By a Resident of the Mara & Host at Kambu Mara Camp
As someone who lives year-round on the edge of the Masai Mara National Reserve — and runs Kambu Mara Camp near Sekenani Gate — I’ve come to deeply appreciate the beauty, complexity, and global importance of this landscape.
But there’s something frustrating that I, along with many guests, journalists, conservationists, and tour operators, have come to realize:
The Masai Mara has no official website.
Yes — arguably the most iconic wildlife destination in Kenya, and one of the greatest safari reserves in the world, has no centralized, government-managed online presence. For a place that welcomes tens of thousands of visitors every year and generates billions in tourism revenue, this gap is both disappointing and damaging.
🏞️ Who Manages the Masai Mara?
The Masai Mara National Reserve is managed by the Narok County Government, specifically through its Department of Tourism, Culture, and Wildlife. Since the 2013 devolution of governance in Kenya, county governments have taken over the direct management of many local assets — including natural reserves.
While the Narok County Government has done important work in infrastructure, conservation partnerships, and revenue collection, it has not yet established or maintained a comprehensive, official website for the Masai Mara.
🌐 What Websites Currently Exist?
Because of the absence of an official online resource, several unaffiliated websites have emerged to fill the gap. Each of these is run by private individuals or companies, and none are endorsed or maintained by Narok County. Here are a few:
| Website | Credibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| masaimara.ke | ✅ High (Volunteer-run by locals) | Most comprehensive and transparent. Written by volunteers, including a resident of the Mara (myself) who runs Kambu Mara Camp. Provides maps, park rules, gate hours, fees, and local insights. |
| masaimara.com | ⚠️ Mixed (Commercial emphasis) | Primarily a travel marketplace. Good for bookings, but not authoritative. |
| maasaimara.com | ⚠️ Limited updates | Outdated in many areas, though it offers helpful general info. |
| masaimara.travel | ⚠️ Commercial tour platform | Focused on safari packages and promotion. Not an official source. |
The fact that none of these sites are managed by Narok County Government is a major gap. When guests Google “Masai Mara official website,” they are met with a confusing array of unofficial platforms — some helpful, some outdated, some misleading.
🧭 Why This Matters
- Lack of Accurate Information
Park rules, gate hours, entry fees, vehicle requirements, and wildlife updates often change — and without an official source, tourists and agents rely on secondhand or outdated info. - Visitor Confusion
First-time travelers don’t know which gate to use, how much to pay, or whether a self-drive is allowed — and may book based on assumptions or inaccurate details. - Lost Opportunities for Local Benefit
Without a formal portal, there’s no direct avenue for promoting local lodges, community conservancies, or cultural experiences — which leaves most of the online traffic going to large international operators and travel resellers. - Weak Digital Representation
Compare this to Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) parks like Amboseli or Tsavo, which have dedicated pages under KWS.go.ke with downloadable brochures, rate charts, and FAQs. The Mara — despite its fame — remains digitally invisible in an official sense. - Transparency & Accountability
A county-run website could provide clear public records on revenue, conservation programs, and development initiatives. This fosters transparency and builds trust with both citizens and international partners.
📢 A Missed Opportunity — and a Call to Action
As a resident and stakeholder, I find it frustrating — and frankly disappointing — that after years of global attention and massive tourism income, Narok County has not secured the modest resources required to build and maintain a basic, up-to-date website.
This is not about luxury or branding — it’s about access to information, support for local businesses, and respect for the people and wildlife of the Mara.
✅ What You Can Do for Now
Until the county develops an official portal, here’s what I recommend:
- Visit www.masaimara.ke — a non-commercial, volunteer-led platform written by people who live and work in the region (myself included). We update it regularly with accurate details, FAQs, and visitor tips.
- Double-check information with your lodge or safari operator, especially regarding park entry fees, gate hours, and road conditions.
- If you’re a journalist, NGO, or tourism partner — consider adding your voice to calls for an official government site that properly represents this world-class reserve.
🌄 Final Word
The Masai Mara deserves better. For a destination that brings together wildlife, culture, science, and tourism on a global stage, the lack of an official website is more than an inconvenience — it’s a missed opportunity to honor, protect, and empower one of the most important ecosystems on the planet.
From here at Kambu Mara Camp, we’ll keep doing our part to welcome, guide, and inform guests with honesty and care — both offline and online. But we hope the county will soon do theirs, too.
