Named in honour of the Maasai people who call this corner of Africa home, the Mara is world renowned for its exceptional populations of lion, leopard, cheetah, herds-a-thousand-strong of buffalo, the rare black rhino and a thriving elephant population. In approximately July of each year, the Great Migration arrives in the Maasai Mara National Reserve for its annual four-month stay.
Covering over 500 square kilometres, the Mara Triangle includes seasonal marshes, open plains and gallery forest habitats, providing homes for a great diversity of mammals and birds. This is Angama Mara’s wonderland.
West of the Mara River, beneath the Oloololo Escarpment and bordered by Tanzania to the south lies the jewel of this great reserve: the Mara Triangle. Not only is this the most productive part of the entire Serengeti-Mara ecosystem in terms of grass nutrition, but it is also spectacularly scenic.
The huge grassy plains are dotted with widely spaced Balanites trees that give the landscape an almost manicured look, which together with the steep-sided escarpment and broad Mara River, provides a breath-taking backdrop for wildlife photographers.
According to their own oral history, the Maasai people’s origins are in the Nile Valley region of what is now South Sudan, before they moved south around 300 years ago, conquering other tribes and living as nomadic pastoralists. As pastoralists, Maasai life is centred around cattle
There are no visa requirements for any traveller visiting Kenya. To enter Kenya you will need:
–An approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). All foreign travellers, including infants and children, must have an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) prior to travel to Kenya
–The eTA must be applied for through the online portal (https://etakenya.go.ke). Your eTA is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance
–An eTA fee is applicable for many nationalities including the US and UK
–An eTA is not required if you have a valid East African Tourist Visa (EATV) for travel to Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda
–A valid passport for at least six months from the date of entry, recommended with at least two blank pages (temporary passports will not be accepted)
–Passport holders from the following EAC countries are exempted from applying for an eTA: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda
Please note that all scheduled internal flights carry a luggage restriction of 15kg per person in soft bags, including carry-ons. The acceptance of excess baggage is at the sole discretion of the airline but some offer the option to purchase an additional freight seat for luggage weighing up to 75kg.
–Comfortable cotton clothing
–Both long and short sleeve shirts, shorts and trousers
–Comfortable walking shoes
–Sunhat, sunglasses, sun block, lip balm
–Bathing suit
–A jacket and/or warm fleece – layers are always good as it can be cold at altitude
–An extra pair of reading glasses (if you need ‘em)
Angama Safaris can assist with all your city hotel arrangements in Nairobi and has a close relationship with a network of properties, including Giraffe Manor, Hemingways, Kempinski Villa Rosa and various others. Our in-country team conducts regular site inspections to stay up to date with new hotels and upgrades at existing partner properties.
We are often asked, understandably, by travellers, ‘how safe will I be?’ It is a good question to ask and simply put the answer is that Angama Safaris will do all and more to ensure your personal safety and the safety of your possessions every step of your journey. We have teams on the ground in Nairobi, at our lodge in the Maasai Mara and in Johannesburg all of whom are on call 24/7. As a lodge operator in Africa with over 25 years of operational experience in the safari business across 6 countries we know that keeping our guests safe is paramount. We have done, and continue to do this, day in and day out. Angama Safaris applies the same stringent adherences to safety as does the Angama Mara lodge team. Should you have any specific questions in this regard please ask your travel planner.
We are delighted you have chosen to travel to East Africa. You will meet some wonderful people during your stay and be amazed at how friendly and welcoming everyone is towards visitors. It almost goes without saying but please be sensitive to others and aware of local customs. Should you wish to take a photograph of someone, please ask permission beforehand. Generally the answer is yes but sometimes it comes with a request for a small donation. While theft is not very common, please take responsibility for the safety of your valuables by keeping them in a money belt or a hotel / lodge safe. Please take caution when in the urban areas, especially at night. We kindly request that you do not bring sweets for the children. In an effort to reduce the impact on the environment, Kenya has recently made the use and importation of all plastic bags illegal. The ban applies to carrier bags, flat bags, zip lock bags etc, with severe consequences if not complied with. Plastic bags (includes those from duty-free shopping) are known to be confiscated upon arrival in Nairobi.
In an effort to reduce the impact on the environment, Kenya has recently made the use and importation of all plastic bags illegal. The ban applies to carrier bags, flat bags, zip lock bags etc, with severe consequences if not complied with. Plastic bags (includes those from duty-free shopping) are known to be confiscated upon arrival in Nairobi.
There are no compulsory vaccinations required for entry to Kenya.
–Travellers arriving from an endemic country will be required to present a valid yellow fever certificate for all travellers older than one year
–Vaccinations need to be administered 10 days or more prior to travel, and the certificate will need to be provided as proof. Depending on your onward travel plans, or country of residence, you may also be required to have a yellow fever certificate for entry
–Yellow fever certificates now have a lifetime validity
Kenya is classified as a malaria area. We recommend that travellers contact their local medical clinic for professional advice, and that they obtain comprehensive travel insurance, including health cover, prior to travelling. Insect repellant is provided at all Angama properties and at most lodges in the region, please confirm for your specific itinerary.
The local currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). To get an up-to-date rate of exchange, we recommend visiting Oanda.com. The Shilling is often referred to in shorthand as KSh, or quoted simply with “/-“ after the number; notes are available in denominations of up to 1,000. USD $ are widely accepted, though you may have some trouble with notes of larger denomination or those issued prior to the year 2000. At certain bank branches USD $ are available over the counter, but are not available for withdrawal from ATMs. We recommend travelling with some USD $ in cash, for any eventuality, and in multiple denominations. Many local restaurants will accept US$, though prices are shown in Shillings and typically inclusive of all taxes and levies. All major credit cards are widely accepted: Visa, MasterCard, American Express & Diner’s Club etc. Gratuities are entirely at guests’ discretion and are not included in Angama Safaris quotes. There is no hard and fast rule for this, and tipping recommendations vary from property to property across the country. However as we are frequently asked for advice, herewith a guideline (per couple):
–Restaurant waiters: 10 – 15% (often asked for in cash and not included on the bill)
–City drivers: USD $10 – USD $15
–City guides: USD $30 per day
–Porters: USD $5
–Lodge safari guides: USD $40 per day
–Lodge butlers / waiters: USD $10 – USD $20 per day
–Members of staff at a lodge (generally pooled and distributed): USD $15
–All guests staying at Angama properties are covered for Emergency Medical Evacuation by air to a Nairobi hospital — from there onwards all medical costs are for the traveller’s own expense. We recommend purchasing travel insurance at the time of booking to ensure you are covered for the unexpected
– The insurance should include coverage for trip delay, trip interruption, trip cancellation, emergency medical and emergency evacuation/repatriation, as well as baggage delay and loss
