When travelling to any new place the matter of safety is always top of the mind. For many tourists, travelling to Kenya, the question of how safe they will be when on their Safari is one that plagues their mind constantly. So if you are planning on visiting the Masai Mara, the question you may have on your mind is: is the Mara a safe place to visit?
Yes, Maasai Mara is well protected by well-armed park rangers and is situated far away from any reported incidents of attacks. In actual fact, most of Kenya is very safe for tourists with the only unsafe places (North Eastern Kenya) being hundreds of kilometres from any of the tourist attractions. The one safety aspect that you need to put into consideration is your safety on the roads due to the risk of accidents. In this article, I am going to discuss the areas of security that you, as a tourist needs to pay attention to when visiting the Masai Mara for your African Safari.
Is Masai Mara Safe For Tourists?
The Masai Mara is one of the safest game reserves in Kenya. There are several reasons for this:
- The park is located very far from the most dangerous places in Kenya for tourists: the North Eastern parts of Kenya that border Somalia. As you can see in this Maps link, The Masai Mara is the furthest you can be from this dangerous region.
- The Masai Mara attracts a lot of tourists and is, therefore, a big income earner for the country. For this reason, the government has put in a lot of measures to ensure that this region is very secure.
- The reserve is frequented by thousands of tourists each month. The sheer numbers of tourists that visit the park make it less likely that you would get lost on your own for very long or get stranded with no one to assist.
- The safety rules created by the Kenya Wildlife Service protect the tourist from coming to any harm from the animals in the park itself. One of the rules is that you should not leave the safety of your vehicle when out on a Safari drive.
All of these factors help keep Masai mara safe for the tourists visiting.
The safest way to get to the Masai Mara
When getting to the Masai Mara, the safest way to travel there is through air. There are about 5 flights everyday plying that route and this is the prefered means of getting to the Mara for Tourists.
The reason why its the safest way is because the 6 hour road trip from Nairobi to the Mara exposes you to more dangers than the 45-minute flight would. For one, driving to the Mara exposes you to the danger of accidents along the road that could be caused by things like driver fatigue .
The only challenge with flying to the Mara is the cost. A flight to the Mara can cost upwards of $200 one way. This sometimes forces people travelling in large numbers to travel to the Park by road. If you will find yourself in this situation, the last thing you want to do is drive yourself to the Mara.
A most dangerous way of getting to the Masai Mara
Driving yourself to the Mara is the most dangerous thing you can do when getting to the Mara. The reason for this is because when driving in Kenya, You expose yourself to a lot of dangers. Kenyan drivers are infamous for being really rough drivers. This is especially the case for public transport vehicles known here as “Matatus”.
The other reason why driving yourself is not the best option when going to the Mara is the danger that the Road from Mai Mahiu to Narok poses( View the Google Map Here). This road has some really perilious sections that have claimed the lives of many Kenyans and as a new driver, both to Kenya and this road, these sections may prove challenging and possibly fatal.
A safer option when travelling to the Mara by Road
If you will be driving to the Mara, use a tour operator that has vehicles that frequent that route. They will usually have four-wheel drive van that is well suited for the road conditions on your way to the Mara. They also hire experienced drivers who have been trained on how to handle basic security incidences when they are with tourists.
Masai Mara Safety Tips
Safety Tips for when travelling there
- Use a registered tour operator and an experienced driver for the drive to the Mara
- Do not carry a lot of cash on you as you travel. Many of the places you will visit accept card payments and carrying a lot of cash will not be necessary.
- Avoid leaving your gear in your car unsupervised when you stop to take pictures along the road to the Mara. This would reduce the temptation of someone at the observation point taking your things.
Safety when out on a game drive
- Avoid leaving the safety of your vehicle when out on a game drive. Remember that the the animals in the wild are “wild” and can attack you if they feel threatened
- Avoid carrying too much gear if you are using a shared vehicle with other tourists who you are not acquainted with. Humans are humans…
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.