Questions & Answers

To help you prepare for your safari we have set forth a few commonly asked questions and answers.

Is smoking permissible?

Yes and no. Due to our bush location and for fire safety reasons, the Royal Mara does not allow smoking directly inside of the guest tents. You may, however, smoke on the privacy of your balcony veranda, provided that you responsibly extinguish your cigarette in an ashtray and dispose of your cigarette butt in one of the provided trash receptacles. Please notify our staff if you are a smoker. DO NOT throw litter of any kind onto the ground.

Is tipping the staff appropriate?

All gratuities are entirely at your discretion. Guides should be directly tipped at the end of your last game drive, if appropriate. For other camp staff, you can consider using the gratuity box located at the reception area which is shared equally by all staff except the guides.

What clothing is recommended?

Please keep in mind that local air flight carriers impose a baggage weight limitation of approximately 15 kg per person. Baggage weight that exceeds 15 kg per person is usually fined about KSH 200 (about $3) per kg over the limit. Muted colored clothing (preferably khaki or green) and boots or comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Bright or flashy colors are not recommended as they may unnecessarily attract the attention of wild animals. Please ensure that your footwear covers your entire foot (i.e. no sandals, slippers or high heels). You should also consider long sleeved shirts and long trousers for the evenings as well as a light jacket for the cool evening. Also don't forget a muted colored hat and plenty of sunscreen for the hot sun.

Do you accommodate special meal requirements?

Provided you notify us in advance (preferably upon making your reservation), we will try to accommodate those guests who prefer only vegetarian meals. We regret, however, that due to our unique location we are unable to provide meals requiring strict religious observance.

Are minors welcome at the Royal Mara?

Yes. We welcome children of all ages. Parents must be aware, however, that we are located on an active and unfenced riverfront peninsula frequented by wild animals. As such, while we strive to provide the best of luxury accommodation, cuisine, and security in this unique and dangerous atmosphere, safari holidays and vacations are not ideally suitable for very small children. The camp does not regularly provide child care during game drives, so children must be of an age and maturity suitable enough to partake in game drives without disturbing other guests, without becoming terrified of the wildlife, and without likewise terrifying the wildlife.

Can you assist us with travel arrangements and Nairobi accommodations?

We will be pleased to help you secure appropriate lodging to suit your budget elsewhere in Kenya before and/or after your safari holiday vacation. We can also help arrange airport pickups and transfers between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the domestic Wilson Airport in Nairobi. Due to the limited capacity of the local air flight carriers, it may also be advisable for us to assist you with your Masai Mara air connections so that we can coordinate airplane capacity bookings with the scheduling of other guests.

Do you cater to weddings and other special events?

Depending on your particular requirements and budget, an actual formal wedding ceremony or a blessing after a formal marriage has taken place can be arranged. We can help provide special floral arrangements, buttonholes, or bouquets. Special dinner or wedding cultural Maasai presentations, including honor guards of Maasai Il Moran warriors, can also be arranged. Champagne or wine receptions with special themes can be organized. Airstrip welcomes with Maasai warriors in full regalia and singing Maasai women can also be scheduled.

Is Kenya safe for tourists?

Despite some travel advisories involving crime in Kenya, most tourists on safari experience no problems. Tourists arriving in Nairobi and continuing by air to the Masai Mara (in some cases after a short overnight stay in a Nairobi hotel) come in negligible or no contact with the local population so their safety is almost guaranteed. In the isolated Masai Mara we do not have any criminal activity problems. Nairobi, however, like any other urban center of the world has its share of poverty and urban crime. Tourists are advised not to visit certain high crime slum areas of Nairobi and to avoid unnecessary night travel when most periodic problems arise. Most of the robbery incidents that do occur sometimes are in areas outside the Masai Mara and they involve tourists who stay in the cheaper hotels in the poorest sections of Nairobi or other urban centers or tourists who traveled on highways at nighttime on roads periodically plagued by robberies.

What is the difference between the "Masai Mara" and the "Maasai Mara"?

There is no real difference. It is merely a variation in spelling. Both "Masai Mara" and "Maasai Mara" refer to the same vast stretch of land.

"Masai Mara" is the more popular spelling... widely adopted in safari publications, maps, manuals, tour itineraries and tv shows such as the Big Cat Diary. "Masai Mara" is easier to spell and easier for guests/readers/viewers to remember.

Technically speaking, "Maasai Mara" is the more appropriate spelling as the word "Maasai" is in reference to the Maasai people (or Maasai tribe), who have inhabited and protected this land for hundreds of years.