Entry Gates To Masai Mara

Entry Gates To Masai Mara : Masai Mara national reserve is a prime wildlife destination in Kenya located in south west  region of Kenya and covering an area of 1510 square kilometers, Masai Mara national reserve is famously known for hosting abundance of wildlife and the Great migration  – an annual wildebeest migration. The reserve is accessed using several entry gates which are situated in various regions and directions, remember using the right gate to enter Maasai Mara national reserve reduces on the driving times.

Gates in Masai Mara national reserve are open as early as 06:00 am and are closed at 06:00  pm, Masai Mara gates are well distributed at the most convenient and popular places that lead to Masai Mara national reserve.

Note: It may be possible to enter or exit the reserve past the  entry and exit timings,   in exceptional cases with the permission from the reserve warden such as a vehicle breakdown or may be adverse weather leading to closure of roads

Masai Mara national reserve is accessed by 6 gates which are well distributed to allow travelers to access the reserve from any point, below is the list of the main gates of Masai Mara national reserve together with basic information regarding lodges and tented camps situated near the gates.

Sekenani Gate

Sekenani Gate is one of the most used gates used to access Masai Mara national reserve, the gate is situated on the outskirts of Sekanani Town, amidst vast savannah plains on the eastern border of Masai Mara national reserve.  Sekanani Gate is also the main gate of the reserve and the most preferred by the tourists on a Masai Mara safari because it is situated on the main road from Narok Town.

 For tourists using Sekanani Gate, the best accommodation options (safari lodges and tented camps) situated near the gate include

• Mara Sarova Game Camp
• Keekorok Lodge
• Mara Sweet Acacia Lodge
• Mara Springs Safari Camp
• Enkolong Tented Camp
• Kimana Mara Tented Camp
• Oldarpoi Mara Camp
• Sekenani Camp and
• AA Lodge Maasai Mara.

Talek Gate

Talek Gate is another most used entry gate to Masai Mara and of the most developed gates  in the reserve located on the western side of Masai Mara national reserve, amidst large open savannah grasslands just right next to the famous Talek River. This river acts as a natural border between Eastern and Western region of Maasai Mara.

For tourists on a Mara safari using Talek Gate, the best accommodation options situated next to the gate include

• Mara Intrepids Tented Camp
• Julia’S River Camp
• Aruba Mara Camp
• Tipilikwani Mara Camp
• Mara Leisure Camp
• Fig Tree Camp
• Azure Mara Haven
• Mara Simba Lodge and
• Mara Serena Safari Lodge.

Musiara Gate

Musiara Gate is situated on the north eastern end of Masai Mara national reserve, in a short distance east of the Oloololo gate and on the opposite side of the Mara River. Accommodation options located near the gate include

• Little Governors Camp
• Governors Camp
• Governors’ IL Moran Camp
• Kandili Camps
• Angama Mara
• Karen Blixen Camp
• Kilima Camp and
• Nyota Mara Camp.

Oloololo Gate ( Mara Conservancy )

Oloololo gate is used by tourists accessing Masai Mara national reserve from the north eastern region, Oloololo gate is located on the north eastern region of the reserve in a short distance south of one of the tributaries of the Mara river and a short drive west to the Mara River. The gate is also situated in a short distance north  of the walls of the rift valley known as the Oloololo escarpment, Oloololo gate is accessed through C13 (Aitong road) and C14 (Singor – kabason road).

Best accommodation options situated near Oloololo gate include

• Mara Big Five Lodge
• Fairmont Mara Safari Club
• Entim Mara Camp
• Oltome Mara Magic Resort among others

Oloolaimutia Gate

Oloolaimutia Gate of Masai Mara is located on the outskirts of Oloolaimutia Town amidst the hilly eastern end of Masai Mara national reserve, some of the best lodging options situated near Oloolaimuita gates include

• Ol Moran Tented Camp
• Mara Sidai Camp
• Acacia Camp Mara among others

Sand River Gate ( Closed )

The Sand river gate sits on the southern border of Masai Mara national reserve and is located on the northern hanks of the Sand River, one of the tributaries of the Mara River as well as the crossing point for the wildebeest migration. The gate is also situated a few meters from the border between Kenya and Tanzania as well as the Bologonja gate into Serengeti national park, currently the gate is closed to tourists because of its location nearby the border between Kenya and Tanzania. This gate is seldom used with the most travelers using the Isebania border instead.