The Masai Mara is not one block of land, and that is the single most useful thing a good map can teach you. The national reserve sits at the core, run by Narok County, while a ring of private conservancies wraps around its northern and eastern edges. South of the invisible border line, the same grassland continues into Tanzania as the Serengeti.
The map below draws each of those pieces to its real boundary: the reserve, the Mara Triangle, the main conservancies and the eight airstrips that serve them. Tap any shape for what it is and how it fits into a trip.
Tap a shape for details and the full guide. Colours: national reserve, conservancies, Serengeti (Tanzania), airstrips. Park boundaries: protected-area data © UNEP-WCMC WDPA and © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Reserve or conservancy: what the boundaries mean
Inside the reserve, access is open to anyone who pays the daily fee, which keeps wildlife density and vehicle numbers both high. The conservancies work differently: they are Maasai-owned land leased to a small number of camps, so game drives there are limited to guests, off-road driving and night drives are usually allowed, and sightings tend to be quieter. Neither is better in every way; the map simply shows that a Mara trip is really a choice between two systems that happen to share one ecosystem.
If you are weighing that choice, the reserve versus conservancy guide walks through costs, rules and how camps in each zone actually operate.
Getting in: gates and airstrips
By road, nearly all traffic enters through Sekenani Gate on the eastern side, about 270 km and five to six hours from Nairobi via Narok. By air, scheduled flights from Wilson Airport reach the ecosystem in around 45 minutes, and which airstrip you use depends entirely on where your camp sits: Keekorok and Ol Kiombo serve the reserve’s centre and east, Musiara and Mara Serena the west, and Mara North, Kichwa Tembo and Siana Springs the conservancy belt. Confirm the airstrip with your camp before booking flights; landing at the wrong one can add two hours of driving.
Quick reference
| Area | What it is | Best known for |
|---|---|---|
| Maasai Mara National Reserve | County-run reserve, 1,510 km² | Migration river crossings, big cats |
| Mara Triangle | Western third, separately managed | Quieter drives, Aug-Sep crossings |
| Mara North Conservancy | Private conservancy, ~300 km² | Low vehicle density, night drives |
| Naboisho Conservancy | Private conservancy, ~210 km² | Lion density, walking safaris |
| Olare Orok Conservancy | Private conservancy, ~140 km² | Leopard sightings, exclusive camps |
Entry fees are indicative non-resident adult rates. KWS and county tariffs change; confirm current rates before travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Masai Mara reserve on the map?
In Kenya’s far southwest, in Narok County, against the Tanzanian border. The Serengeti continues the same ecosystem to the south.
How many airstrips does the Masai Mara have?
Eight main scheduled airstrips: Keekorok, Ol Kiombo, Musiara, Mara Serena, Kichwa Tembo, Mara North, Fig Tree and Siana Springs. Camps are tied to specific strips.
Is the Mara Triangle part of the national reserve?
Yes. It is the western third of the reserve, west of the Mara River, managed separately by the Mara Conservancy. The same reserve ticket covers it.
Do conservancies cost more than the reserve?
Usually yes per night, because conservancy fees are bundled into camp rates. In exchange you get fewer vehicles, off-road driving and night drives that the reserve does not allow.
Related maps and guides
- Map of Kenya: the full safari geography guide
- Wildebeest migration route map
- Nairobi to Masai Mara route map
- Masai Mara great migration guide
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