In Masai Mara and other African national parks and reserves, game drives are among the most popular and common activities. A game drive is, by definition, an expedition through the park in a 4×4 open-roof safari van or Land Cruiser, getting up-close views of the animals while adhering to park laws.

In Masai Mara while on Masai mara reserve,  game drives typically take three phases , which are as follows:

Morning Game drive.

The most gratifying experience is a morning wildlife drive that begins at dawn in order to see the African sunrise and catch up with sun risers. Game drives in Masai Mara are recommended since all of the animals are extremely lively and searching for the day’s foods  in the wide-open savannah grasslands. The cats are also in the ambush, waiting to hunt for the day’s sustenance. All animals seek shade and coolness near riverbanks when the sun becomes hot, but cats seek out quiet, hidden spots to unwind and rest, making them difficult to spot again.

Evening game drive.

Evening game drives in Masai Mara, which typically run from 4 p.m. till late around 6:30 p.m., allow us to see the last glimpses of the animals as they emerge from their hides to eat and sunbathe, especially the reptiles. The kobs and other herd-feeding animals will be gathering for a nap.

Night game drives.

Night game drives  are typically subject to an additional charge and are only conducted under the supervision and guidance of professionally qualified game rangers. Filmmakers who wish to witness more nighttime scenes of the park’s animals, such as cats hunting at night, tend to appreciate it the best.

Masai Mara is one of the greatest locations for amazing, fulfilling experiences, not just in Africa but worldwide. Masai Mara game drives offer the opportunity to witness over a thousand species. Millions of animals gather in the reserve during the migration season, which runs from July to October, when the wildebeest migrate across the Mara River from the Serengeti in search of new, fresh grasslands and water. Grazers come here to reproduce during this time, which draws more predators—especially big cats—because there is plenty of available prey.

The Big Five—Lions, Leopards, Buffalos, Elephants, and Rhinos—are the most well-known animal species that have been linked to the various ecosystems inside the national reserve. Oribis, Hyenas, Giraffes, Gazelles, Hippos, Zebras, Antelopes, Crocodiles, and many other creatures are among the others.

All Masai Mara game drives are particularly enjoyable during the green season, when millions of migratory and permanent residents of the reserve are present. Masai Mara is accessible year-round.

The Maasai, who inhabit a large portion of southern Kenya and are arguably the most iconic tribal group in all of Africa, are the main ethnic group that surrounds the Masai Mara. This warrior, nomadic tribe, which formerly controlled huge portions of pre-colonial Kenya, continues to practice many of its ancient customs while living in the Masai Mara region, far from the influence of contemporary society. Why then go to a Maasai village, and what is there to see there? During this hour-long visit to a Maasai community, you will have the opportunity to engage with the Maasai people and gain insight into their distinctive way of life, culture, and customs.

A few hours are allotted for this quick, participatory visit to the Maasai community, which is normally located on the edge of the main Mara game reserve boundaries. This trip is frequently included in a longer, multi-day Masai Mara safari tour. A common question from visitors is how much it costs to stay in a Maasai village. A village visit costs between USD 25 and USD 50 per person and includes roundtrip road transports from your Masai Mara lodge or camp to the village as well as a fee to support the village. When you go on a road safari with your own Driver-Guide, who will pay the admission fee, the cost is frequently less. When you fly in on a package safari, the higher fee of USD 50 per person typically applies. The camp will then charge you the fee for the village visit; in this scenario, the price per person can vary again, from USD 30 to USD 50 depending on the camp you are staying at and the village they take you to visit. It should be noted that after paying the entrance charge, you may be expected to purchase some trinkets or souvenirs from the villagers, while this is not required. However, be ready for some Maasai villagers to make a concerted attempt to try and sell you low-quality handcrafted crafts. Although in general we feel this is a small negative that has become part of the experience and the positive aspects of the visit outweigh the bad, for some this may be an unpleasant aspect of the expedition.

So what is the Maasai village’s name? The Maasai, on the other hand, reside in low-lying “Manyatta” houses, which are essentially huts constructed of wood, mud, and cow dung with a single entrance and few side windows. Maasai ”Bomas” are groups of these manyatta houses that make up a household or hamlet. It is also possible for multiple Bomas to unite to form a larger hamlet. Even on bright days, the interior of a manyatta can be extremely dark due to the tiny windows of the individual huts, known as manyattas. A Maasai woman is seen standing in the rear of a typical Manyatta home in the image above. The inside of a Manyatta is depicted in the picture below. The picture shows the fuel and earthen stove that will be used to prepare food. Gas, electricity, or piped water are not present. It is important to note that these particular manyattas, or villages, are located near the reserve in the heart of Narok. The highly traditional Maasai settlements continue to be run in this way, even though the reserve and the more developed area of Narok district have piped water and electricity.

The Maasai tribe’s warriors, known as Morans, are elevated to a status through highly valued rites of passage. The Morans are seen showing off their jumping prowess in the picture above. Visitors to the Maasai hamlet frequently get the opportunity to compare their own vertical leap height to that of the Maasai morans. Further details and facts about the Maasai Tribe can be found here.

Riding a horse through Africa’s unspoiled wilderness is one of the most thrilling safari experiences. This is partly because places like the enlarged portions of the Masai Mara Game Reserve are teeming with wildlife, and the excitement of riding up close to these magnificent creatures is a unique draw.

Amidst the sounds of the night sky illuminated by a billion stars, you will be able to hear the soil breathing beneath your horse’s hooves and the rhythm of the bush. As you explore the temporary home of millions of traditional migrants on their yearly visit and some permanent residents, let your horse connect you to the rare components of grace, beauty, soul, and a coiled labyrinth of nature.

Horseback riding safaris are only available in the surrounding areas of the wider Maasai Mara region, which includes private conservancies and game ranches, as they are not permitted inside the main Reserve.

The horseback riding safari is divided into two two-hour periods. The morning session begins at 7:00 am and concludes with a bush brunch on the Mara plains, ideally in the company of wildlife! This means that, depending on how far your camp or lodge is from the stables, you will be picked up from there 45 minutes to an hour before the adventure begins.

Beginning at 3:00 pm, the afternoon session concludes with a sundowner on the Mara plains, presumably in the company of wildlife!
rice/Safari Horse Riding Rates: For two hours, the cost is $200 USD per person, which includes breakfast and a sundowner on the Mara plains.
The Olerai Conservancy is the location of the horseback riding safaris. A trail saddle ranger speaking English and Spanish will accompany you on the ride to ensure your safety and security throughout the conservancy. For your protection, you will also receive carefully selected, fitted, and maintained protective equipment.

When making reservations for the Horse Riding Safari, please provide your chosen date, which must be the second day of your stay in Masai Mara at the latest. In order to determine whether a prompt transfer to the stables is feasible, we must know where in Masai Mara you will be spending the night before.

To truly appreciate a horseback trip on  your masai mara safari  in Masai Mara or other places in Kenya where horseback safaris are available, such as Laikipia, Amboseli, Mount Kenya, and the Lake Naivasha area, you must be able to ride a basic horse.

 Filming in Masai Mara National reserve

Filming in Masai Mara national reserve : The gem of Kenya’s tourism business is largely acknowledged to be Masai Mara National Reserve. It is essential to maintaining the largest mammal migration in the planet dubbed the great wildebeest migration . With over 400 different types of birds and over 95 different species of animals, amphibians, and reptiles, the reserve is recognized as Kenya’s most stunning place to watch wildlife. Filming at the Masai Mara National Reserve will provide you with the chance to capture amazing animal shots, featuring the area’s most prominent residents, the wildebeests. Every year, about 1.5 million wildebeests, along with a sizable zebra population and Thompson’s gazelle, migrate from Tanzania’s Serengeti plains in July to the Masai Mara in search of new pastures before returning in October.

Things to shoot in the National Reserve of Masai Mara.
Ranches owned by neighborhood community groups that function as dispersal areas encircle the reserve. To generate income from tourism, the communities have permitted wildlife conservancies to be established on their property. Filming in the Masai Mara National Reserve is excellent at this  private reserves.

Animals

One of the best places in the world to see animals is the Mara. The Big Five, cheetahs, hyenas, bat-eared foxes, black-backed and side-striped jackals, hippos, crocodiles, baboons, warthogs, topi, elands, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles, impalas, waterbucks, oribi, reedbuck, and zebras are among the many animals that can be filmed in the reserve. In this reserve, over 400 bird species, 95 species of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, as well as the yearly migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest, have been documented.

things to do / activities
A few of the tourist attractions are horseback riding close to the reserve’s boundary, ballooning, bush dinner, lunch, and breakfast, guided walking safaris, camping, and game viewing.Filming in Masai Mara, wildebeests

Which time of year is ideal for filming in the Masai Mara National Reserve?
The peak season, from July to October, when the yearly big migration occurs, is the ideal time to come and capture photos in the Masai Mara national reserve. In Masai Mara, early November and February are also fantastic times to see and shoot wildlife.

How to Get There by Road

Getting to misai mara national  reserve by road is easy ,  the common starting point for the trip is usually Nairobi , with brief stops at the rift valley to capture that great views , another stop over is narok county to have lunch and brief break, it takes about 5 hours to get to masai mara national reserve by road

Get to Masai mara national Reserve  by road

There are daily scheduled flights to the conservancy’s Serena and Kichwa Tembo airstrips. Keekorok, Oliombo, and Musiara are among of the other airstrips.

Where to Stay in Masai Mara National Reserve

There are a variety of lodge and hotel options available for guests to stay in while filming in the Masai Mara National Reserve, ranging from budget-friendly to upscale. Your interests and activities  and Financial constraints will determine what you choose to stay in. Among the lodges are Little Governors Camp, Mara Serena, Keekorok and Sarova Mara, Mara Intrepids, Mara Sopa Lodge, and Explorer. For bookings and booking information, please contact us here.

Conditions for shooting/ filming  in the Masai Mara National Reserve
To film in Masai Mara National Reserve, you must obtain a filming permit from Kenya Film Commission, just like you would in any other Kenyan national park. A copy of the screenplay, a synopsis of the tale, and a shooting schedule must be included with an application form that must be completed in writing in order to receive a filming permit. The Kenya Film Commission’s Film Licensing Officer should get these. Within minutes of applying, filming permissions are granted for feature films, documentaries, short films, corporate videos, music videos, and commercials. Within 48 hours of submission, applications for full-length feature films and TV series are processed. Get in touch with us at Film Crew Fixers, and we’ll assist you in obtaining the necessary filming permits from Kenya’s local authorities so that you can effectively film in this park.

Costs and fees for filming in the Masai Mara National Reserve
In Kenya, any filming in the Masai Mara National Reserve is subject to the following fees:

Ksh. 8, 000 ($80) for a week or a portion of a week for five (5) people.
For one (1) week or a portion of it, six (6) to ten (10) individuals would cost Ksh. 12, 000 ($115).
Ksh. 20, 000 ($200) for a week or a portion of it, for more than ten (10) persons.
Kenya Rates for Filming Fees
commercials, plays, documentaries, short films, and still images $5,000 (KSHS 5)
TV shows and full-length feature films $15,000 (KSHS)
Daily production costs Ten Thousand Shillings ($10)
Liaison Officer’s fees for services

The Ministry will pay a government liaison officer to be attached to the crew Ksh. 400 ($5) every day for their services.

Additional fees

Before beginning any filming, each guest must pay the Immigration Department Ksh. 2,000 ($20) for a special pass. Nevertheless, while the processing of the special pass for filming continues, the team may come in Kenya using a visitor’s pass. To save hassles, we advise you to travel just once all the documentation for the filming has been finalized.
Upon presenting a film license to the Customs Department, a small non-refundable cost equal to 1% of the equipment’s worth, or Ksh 30,000 ($300), is required for all filmmaking equipment.
Press Recognition
It is legally required for all members of the film crew to hold an accreditation from the Kenya Film Commission in order to film in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Private production firms and individuals, as well as local filming agencies, are asked to submit their applications through a local agent who is registered with the ministry. All applications to produce feature films or documentaries must meet this condition. Every member of the team must complete the Kenya Film License Form (which we usually email you), scan it, and return it to us along with a copy of their passport and one photo to be included on their filming license. In addition, we will require a letter from the production firm outlining the cast and crew members involved in the shoot, as well as their identity and the reason for filming. In order to handle film licenses, we will email the Kenya Film Commission the information you have provided, along with this letter attached. The processing time for these movie licenses is two to three business days.

Why shoot in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve with film crew fixers?
crew for a movie Fixers is a Uganda-based local fixer company that helps production companies and shooting companies throughout East Africa. With the help of our skilled group of local fixers and driving guides, we manage all necessary fixer services. We can ensure that accreditation and filming permissions in Kenya are processed as quickly as possible because we have all the necessary links with other service providers and governmental organizations. For all the information you need to successfully film in the Masai Mara National Reserve, get in touch with us.