{"id":3660,"date":"2026-09-09T12:48:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T12:48:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rta.travelblox.eu\/?post_type=guide&p=3660"},"modified":"2026-09-29T09:01:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T09:01:11","slug":"masai-mara","status":"publish","type":"guide","link":"https:\/\/rta.travelblox.eu\/en\/kenya\/travel-notes\/masai-mara\/","title":{"rendered":"Masai Mara"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Masai Mara<\/h2>\n

The Masai Mara, or simply the Mara<\/em> as locals call it, is Kenya\u2019s best-known safari destination. Bordering Tanzania\u2019s Serengeti, it offers vast savannahs, excellent wildlife viewing and a real sense of wilderness.<\/p>\n

The greater Masai Mara consists of the Masai Mara National Reserve, the Mara Triangle, Mara North Conservancy and several private conservancies. For the best wildlife viewing, we recommend focusing on the Masai Mara National Reserve and the Mara Triangle, where animals can be seen year-round. In the private conservancies and in Mara North Conservancy, self-driving is not allowed.<\/p><\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Covered on this page:<\/h4>
  1. Self-driving in the Masai Mara<\/a><\/li>
  2. Fuel stations<\/a><\/li>
  3. Driving times<\/a><\/li>
  4. To: Lake Naivasha<\/a><\/li>
  5. To: Lake Nakuru<\/a><\/li>
  6. To: Maji Moto<\/a><\/li>
  7. To: Nairobi<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    Self-driving in the Masai Mara<\/h2> \t

    Unsupervised self-driving is no longer permitted inside the Masai Mara. All self-driving visitors must be accompanied by a park ranger while in the reserve. Rangers can be arranged at the gate upon arrival and cost USD 40 per day.<\/p>\n

    If you would like, we can also help arrange a ranger in advance. Just let us know. A ranger is not required if you have hired a Roadtrip Africa vehicle with a driver-guide.<\/p>\n

    Safari tips<\/strong>
    Keeping a wildlife journal is a fun way to record everything you spot during your safari. We also recommend taking time for a bush breakfast or picnic. Switch off the engine, sit back and enjoy the sounds of the savannah.<\/p><\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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    Fuel stations<\/h2> \t

    The nearest Total and Shell fuel stations are located in Narok.<\/p>\n

    There are small fuel stations near the gates of the Masai Mara, but we request only fuelling at Total or Shell. That means, fuel up completely in Narok before driving to the Masai Mara.<\/p>\n

    Our Land Cruisers have a range of approximately 1,100 \u2013 1,300 km, so a full tank in Narok is usually enough for several days of game drives. But if you run low on petrol, please contact our local office in Nairobi for advice on where to refuel.<\/p><\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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    Driving times<\/h2> \t
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    • Nairobi to Narok. <\/strong>Allow approximately 4 hours on a good tarmac road.<\/li>\n
    • Narok to Sekenani Gate. <\/strong>Allow around 2 hours. This is the main entrance to the Masai Mara National Reserve, and where you can arrange or meet your ranger. We recommend taking the C12, which is fully tarmacked. Avoid the C11, even if Google Maps suggests it. The road is rough, can damage your vehicle, and usually takes longer.<\/li>\n
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      C13 route<\/strong>
      \nThis road leads to Oloololo Gate in the Mara Triangle and to Musiara and Talek Gates in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Although Google Maps may suggest this route, we strongly recommend avoiding it due to poor road conditions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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      To: Lake Naivasha<\/h2> \t

      Approx. 5 – 6 hours | 212 km<\/span><\/p>\n

      It is best to exit the Masai Mara through Sekanani or Talek Gate when driving to Lake Naivasha. In case you are driving from your accommodation, just drive via the C12. Narok is a good place to refuel and stock up on supplies when needed, before driving to Lake Naivasha.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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      To: Lake Nakuru<\/h2> \t

      Approx. 5 – 6 hours | 220 km<\/span><\/p>\n

      When leaving the Masai Mara and continuing towards Nakuru, your exact route will depend on the location of your accommodation in or around the reserve.<\/p>\n

      For the route information, we use Sekenani Gate as the starting point. From Sekenani, follow the C12 towards Narok. Narok is the main gateway town to the Masai Mara and a good place to fuel up your car, stock up on supplies or take a short break before continuing your journey towards Nakuru.<\/p>\n

      If your accommodation is located outside the reserve or closer to Narok, you don’t have to drive via the Sekenani Gate, of course. In that case, we recommend navigating from your accommodation directly to Narok and continuing towards Nakuru from there.<\/p><\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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      To: Maji Moto<\/h2> \t

      Approx. 1 hour from Sekenani Gate | 62 km<\/span><\/p>\n

      When leaving the Masai Mara, your route will depend on whether you are driving directly from your accommodation or have enjoyed a final game drive before continuing to Maji Moto. Depending on your location, connect with the C12.<\/p>\n

      Follow the C12 towards Narok until you reach the small village of Bakitabu. Here, leave the C12 and branch right towards Maji Moto, following the signposts to your camp. Google Maps may suggest alternative routes, but we recommend sticking to the C12 as much as possible, as some of the smaller roads can be very rough and take considerably longer.<\/p><\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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      To: Nairobi<\/h2> \t

      Approx. 7 hours | 231 km<\/p>\n

      Today is a long driving day, so we recommend leaving your accommodation in the Masai Mara early in the morning. Depending on its location, make your way towards the C12 and follow this road towards Narok.<\/p>\n

      Narok is a good place to refuel and stock up on supplies if needed. From Narok, follow the B3 towards Maai Mahiu. Here, join the A8 towards Nairobi. The road takes you up the escarpment, with beautiful views along the way, before continuing towards the city.<\/p><\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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      \n\t\t\t\thot air balloons over a vast savanna landscape at sunrise\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":170,"featured_media":458,"menu_order":6,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3660","guide","type-guide","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"feed_page_to_atlas":true},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rta.travelblox.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guide\/3660","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rta.travelblox.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guide"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rta.travelblox.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/guide"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rta.travelblox.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/170"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/rta.travelblox.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guide\/3660\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4679,"href":"https:\/\/rta.travelblox.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guide\/3660\/revisions\/4679"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rta.travelblox.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rta.travelblox.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}