar but does not work when pasted. Google offbeat mara rates. Listed under Africa Spice Safari



Lion Porini about $770
Porini Lion
http://www.porini.com/kenya.html?sub=porini-lion-camp


Kicheche $680
http://www.kicheche.com/camps-bush-rates.shtm
Kichechi

It was hard to tell sometimes if the flight to/from the camp was included. Porini and Offbeat includes it. If you are staying numerous nights, the fixed cost of the flight (about $275 round trip per person) becomes less of a factor. I believe you can bring your own guide/vehicle to LG (which impacts costs or you can fly in and use resident guides), whereas the other places are fly-ins with resident guides. Resident guides offer a bit of an advantage in knowing the immediate surroundings.

The good LG location is worth something. But I'd really like to try some of the other camps mentioned, especially if seeing a river crossing was not a big goal. If it is, then you probably cannot escape the crowds anyway, while waiting at the river.

WindowlessOffice

If you do decide to look for KPSGA certified (Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association) guides, you can check out which operators employ them (and which are freelance) here:

http://www.safariguides.org/about.html

I've only been on one safari so far, but the Porini properties I stayed at used only certified guides -- I loved them. In addition to being incredibly well-informed about the flora and fauna, they choose specialties when they study for their guiding certifications. I had an astronomy specialist guide me through an evening of stargazing, and it was a real highlight.

sclarke1

I have read the KPSGA website and understand what they are all about.

I have read many trip reports here where individuals have used companies/camps that have no guides (or maybe 1) listed in any of the KPSGA levels and they have had great game viewing experiences. The reports also state that the guides were professional, friendly and obeyed all the guidelines and rules of safari game viewing.

Is it important to have a guide that has completed the KPSGA training?

sandi

The Governor's camps - Main, Little or Il Moran - are only booked on a GP=game package* basis. In other words, not with your own guide/vehicle.

*using guide/vehicle of camp on shared basis with other guests for game drives; exclusive use of camp vehicle maybe available at some at additional daily rate that can avg between $300-$500

There are many excellent guides that do not have a KPSGA rating.

atravelynn

I meant to post all the camp rate info. on a different thread.