History of The Mara Reserve
The Mara Reserve’s history dates back to 1961 when it was founded as a wildlife sanctuary and occupied an area of only 520sq.kms. This included the Mara Triangle and it stretched to cover the Eastern part then it covered 1821sq.kms of land area. It was later converted into a game reserve and it was during this period its management was taken by the Narok County Council.
In 1974, a section of the reserve was designated as a national reserve and the other portion about 159sq.kms was left to local communities. In 1976, about 162sq.kms of land area was removed from the reserve and by 1984, the Maasai Mara National Reserve occupied 1510sq.kms.
The Trans Mara County Council was created in 1994 on the Western side of this nature reserve and its management was shared between the new council and the already existing Narok County Council. In 2001, the Mara Triangle’s management was taken by the not-for-profit Mara Conservancy.
The Maasai people are the main occupants nearby Masai Mara National Reserve and they occupy the Northern, Central and Southern side of Kenya and some parts of Northern Tanzania. They are mainly pastoralists, mainly dealing in cattle keeping.
Entry fees to Masai Mara Reserve.
The entry fees to the Mara Reserve are allocated depending on the visitor categories-foreign non-residents, East African citizens and Kenyans. As of 2021, the Masai Mara reserve entry fees vary as follows; non-residents pay US Dollars 70 while inside the park as an adult and $80 as an adult when outside the reserve; children under category of non-residents pay US Dollars 40 inside the park and outside the reserve you pay US Dollars 45; East African residents pay Kshs. 1200 then children pay Kshs. 500 and Kenyan citizens need Kshs. 1000 while children require Kshs. 300.
Students on Masai Mara safari need US Dollars 40 if he or she is traveling under category of non-residents; Kshs. 500 for East African residents while Kshs. 300 is payable by students who travel as Kenyan citizens. Fees for vehicle entry to Masai Mara National Reserve range as follows; less than 6 seats, the charge is Kshs. 400; 6-to-12-seater safari vehicle pay Kshs. 1000; 13 to 24 safari vehicle seater requires Kshs. 3000; 24 to 44 seats=Kshs. 4000 while 45 and above seater safari car pays Kshs. 5000 to enter Masai Mara National Reserve.
Accommodation in Masai Mara reserve.
The 3 categories of accommodation options you should expect to book for your overnight stay in the Masai Mara are; budget, mid-range and luxury. The available lodges and camps in the Mara reserve include the Maasai Serena Safari Lodge, Olonana Tented Camp, Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Mara Ngenche Luxury Tented Camp, Governors Private Camp.
Others include Mara Bush Camp, Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, Acacia House, and Mara Plains Camp.