Kenya · East Africa
The Maasai Mara.
A luxury Maasai Mara safari in the greatest wildlife theatre in Africa. Home of the Great Migration, the Mara River crossings and the finest big cat country on earth.
A luxury Maasai Mara safari in the greatest wildlife theatre in Africa. Home of the Great Migration, the Mara River crossings and the finest big cat country on earth.
A luxury Maasai Mara safari is the trip every other safari is measured against. The Maasai Mara National Reserve, in southwest Kenya, holds the highest density of lion, leopard and cheetah in Africa, and for several months each year it hosts the Great Migration, the largest movement of land animals on the planet.
This reserve is our home ground. We have watched the Mara River crossings from the same bend for years, and we know which guides read a leopard before it moves, which Maasai Mara camp catches the best light at breakfast, and which quiet corner of the game reserve holds the cats long after the crowds have gone.
Why we love the Mara — nowhere else gives you the Great Migration, the big cats and the private Maasai Mara conservancies in one place. We pair you with the guides we trust by name, the luxury Mara camps we have slept in ourselves, and a private vehicle that keeps every sighting on your safari yours alone.
Witness the Great Migration — from July to October more than a million wildebeest and zebra brave the Mara River crossings, the most dramatic wildlife event on a Maasai Mara safari.
Track the big cats — the Maasai Mara holds lion, leopard and cheetah in numbers found nowhere else, and a private guide and vehicle keep every big cat sighting yours alone.
Take a hot air balloon safari — drift over the Mara plains at dawn, then land to a champagne bush breakfast in the grass.
Explore the private conservancies — in Naboisho, Olare Motorogi and the Mara Triangle you can walk on foot, drive after dark and go off road, away from the crowds.
Meet the Maasai — visit a Maasai village on the community's own terms, the human heart of this iconic Kenyan landscape.
Photograph the Mara — open plains, low golden light and clear sightlines make the Maasai Mara one of the finest safari destinations for photography in Africa.
The Maasai Mara rewards a safari all year, and every month carries its own character. Tap a month, or simply let it play, to see what your Maasai Mara safari looks like through the year.
By air — fly from Nairobi's Wilson Airport to an airstrip near your Mara camp in about 45 minutes. Your camp meets you on arrival, and the descent over the plains is a highlight in itself.
By road — the drive from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara runs five to six hours through the Great Rift Valley, with a stop at the escarpment viewpoint along the way.
From the coast — fly from Diani or Mombasa through Nairobi, so a morning Mara game drive and an afternoon by the Indian Ocean can share one Kenya holiday.
Every camp here has been visited and chosen by our team. The luxury Maasai Mara camps and conservancy lodges below scroll on their own, from riverfront suites to treehouse tents.
Fourteen glass sided suites on a private stretch of the Mara River.
Suspended a thousand feet above the Mara Triangle on the Oloololo Escarpment.
An intimate Great Plains camp in the exclusive Olare Motorogi Conservancy.
Treehouse tented suites woven into the canopy of the Naboisho Conservancy.
A small, beautifully kept camp on one of the Mara's most exclusive conservancies.
Tents that feel like rooms, set on the Talek River inside the main reserve.
Timeless safari elegance beneath ancient fig trees by the Mara Triangle.
Understated 1920s glamour at the edge of the Mara Triangle.
Positioned for direct access to the Migration's Mara River crossings.
A tented camp on the open ridges of the Naboisho Conservancy.
From a value fly in stay to the grand East Africa circuit, these are our luxury safaris that take in the Maasai Mara. Each can be tailored to your dates and the way you like to travel.
Real reviews from guests we have hosted on a luxury Maasai Mara safari. Swipe through their words, then read more on Tripadvisor.
The flight to the Masai Mara was surreal, golden plains stretching endlessly. Our tent was luxurious but surrounded by wilderness. The safaris were intimate, never rushed, and our guide made each sighting significant. We will never forget this safari.
Ongeri organised for our family of four a bespoke safari to the Masai Mara. From the very beginning they were attentive and flexible. The trip was simply out of this world, staying at the incredible Sanctuary Olonana lodge. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Finding our camp, organising the most amazing balloon safari, and being just the other end of a WhatsApp with answers to any questions. You have helped us make memories we will never forget.
Beginning with a smooth overnight in Nairobi before the wild drama of the Masai Mara. The Mara offered premium game viewing paired with elegant accommodation and professional guiding. The Grand Classic gave us memories we did not know we needed.
The Maasai Mara rewards a safari all year. The Great Migration and the Mara River crossings run from July to October. January and February bring warm, clear days and superb big cat viewing with few vehicles, while the green season from March to May and again in November offers lush plains, rich birdlife and softer rates.
A private luxury Maasai Mara safari with Ongeri Expeditions starts from around USD 4,275 per person sharing. The final cost depends on the camp, the season and the length of your journey, and every safari is tailored to your dates and travel style.
Most guests fly to the Maasai Mara from Nairobi's Wilson Airport, a scenic flight of about 45 minutes to an airstrip near camp. You can also drive from Nairobi in around five to six hours through the Great Rift Valley.
The Great Migration reaches the Maasai Mara from July to October, when more than a million wildebeest and zebra cross the Mara River in the most dramatic wildlife event on earth.
We recommend a minimum of three to four nights in the Maasai Mara to settle into the rhythm of the reserve and the big cats. Add more nights, or a private conservancy, for walking safaris, night drives and a quieter wilderness.
Yes. A hot air balloon safari over the Maasai Mara at dawn, followed by a champagne bush breakfast on the plains, is one of the signature experiences we arrange.
The private conservancies bordering the reserve, such as Naboisho, Olare Motorogi and the Mara Triangle, limit vehicle numbers and allow walking safaris, night drives and off road game viewing. They offer a more exclusive, quieter Maasai Mara experience.
Tell us your dates and how you like to travel, and your Safari Advisor will be in touch within 24 hours.