Masai Mara Game Reserve Tourist Trap Tips by grets

The Masai Mara is a very popular tourist destination, and you will often find that you are not alone once some game has been spotted. The poor animals may be surrounded by as many as 20 safari vehicles.

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At Least Do This: As you can see from this picture, the majority of the vehicles obeyed the rules and stuck to the tracks. Our driver didn't - he drove right up to the lion. It meant that we could get some nice photos with all the other trucks in it, but all their photos would feature us! Ce la vie!

Now I know what the lion felt like being surrounded by tourists - as soon as we stopped to have our tickets checked at the park gate, our vehicle was surrounded by hawkers. They are very persistent and will stick their wares right up into your face. If you are in an enclosed vehicle, make sure you close the windows at this stage. Unless you want to buy something of course.

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If you want to photograph the Maasai people you encounter by the park gates, be prepared to have to pay. Even if you are taking pictures of birds in the trees, they will claim that you were photographing them and will come running over to claim their payment!

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Alternative: If you visit a Maasai village - which I recommend you do - you can take as many pictures you like of the people, so don't bother to take candid shots along the road, wait until you get to the village.

During your visit to the Maasai village, there will be a display of the Maasai warriors jumping, and afterwards you will be expected to take part in the jumping ceremony. Be prepared!

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At the end of your Maasai village visit, you are herded into an enclosure at the back of the village compound, where a souvenir market is laid out.

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At Least Do This: I will say that I didn't fin the salespeople particularly pushy, they let us browse in peace. It is probably quite a good place to acquire that 'must-have' souvenir for the side board!