Budget
What a Mara camp actually costs
Priced per person per night, fully inclusive. Here is what each level buys, and what sits outside the rate.
| Level | Per person per night | What it buys in the Mara |
|---|---|---|
| Camping and small-group | Under US$300 | Seasonal camping or simple lodges, shared vehicle, longer road transfers. Real wildlife, minimal comfort. |
| Comfort to classic | US$300 – 650 | Solid mid-range lodges and tented camps inside or beside the parks, a private vehicle on most departures, and usually one light-aircraft hop to save a day of driving. |
| Premium | US$650 – 1,000 | Conservancy camps with off-road driving, night drives and walking, flights between most parks, and small guest numbers. |
| Top end | US$1,000 and up | Owner-run and exclusive-use camps, a dedicated guide throughout, private flights, and exclusive-use houses for families and groups. |
Indicative planning ranges only, per person per night sharing, for a fully inclusive safari — accommodation, meals, park and conservancy fees, guiding, and transport between parks. They are what we see in the market, not a quote and not an official tariff. Your quote will be exact and itemised. International flights are not included.
What moves the number most
- Season. The same tent can differ by a factor of two between April and August.
- Conservancy or reserve. The conservancy fee is a real, per-person, per-night cost — it is the land lease.
- Private vehicle. The best value upgrade, and a large line item if there are only two of you.
- Group size. Vehicle and guide are costed per vehicle, so four sharing pay much less each than two.
- Camp size. A six-tent owner-run camp cannot spread fixed costs the way a forty-room lodge can.
- Single travellers. Single supplements are real. Some camps waive them in low season — always worth asking, and we do.
What is outside the rate
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Reserve entry fees | If you sleep outside the boundary, charged every time you enter. Ask how many entries your itinerary involves. |
| Flights to the Mara | Roughly 45 minutes from Nairobi Wilson. Priced per person, per leg. |
| Balloon safari | A significant per-person extra. Worth it for many people; budget it separately. |
| Tips | Customary for guide and camp staff. Ask for a suggested range — we give one. |
| Premium drinks | Most camps include beer, house wine and soft drinks. Champagne and premium spirits are charged. |
How a cheap Mara quote is usually made cheap
Four ways, none of them illegal and none of them obvious from a total: a shared vehicle instead of a private one; a camp outside the boundary with entry fees excluded; a long road transfer instead of the flight; or low-season rates quoted against high-season dates.
That is why we itemise. You can see which of those four a quote has chosen.
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