Kenya's Best Wildlife Park Without Going Broke

Of Kenya's wildlife parks none is as famous, and many say as magnificent, as the Masai Mara National Reserve, home to all of the "Big Five" safari animals: Lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalos, and leopards.

Thousands of wildebeest wind through the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya shown in a August,...

Thousands of wildebeest wind through the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya shown in a August, 2002 file photo. More than a million wildebeest and zebra cross anually the border betwen the Tanzanian Serengeti Plains and the Kenyan Masai Mara National Reserve in search of fresh grass and water in what is called "The Migration".

(Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images)

Along with its Tanzanian sister park, the Serengeti, the Mara is also home to the great migration, a yearly event when more than 1 million wildebeests along with a few hundred thousand zebras cross the Mara River and head south to the Serengeti for more lush pasture.

This amazing feat was named one of the new 7 Wonders of the World in 2006.

Every year, there are nearly as many tourists who visit the Masai Mara as there are wildebeests who leave it. The reserve is one of Kenya's biggest money-making enterprises, and tourists often pay huge amounts of money to visit.

Most of the park does not allow for camping or budget options, so most visitors stay at one of the Mara's many luxury lodges or tented camps, running anywhere from $350 to $600 per night, per person. That cost (usually) includes, food, most drinks and at least one game drive.

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But what it doesn't include is park fees or transport to the Mara, located about five hours by car and one hour by plane from Nairobi. Adding up everything, even a short Masai Mara safari can easily end up costing thousands of dollars, a big reason why most travelers choose to book their safaris using agents or safari companies.

But with a little patience, research and some luck, there is a way to see the Masai Mara without breaking your budget or having to rely on mass safari operating companies.

Here are some tips for how to see the Mara for less:

1. Plan your own safari -- By contacting a lodge or camp directly you can find out if they have any special offers. For example, the Olonana camp, an exquisite and intimate tented camp that houses only 14 luxury tents overlooking the Mara river, is currently running a special where all guests staying three nights will get a fourth for free. The ultra posh Governor's camp also has deals going where guests can get up to a 25 percent discount for booking up to a month before their safari.

Many other lodges have special deals with the airlines to create their own packages.

Research can be done through travel books or the Internet. Travel blogs Web sites such as the Kenya Association of Tour Operators give you an idea of available, reputable accommodations and tour operators.

Another way to contact lodges directly is by looking at safari sites that offer proposed itineraries listing what lodges the tourist will stay in, and then contacting the lodge yourself. If you have the time and the energy, planning your own safari can result in not only a cheaper trip, but also a more personalized experience.