Method
Choose the camp last
People start with photographs of tents and work backwards. Do it the other way and the shortlist is five camps, not a hundred.
The order
Five decisions, then the camp
Your dates
Sets price, crowds and whether the herds are here at all. Everything else follows.
Reserve or conservancy
Sets the rules for every day — vehicles, off-road, night drives, walking.
Private vehicle or shared
Changes how a day feels more than the bedroom does.
4. Your budget per person per night
Mara camps are priced per person per night, fully inclusive. Thinking in those terms makes everything comparable, and it makes the real trade-off visible: fewer nights at a higher level, or more nights at a lower one.
Our advice is almost always fewer nights, higher level — but three nights is the floor in the Mara, so do not cut below it.
5. How much other vehicles bother you
Score it one to ten and tell us the number. It is the single most useful thing you can say, and almost nobody is asked.
At the low end, the reserve in August is fine and you will get closer to the crossings for less money. At the high end, no conservancy is too expensive and you should cut a night to afford it.
Then the camp
By now the list is short. What is left to compare:
- Number of tents
- Whether a private vehicle is included or an upgrade
- Whether the guide is assigned to you for the stay
- Where exactly it sits, relative to where the animals are in your month
- Minimum age and family units, if relevant
Why there is no "top ten camps" page here
Because it would be either out of date or paid for. A camp that is perfect in February can be in the wrong part of the Mara in August, and availability changes weekly.
We name camps in your quote, with the reasons, once we know the five answers above.
Choosing: common questions
Can I split my stay between two camps?
Yes, and in crossing season it is often the best structure — a couple of nights in a conservancy and a couple in the reserve. Under three nights total it is not worth the move.
How far ahead should I book?
For July to October — the migration months in the Masai Mara — six to twelve months is normal, and the best small camps sell out first. Christmas and New Year book up just as early.
For the shoulder months, three to four months is usually comfortable. Inside eight weeks we can still put a very good trip together, but you are choosing from what is left rather than from everything.
What is actually included in a safari price?
A Kenya safari is usually quoted fully inclusive: accommodation, all meals, park and conservancy fees, your guide and vehicle, and transport between parks. Most camps include soft drinks, house wine, beer and laundry.
Not included: international flights, visas or travel authorisation, travel insurance, tips, premium drinks, and extras like balloon flights and spa treatments.
Do you charge for planning?
No. Sending your dates, getting an itinerary and getting a costed quote is free and carries no obligation. Money only changes hands when you decide to hold space at a camp.
More from our Kenya guides
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Each of these is a focused guide we publish. Same Kenya specialist behind every enquiry.
Ready to turn this into a real itinerary?
Send us your dates, who is travelling and roughly what you want to spend per person per night. Our Kenya specialist comes back within 24 hours with a plan built around them and a costed quote.