Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration - Estimating The Cost Of A Safari To Witness This Spectacle

Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration - Estimating The Cost Of A Safari To Witness This Spectacle

About the Mara Wildebeest Migration CycleEvery year, around the end of June, herds of wildebeest and zebra trek across the great vastness of the Serengeti in Tanzania heading towards the Kenya border and eventually into the Masai Mara. The herds are attracted by the fresh grass and vegetation made possible by the long rains of April and May. Estimates indicate that over 500,000 animals enter into Masai Mara and they are joined by another 100,000 animals from the Loita Hills on the east of Masai Mara. What Makes the Migration So Captivating and Worth SeeingBesides the sheer numbers, the other thin that makes this trek spectacular is the fact this migration is such a costly,dangerous and trick affair for the wildebeest and zebra. As they move across the plains, they attract voracious packs of predators like the lions, wild dogs, cheetah and hyenas. Any weak, sick, lame or laggard wildebeest and zebra is almost certainly not going to complete the journey. And even after arriving Masai Mara, more will die by drowning if not by the teeth of the waiting crocodile as they try to cross the swirling muddy waters of the Talek and Mara rivers. As the herds devour the grass in the Mara, rains in the Serengeti will have brought new grass over there. Towards the end of October, the herds turn southwards again, heading back for Serengeti and Ngorongoro plains in Tanzania where young ones will be born in time to undertake another long trek northwards back to Masai Mara six months later.Estimating The Cost of Seeing the Migration between Masai Mara and the SerengetiThe cost of a tour package to any destination depends on many aspects of the package. Obviously, the most important of these are: *Type of lodging or accommodation: basic tents vs. luxury tents, basic lodges vs. luxury lodges *Mode of Safari Transportation: travel by road vs. travel by air, safari bus vs. 4x4 vehicles Lets us look at lodging and accommodation options for budget safaris in Masai Mara. There are basically 2 types of lodgings for your safari to the Mara: Safari Tents and Safari lodges. Each of these 2 types have several variants both in terms of cost and style. For example, with regard to tents, the most basic type found at the lowest end of the spectrum are the igloo type or dome tents.With this type of tents, you as a traveler will normally carry it along and pitch at designated grounds. The camping grounds have basic sanitary facilities that allow for minimal comfort, hygiene and preparation of meals. If you do not have tents of your own, some safari operators hire them out at a cost of about US$5 per tent per day. This type of accommodation - basic in nature - present the cheapest form of travel to Masai Mara in terms of lodging. It is best-suited for budget backpacking adventure travelers. Besides the cost of meals, you still need to budget for meals.The next level of tents is the semi-permanent canvass tents that you will find are already set at the camp grounds. These take away the hassle of setting up the structures. You also find staff who prepare meals for you. Besides that, the accommodation is still basic though. The average cost of staying in some of these semi-permanent tents in the Mara ranges from Us$30 per person per night to Us$60 per person per night. This includes your meals - breakfast lunch and dinner. Drinks would normally not be included on such prices.On the other end of the tents spectrum are the luxury safari tents that will charge as high as US$900 per person per night. Some charge as high as US$1200 per person per night. These luxury tented camps come in a wide variety, offering spacious, furnished rooms pitched on wooden or concrete base. All have private bathroom attached. These are smaller and more intimate. Some luxury tented camps in the Mara offer all inclusive meals that includes drinks as well.Safari Lodges, which appear to be the preferred option of accommodation for most safari travelers to Masai Mara. Lodges are more popular with conservative, less adventurers persons. This type of lodging offers the offer hotel-type services with facilities like what you would find any city hotel- lounge, bar, dining hall, swimming pool etc. Some have verandah facing a waterhole or a river. Rooms are en suite with bath/shower facilities. The cost of rooms in the lodges vary too. Depending on category. The lowest priced lodge would charge about US$120 per person per night during the migration season (July to October. Some lodges charges, those on the higher categories, will charge as high as US$300 for a double room per night. Examples of good safari lodges in Masai Mara are Mara Simba Lodge and Mara Serena Lodge.Cost of Transportation for your Migration Safari in the MaraSafari transportation options are between traveling by road or flying. Obviously, flying costs more. But flying schedule flights is cheaper than taking a private charter plane. There are regular schedule flights between Nairobi and Masai Mara. During the Wildebeest migration season, between July and August, there are 2 flights in the morning and 2 flights in the afternoon between Nairobi and Maasai Mara. The cost of a return flight is roughly US$270 per person. If you decide to do a road-travel safari, you will be choosing between using a customised safari van and a 4x4 land cruiser specifically made for safari travel and game viewing. The safari vans are cheaper, costing about US$190 per day to hire with all expenses including fuel, driver and guide fees. The 4WD safari vehicles cost a little bit more, and can go as US$225 per day during the migration period.Additional Costs: Park Conservation Fees, Gratuity, Drinks etcBesides the accommodation and transportation aspects of the safari cost, there are other items that add up to the cost of the safari. These include Park Fees or conservation fees paid by any person who enters the Mara Reserve. Adults pay between US$70 or US$80 per person per night, depending on which part of the reserve they opt to say. You might also need to add the cost of drinks and gratuity to your budget to get a more closer picture of the total cost.How to Get an Estimate of your Safari CostOnce you have picked your hotel, and you have decided on the mode of transportation, and have decided the length of your tour to the Mara, you only need to add the individual costs to come to what it will cost you for the entire safari.

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