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The Maasai Mara is an outstanding year-round safari destination. Thanks to its high elevation of 1,500–1,900 meters (4,900–6,200 feet), the climate is mild and pleasant.
Private Season (April to May, and November to mid-December). This is a wonderfully quiet time to visit, with fewer people and significantly lower rates. Wildlife sightings remain excellent, with opportunities to see newborn animals. Big cats are particularly easy to spot during the private season, as they stand out against the lush green grasslands.
High Season (mid-January to March, and the first half of June). Following the rains, the savannah begins to flourish in preparation for the Great Migration. It is a wonderful time for walking, night wildlife drives and birdwatching. February and March are the hottest months of the year, while June has some of the best temperate weather. Wildlife sightings remain excellent, with the Big 5 still present.
Peak Season (mid-June through to October). This is the most popular time to visit, coinciding with the Great Migration - a world-renowned natural phenomenon where over a million wildebeest, zebra, and other animals move through the landscape. It is the best time to witness dramatic river crossing and predator-prey interactions.
Yes, most foreign nationals require Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for, paid and approved prior to arrival.
Apply online at http://www.evisa.go.ke/. However, it is worth noting that the application process can be rather cumbersome. If you are staying with Cottar’s Safaris, we have created a helpful guide to assist you with your visa application. See here for more details.
We strongly advise you to consult your doctor at least one month before your trip for personalized medical advice. Generally, Yellow Fever and malaria precautions are recommended. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is mandatory if you are arriving from a country with a risk of Yellow Fever transmission.
Yes. Tipping is customary and greatly appreciated. We provide guidelines at camp.
Packing light and smart is key, as domestic flights often have a luggage limit of 15 kgs (33 lbs) per person. Essential items include:
For a comprehensive checklist, please view our detailed packing guide.
A luxury safari is a significant investment that directly supports the conservation of vast wilderness areas and empowers local communities. Our all-inclusive rates start from approximately $1,000 per person per night. This includes:
Choose a safari company which has:
We are not a mass-market lodge. At Cottar's, we offer:
Cottar’s Safaris is a multi-award-winning, fifth-generation family-run business with over 100 years of safari experience, an acclaimed guiding team, and a wide range of exceptional safari experiences. We are not a corporate company, but a family with a deep-rooted commitment to sustainability, conservation, and community impact.
Not only do we offer stays at our multi-award-winning properties (Cottar’s 1920s Camp and Cottar’s Bush Villa) in the Maasai Mara, but we can also craft tailor-made safaris. We only recommend properties that we have personally vetted, all of which uphold the highest standards of sustainability, conservation, and community engagement. We also collaborate with trusted tour operators, ground handlers, and safari accommodations across Africa so that we can create exceptional safaris for every guest.
Yes, we feature a range of special offers throughout the year, such as:
All promotions are subject to availability and terms. Please check our latest offers here.
Yes, direct bookings are welcome via:
We recommend staying at Cottar’s Safaris for a minimum of three nights (either at Cottar’s 1920s Camp or Cottar’s Bush Villa) to fully immerse yourself in the safari experience. Many of our guests choose to stay longer and combine their time with other properties in East and Southern Africa.
There is no "typical" day at Cottar's - every stay is tailored and curated to your interests. With over 20 impact-driven experiences, your day can include:
We have over 20 award-winning, impact-driven activities.
Wi-Fi is readily available and free to use throughout Cottar’s 1920s Camp and Cottar’s Bush Villa.
Yes, we have two amazing swimming pools. One at Cottar’s 1920s Camp alongside a pavilion tent for meals and drinks. Cottar’s Bush Villa has its own private 25 meter lap pool. Please note that our pools do not have a life guard in attendance and guests swim at their own risk.
Yes, there is a dedicated small spa tent at Cottar’s 1920s Camp, and there is also a 2025 Cottars Spa Menu treatment room at Cottar’s Bush Villa. Treatments include body scrubs, relaxing, deep tissue and hot stone massages, reflexology, manicures and pedicures. See here for a list of our full spa offerings.
Expect gourmet meals using fresh, organic ingredients from our on-site kitchen garden.
We offer:
We happily cater to a wide range of dietary requirements with advance notice.
Yes. Our talented team of chefs can accommodate most dietary requirements. Whether your needs are related to allergies, intolerances, medical conditions, or ethical and religious beliefs, we will do our utmost to accommodate your dietary needs.
Due to our remote location, it is essential that we are informed of any specific dietary needs in advance of your stay to ensure that we can prepare accordingly.
Yes, we provide a complimentary daily laundry service.
Cottar’s Safaris offers more than 20 unique and engaging activities designed to immerse guests in learning, cultural interaction, and responsible tourism. These include guided wildlife drives, bush walks and runs, the Maasai Warrior School, seedball reforestation, visits to an authentic Maasai village, immersive experiences with Mara raptor and cheetah conservationists, star gazing, coffee tasting, and talks on local culture, carbon footprint reduction, and sustainability initiatives, among many more.
You can check live availability on our calendar here. Alternatively, please do reach out to us at bookings@cottarsafaris.com
Our rates include: Full-board accommodation, including house wines, soft drinks, beer and select spirits, Cottar’s Private airstrip transfers, laundry, nanny service (with prior booking), Cottar’s Safaris canvas bush bath. The rate also includes safari activities such as guided wildlife drives, bush walks and runs, Maasai Warrior School, Explorer’s Tent educational visits, star gazing, coffee tasting, cultural and sustainability talks.
We understand the distance you have travelled and try to be as flexible as possible in regards to check-in and check-out times. Standard check-in is at 12:00 mid-day, and check-out by 10:00. A day room can be arranged for late departures at an additional cost.
We speak English and Kiswahili as standard. Some of our guides also speak Spanish, Italian, and Mandarin.
Yes. For special occasions, Cottar’s Safaris can organise romantic evening cocktails, surprise bush dinners, private meals on your tent veranda, Maasai blessing ceremonies,celebratory cakes, champagne and surprise bush baths.
At Cottar’s Safaris, we are committed to being as inclusive and accessible as possible, and we warmly welcome guests with disabilities. While the rugged nature of the safari terrain can pose challenges, and our properties are not fully adapted throughout, we do have some wheelchair-friendly tents. We also have experience creating exceptional experiences for guests with a range of access needs.
In addition to supporting guests with mobility requirements, we have welcomed individuals with hearing impairments and a variety of neurodivergent profiles, many of whom have found meaningful and enriching moments during their stay with us. We encourage guests to contact us in advance so we can better understand specific needs and ensure we provide the best possible support for your safari experience.
Children of all ages are welcome at both Cottar’s 1920s Camp and Cottar’s Bush Villa. We offer a wide variety of engaging, age-appropriate activities specially tailored to children. These include the Kids’ Entomology Safari for fun learning about the natural world, the Budding Conservationist package filled with hands-on activities for teens, and the Warrior School, which teaches the cultural skills of Maasai warriors. Both Cottar’s 1920s Camp and Cottar’s Bush Villa have a swimming pool, and nanny services can be arranged on a complimentary basis with prior notice, subject to availability.
We consider guests aged 0-17 as children. Children 0-3 years stay free of charge. Cottar’s Safaris has special children’s rates depending on the travel period, room type, and whether a child is sharing or in a third-bed. Our Specials Offers are definitely worth looking at.
We offer several ways to get involved in conservation and community efforts, and many of our activities are focused on getting our guests more engaged. Such as a walk and talk with one of our female rangers, an immersive raptor experience with the Kenya Birds of Prey Trust, and opportunities to join our team in ongoing conservation, sustainability and community initiatives.
We support engagement that contributes to the well-being of all relevant communities and which authentically recognises cultural heritage and traditional practices. We provide opportunities for cultural engagement which is authentic, respectful and sensitively handled with the goal of increasing knowledge, raising awareness, creating bonds and enriching all of those involved. We have developed a cultural tourism guideline here.
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