Updated 1 November 2026
Doing the Maasai Mara on a budget in 2026 starts with the reserve fee for Kenyan citizens: KSh 1,500 per adult per day from January to June and KSh 3,000 from July to December, under the Masai Mara National Reserve’s 2025/26 fee schedule. A full-board tented room for two at a budget camp outside the reserve costs from about KSh 11,500 a night in the shoulder season, so a couple can do two nights for roughly KSh 35,000 before transport and game drives. Updated November 2026.
Updated November 2026. Sources: Masai Mara National Reserve 2025/26 Park Fees and Charges (Narok County), and the published 2026 resident rate sheets of Resian Mara Camp, Entumoto Safari Camp and Porini Safari Camps, all read 1 November 2026. Prices are as listed by each camp and can change; confirm before you pay.
Maasai Mara park fees 2026 for citizens and residents
| Visitor | Adult, Jul to Dec (high) | Adult, Jan to Jun (low) | Child 9 to 17, high / low |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenyan citizen | KSh 3,000 | KSh 1,500 | KSh 500 / KSh 300 |
| Narok County resident | KSh 2,000 | KSh 1,000 | KSh 500 / KSh 200 |
| East African resident | KSh 5,000 | KSh 2,500 | KSh 2,000 / KSh 1,000 |
| Non-resident | USD 200 | USD 100 | USD 50 |
Children aged 8 and below enter free. Citizen students pay KSh 500 (high) or KSh 300 (low). Uniformed school groups from Narok pay KSh 300 per bus in the high season and nothing in the low season. Entumoto’s rate sheet describes the reserve fee as per person per day (12 hours). The reserve is run by Narok County, not KWS, so KWS park-fee rules do not apply; for KWS parks see how to pay KWS park fees on eCitizen.
Budget and mid-range Maasai Mara camps: resident rates 2026
| Camp | Type | Resident rate | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resian Mara Camp | Budget tented camp | Twin/double room KSh 11,500 per night (1 Sep to 22 Dec and 3 Jan to 30 Jun); KSh 18,000 (1 Jul to 31 Aug); KSh 16,280 (23 Dec to 2 Jan). Single KSh 9,400 (KSh 11,200 at Christmas) | Tent, full board, bonfire, 1 bottle of water a day. Excludes park fees, transport and game drives |
| Resian Mara Camp campsite | Pitch your own tent | Adult KSh 2,000 (low) or KSh 3,000 (high) per person | Camping ground, washrooms, shared kitchen, security |
| Entumoto Safari Camp | Mid-range, Mara Siana Conservancy | Classic tent, full board per adult sharing: KSh 21,000 (8 Nov to 19 Dec, low); KSh 25,000 (mid); KSh 41,000 (high, incl. 20 Dec to 5 Jan) | Meals, soft drinks, beer, house wine, laundry, pool. Excludes park and conservancy fees |
| Porini Mara Camp | Small camp, Ol Kinyei Conservancy | Ground package per person sharing: KSh 26,950 (1 Nov to 19 Dec); KSh 37,500 (20 Dec to 2 Jan 2027); KSh 41,250 (1 Jun to 31 Oct) | Excludes conservancy fee (KSh 2,500 per person per day for residents) and reserve fees; flights extra |
This is a list, not a ranking, and covers camps that publish resident rates on their own sites. Entumoto’s Mara Siana conservancy fee is KSh 2,000 per adult per day on its sheet.
Maasai Mara on a budget: sample costs for a couple (2 nights)
| Item | Budget (Resian, Nov) | Mid-range (Entumoto, late Nov) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, full board, 2 nights | KSh 23,000 | KSh 84,000 (21,000 x 2 adults x 2 nights) |
| Reserve fees, 2 adults x 2 days (citizen, high season) | KSh 12,000 | KSh 12,000 |
| Conservancy fees | Not applicable | KSh 8,000 (2,000 x 2 x 2) |
| Total before transport and drives | KSh 35,000 | KSh 104,000 |
Transport and game drives are extra at the budget camp. If you drive yourself, budget fuel for the round trip via Narok; if you join a shared safari van, ask what the price covers (park fees are often excluded). Porini and some other camps quote flights separately.
When to go on a budget
- Cheapest: January to June, when citizen reserve fees halve to KSh 1,500 and many camps charge lower rates (Entumoto’s low season is 16 April to 15 June and 8 November to 19 December).
- Peak: July to October (the migration months), when fees and room rates are highest.
- December: fees are at the high-season rate and most camps charge Christmas rates from about 20 to 23 December to early January. Book early; pair with our public holidays guide and the December holiday budget if you are comparing with the coast.
Money-saving tips
- Stay outside the reserve and enter only on the days you do game drives; the fee is charged per day.
- Carry your ID: the citizen rate needs proof, and children aged 8 and under are free.
- Ask camps for the resident rate in shillings; most quote non-residents in dollars.
- Share a vehicle and guide with another family to split game-drive costs.
- Save for the trip in a money market fund; our MMF calculator shows how fast it grows.
Maasai Mara on a budget: frequently asked questions
How much is the Maasai Mara entry fee for Kenyans in 2026?
KSh 3,000 per adult from July to December and KSh 1,500 from January to June, per the reserve’s 2025/26 fee schedule. Children 9 to 17 pay KSh 500 or KSh 300; children 8 and under are free.
What is the cheapest way to stay in the Maasai Mara?
Camping with your own tent: Resian Mara Camp lists KSh 2,000 to KSh 3,000 per adult. The cheapest room we found was a Resian twin tent at KSh 11,500 a night full board for two outside the peak and Christmas periods.
Is the Maasai Mara fee per day?
Yes. Entumoto’s 2026 rate sheet lists the reserve fee per person per day (12 hours), so each day inside the reserve is charged.
How much does a Maasai Mara trip cost for a couple?
About KSh 35,000 for two nights at a budget camp in November including reserve fees, or about KSh 104,000 at a mid-range conservancy camp, before transport and game drives.
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