Safari to Mara Lemek

an important conservation buffer zone

Mara Lemek is a small and rather modest private conservancy in the northwest corner of the Maasai Mara in Southwest Kenya.

The Mara River itself forms the western boundary of the Mara in this area.

Immediately across the river from the wildlife areas there is now some relatively intense agriculture and human habitation, the sight of which can considerably reduce the sense of wilderness in this area.

To the east of the river the landscapes are largely flat, with open plains crossed by long ribbons of riverine forest. Although ostensibly similar to areas further south, to us the area has always felt a good deal less scenic.

Wildlife viewing can be quite strong in the area, although tends to concentrate more on resident rather than migratory animals, the main herds rarely come this far north.

Being a private conservancy means that there should be much lower visitor traffic than down in the main reserve.

Safari operators here are also free to offer off-road driving, walking safari, bush meals and some limited night vehicle safari, which helps to produce a much more rounded experience.

The Maasai Mara tends to feature in almost all safari trips to Kenya. As well as being the best known reserve, it is also the most productive for wildlife.

The usual stay duration is 4-8 nights split between two camps, less frequently 3-4 nights in just one camp.

Seasonality

The best time of year to visit the Maasai Mara is generally considered to be the Jul-Oct dry season, when the weather should be reliably good and the migration herds are likely to be around.

The Nov-Jun green season may be much less dependable for weather, but remains really strong for wildlife viewing and benefits from dramatically lower visitor numbers (except for the busy Dec-Jan holiday fortnight of course).

Where to stay

Although there are several properties in this area, we are currently not recommending any of them for inclusion in trips.

no recommended accommodation