Rules to follow
in Masai-Mara

To ensure that your visit to the Maasai Mara doesn’t disturb the animals and that you stay safe, a set of simple rules has been developed — and you should take them very seriously. You’ll most likely want to get as close as possible to the wild animals, and sometimes the animals themselves show just as much curiosity and come very close. For the sake of stunning photos, tourists often put themselves at incredible risk, forgetting that many animals — even non‑predatory ones — can be seriously dangerous.
Guides, trying to earn generous tips, often take risks and break the established rules, endangering tourists and causing discomfort to the animals.

Please read the rules of the Maasai Mara National Park and try to follow them even when other tourists do not. First and foremost, think about your safety:
  • Respect the sanctity of animal life in the wild — this is their natural habitat.
  • Do not feed the animals: it disrupts their natural diet and leads to dependence on humans.
  • Avoid making noise or playing the radio loudly — noise disturbs the animals and may annoy your fellow travellers.
  • Always stay inside the vehicle, except in specially designated picnic areas.
  • Getting out of the vehicle on riverbanks is prohibited.
  • Do not chase or disturb the animals.
  • Cheetahs must not be allowed on or in vehicles. Maintain a distance of 25 metres from any cheetah, especially those with cubs. Under no circumstances should you approach a cheetah that is moving towards your vehicle, as this may provoke it to jump onto the vehicle. Violating this rule is considered a disturbance of the animals’ peace.
  • Do not speed up or make noise to attract the animals’ attention — respect their right to privacy.
  • Do not use flash when photographing animals: it may harm their eyesight.
  • Refrain from sitting or standing on the roof or hood of the vehicle during a safari and/or at animal‑viewing sites.
  • Observe the speed limit: do not exceed 50 km/h on main roads and 30 km/h on internal safari tracks.
  • Pets are not allowed in the park.
  • Never drive off‑road — this causes significant harm to the environment. Stick to graded roads and established routes.
  • At animal‑viewing sites, maintain a minimum distance of 25 metres from the animal being observed and park at the side of the road to allow others to pass.
  • Do not surround the animals — they must be able to scan their surroundings for potential threats.
  • Do not leave any litter, and never leave or discard burning or flammable objects.
  • Make sure you have obtained the necessary receipts at the KATO office or at the gate, and be prepared to present them upon request by park staff.
  • Use only designated (official) gates to enter the park.
  • Leave before dark. Visitors are not permitted in the park outside the hours of6:30 am to 6:35 pm.
  • Do not cross the border into Tanzania.
  • Night safaris are prohibited.
  • Resident vehicles must display a valid annual park‑entry licence.
  • When more than five vehicles are gathered near an animal, the viewing time is limited to 10 minutes.
  • Vehicles waiting for their turn to view animals must stay at least 100 metres away.
  • Do not use specialised equipment (drones, remote‑controlled recording devices)without prior permission from the Narok County authorities
  • For any complaints, please contact the office of the Chief Park Warden in Sekenani.
Enjoy your stay in the Maasai Mara — your enjoyment is our joy.
Welcome back to the Maasai Mara, again and again.

If you violate any of the above rules, the Maasai Mara Reserve authorities have the legal right to:
  • Impose an on‑site fine of 10,000 Kenyan shillings.
  • Immediately remove the vehicle and/or persons from the park.
  • Ban the vehicle and/or persons from further entry to and presence in the park.

Categories of violations and fines
Failure to pay the entry fee for entering the park:
a) Vehicle — 2,000 Kenyan shillings per entry;
b) Driver — 2,000 Kenyan shillings;
c) Repeat failure to pay — 4,000 Kenyan shillings.
Possession of an invalid ticket — 3,000 Kenyan shillings per person.
Driving off‑road — 10,000 Kenyan shillings; repeated offences result in a ban from thepark.
Disturbing animals — 10,000 Kenyan shillings.
Littering in the park — 5,000 Kenyan shillings.
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