LANGUAGE

Swahili & Maa

CURRENCY

Kenyan Shilling

BEST TIME TO VISIT

July to October

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION

Nairobi Railway Station

NEAREST AIRPORT

Mara Serena Airport

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

+256 791 217764

INTERNET ACCESS

Most safari lodges have wi-fi connectivity but remote areas of Masai Mara including safari locations will have weak connectivity.

VISA

Tourist visas can still be obtained on arrival at all three international airports and at the country’s land borders with Uganda and Tanzania. This applies to Europeans, Australians, New Zealanders, Americans and Canadians, although citizens from a few smaller Commonwealth countries are exempt. Visas cost US$50/€40/£30 and are valid for three months from the date of entry. Tourist visas can be extended for a further three-month period. Check before travelling whether the visa-on-arrival scheme has been replaced by the e-visa, which must be applied for in advance.

E-visa The Kenyan government’s online visa portal (www.evisa.go.ke) issues single-entry tourist visas (US$51) valid for up to 90 days from the date of entry, as well as transit visas (US$21). Simply register, apply and pay online, and once it’s approved (within two business days) you’ll be sent a PDF visa document to print out, which you then present on entry to Kenya.

Single-entry visas Under the East African partnership system, visiting Tanzania or Uganda and returning to Kenya does not invalidate a single-entry Kenyan visa, so there’s no need to get a multiple-entry visa unless you plan to go further afield. Always check the latest entry requirements with embassies before travel.

Prearranged visas It’s also possible to get visas from Kenyan diplomatic missions overseas, but the only reasons to do so are if you come from a country not eligible for an on-arrival visa, you want to get a multiple-entry visa, or you need longer than three months in the country. If this is the case for you, apply well in advance, especially if you’re doing it by mail.

HOTEL

The Masai Mara has outstanding accommodation, from budget campsites to opulent tented camps on the cusp of some of the world’s best wildlife-viewing areas. As a general rule, the conservancies only offer top-end accommodation, most budget options lie just outside the reserve, especially in and around Talek and Sekenani.

LUXURY

Mara Eden Safari Camp

Keekorok Lodge-Sun Africa Hotels

MID RANGE

Fairmont Mara Safari Club

Mara Leisure Camp

COST OF LIVING

Going to Masai Mara to witness the Great Migration or spot the ‘big fives’ is in on every traveller’s wish list but planning has to be done months in advance and making a budget is imperative if you don’t want to burn a big hole in your pocket. If you are on a shoestring budget, then also you can explore the wildlife reserve here. Your accommodation will be between US$15–50 and meals would cost you around US$2–5, travelling by matatu (minibus) would be US$1–5 and you can share your wildlife drives with other travellers for US$20–40.

For families and mid-range travellers, you’ll be shelling out around US$100–250. A double room in a midrange hotel would be anywhere between US$75–150 and independent safari with car rental (two people) would cost you around US$75–100 per day.

And if luxury brings you to Masai Mara then the budget would be more than US$250. A grand double room in top-end hotel would start from US$200 and lunch and dinner in top-end restaurant would cost you anywhere between US$30–40. There will be no-expenses-spared safari in luxury tented camps starting from US$600.

As a general rule, bargaining is expected in markets and street stalls, especially those that sell handicrafts aimed at tourists. It is sometimes possible to negotiate a discount for taxis and accommodation, but this varies from one place to the next. Most other prices are usually fixed.