Planning and booking for a Masai Mara Safari tour in Kenya can be a difficult decision for a first-time traveller, as there are a lot of factors to consider. Some of these factors include: choosing a tour operator, the type of accommodation, mode of transportation, mode of payment, and the documentation of all required travel documents. Below, we will explore each of these factors in detail.
Basics of Booking A Safari
If you’re planning for your next Safari Holiday destination, set your heart on the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. It’s one of Africa’s top wildlife destinations and Kenya’s flagship conservation area. The reserve offers excellent year-round game viewing thanks to its diverse population of game like elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, hyena, eland, gazelle, and the famous big cats located in the Mara.
After settling on your holiday destination, the next thing that follows is researching online for a reputable tour operator in Kenya or from your home country to get a quotation and guide you through your planning process. Below, we’re going to list some of the basic information that’s required from you by the tour operators when making an enquiry.
- Choose your travel dates: You are required to provide your travel dates, even if it’s the month, as this will help in pricing for your Safari tour. So, when is the best time to visit the Masai Mara? The Masai Mara is regarded as a year-round safari destination as it offers more or less ideal climate with an abundance of wildlife for excellent game viewing throughout the calendar year.
However, if you’re planning on visiting the reserve for the Great Wildebeest Migration, the best time to visit the Masai Mara for the spectacular event is between late July/early August and mid-October, which also coincides with the peak season. Prices tend to be higher during peak season due to the high demand. Therefore, if you’re on a limited budget, it’s best to avoid peak and plan on visiting during the low season (April to June) or the shoulder season(January to March) when the prices are lower, and rooms are really available. - Group Size: Let your tour operator know how many people will be travelling, and in case you are travelling with children, please also indicate the ages of the children at the time of travel, as this will go a long way in helping plan for your Safari tour. Solo travellers are also well catered for.
- Room Plan: Let your tour operator know how many people will be travelling, and in case you’re travelling with children, please also indicate the ages of the children at the time of travel, as this will help plan for your Safari tour. Solo travellers are also catered to.
- Mode of Transport: You can either choose a road Safari tour with transport either on a Safari van or a 4×4 Land Cruiser Jeep/ opt for a luxurious Fly-in Safari, which includes a flight from Nairobi to the Masai Mara(returning).
2. Choose A Tour Operator
Before choosing the travel agency that will help in planning and booking your Safari tour. Do thorough research online and ensure that you settle for a well-established Tour Operator based in Kenya, also remember to check KATO(Kenya Association of Tour Operators), this way you’re guaranteed to get value for your money.
3. Select Level of Luxury
The Masai Mara National Reserve has some amazing hotels, which offer an extensive range of accommodation options that cater to every budget. The different categories of accommodation range from adventure budget camping, mid-range tented camps, to luxurious safari lodges. Therefore, it’s important to specify your preferred type of accommodation, keeping in mind that your choice should be within your budget. You can choose a budget, mid-range(lower to upper mid-range), or luxury camps and lodges.
- Luxury tents & lodges: These tend to be small, bougie type properties that are designed to merge into the surroundings and operate to the highest eco-friendly standards. The idea is to offer luxury while being as close to nature as possible
- Mid-range camps: These are the most popular camps and lodges found in the Masai Mara. They provide travelers with a superior experience at an affordable price. Many of these camps have more lodge-like features and tend to be larger than the small exclusive or mobile camps, and usually come with swimming pools, spacious common areas, well-stocked gift shops, and some have purpose-built spas.
- Budget Camps: These camps are meant to cater to the price-conscious traveller. Almost all hotels classified as budget properties are located outside the main Masai Mara Reserve boundary.
4. Add Optional Activities
Other than the standard Masai Mara safari package that includes your main Safari costs such as accommodation and meals, transport to and from Nairobi, safari game excursions, and park entry fees.
You can also choose to include some additional activities such as hot air balloon safari, Maasai village tour, nature and bush walks, as well as bush meals & sundowners. All these activities are optional but quite exciting and enhance your Safari experience. However, they came with some additional costs.
5. Get A Quote
After providing all the information above, you can now request a quotation based on your itinerary. Please ensure that all your requirements are included in the pricing. It’s also important to confirm whether accommodation is on a full-board, half-board, or bed and breakfast.
If you decide to book a road safari, also check the type of vehicle; this could be either a Safari Tour Van or a 4×4 Land Cruiser Jeep that carries up to 7 persons per vehicle. Tour Vans are the most common mode of transport for safari tourists as they cost less compared to other vehicle types. The 4×4 Toyota Land Cruisers are more expensive than the Tour Vans, understandably so; these are larger, Four Wheel Drive vehicles that make rough road travel slightly more comfortable.
Safari Tour Minibus(Van)
Land Cruiser Jeep 4×4 Vehicle
6. Book Your Safari
Choose a quote you’re happy with and book the tour. Typical booking conditions require a deposit with the balance due a month before commencement of arrangements. Booking conditions, including deposit payment and cancellation terms. The policy will be provided by your tour operator.
7. Payment
Typical modes of payment used by safari operators in Kenya include credit card(Visa or Mastercard) through secure online payment systems or through the PayPal system. Once your booking is confirmed and your sales consultant has emailed you the invoice, you will then receive an email with a link that directs you to a secure online payment system, where you can enter your details and process your payment. All credit card payments attract a surcharge of between 3% to 7%, depending on your credit card company. Payment can also be made by debit card in the same way as credit cards, noting that the bank transfer fees of between 3% to 5% will apply.
8. Documentation
Ensure that you get a receipt for any payment made. After making full payment, ensure that you get all receipts, hotel vouchers, which you will then use for a visa application, as well as an itinerary document, Covid indemnity, and Terms & Conditions for your booking.
Not to forget Travel Documents, before the start of your safari, check for your Passport. Health cards(vaccination certificates as required). Airline tickets, credit cards, and insurance papers. Ensure all the documents are in order and up-to-date. Your passport must have at least 2 blank pages and six months of validity from the proposed date of exit from Kenya.
9. Entry Requirement To Kenya
All travellers flying into Kenya must fill out a health surveillance form online here after check-in and prior to arrival. After submitting the form, you will receive a QR code via email, which has to be shown to port health officials to proceed to arrival immigration
You must also present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 96 hours before departure. You can get the list of countries exempted from quarantine upon arrival.
All visitors planning to visit the Masai Mara and who require a visa to enter Kenya are advised to apply for it in advance via the Kenya eVisa website. Visa on arrival isn’t available as of January 2021. The processing time for an e-visa is two business days.
Travelers who wish to explore Kenya on their own itinerary can check Car Rental in Nairobi, where they offer Safari vehicles for hire with a driver/tour guide.
Visit our website to know more about our company: www.kairitours.com
