Can I Enter Tanzania from Maasai Mara National Reserve?
Is Maasai Mara National Reserve Worth Visiting?
Visiting Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya was one of the highlights of my December 2022 trip to the African continent. I spent three days on safari seeking out Maasai Mara’s “Big Five.” The Big Five consists of elephants, lions, leopards, African buffalo, and rhinos. Maasai Mara National Reserve is worth visiting, and I couldn’t help but be amazed at how easy it was to find and photograph these amazing animals. As my safari headed deeper and deeper into the reserve, I asked my guide, “Can I enter Tanzania from Maasai Mara National Reserve?”
This page will cover how I was able to add a bonus country to my list by stepping into Tanzania during my visit to Maasai Mara National Reserve. To learn more about the animals that I encountered during my time at Maasai Mara National Reserve, click HERE. To learn more about my Maasai Mara safari with Bencia Africa Adventure Safari, click HERE.
My current goal is to reach 100 countries in my lifetime. While I will likely visit Tanzania sometime in the future, it was fun to be able to enter Tanzania from Maasai Mara National Reserve and add it to my list, making it the 41st country that I have visited.
Can I Enter Tanzania from Maasai Mara National Reserve - Table of Contents
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How to Enter Tanzania from Maasai Mara National Reserve
During my full-day Maasai Mara National Reserve Safari, I tracked our progress on my iPhone’s mapping app. I noticed that we were getting close to the Kenya/Tanzania border and asked my guide if it was possible to enter Tanzania from Maasai Mara National Reserve.
My guide responded by saying that it was possible to walk into Tanzania from Maasai Mara, but we wouldn’t be able to take the van across the border. He explained that the border was near the banks of the Mara River, where we would be stopping for lunch, and asked our tour group if we’d like to visit the border. Everyone agreed, and we drove about ten minutes off the beaten path to be able to officially say that we have stepped into Tanzania.
As you can see in the photo below, there is no checkpoint at the Kenya/Tanzania border at Maasai Mara National Reserve. There is simply a small sign that says ‘INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY, NO ENTRY INTO TANZANIA.” I was assured by our guide that I was not committing any international crimes by taking a few steps into Tanzania. He said as long as we kept the van in Kenya, we wouldn’t be violating any laws by stepping across the border.
The photo below is my official proof that I have been to Tanzania. You can clearly see that I have both feet behind the sign marking the international border between Kenya and Tanzania. While it was more of a novelty visit, I was happy to be able to cross into Tanzania for a few minutes from Maasai Mara National Reserve.
In addition to the previously mentioned sign, there is a concrete structure marking Kenya/Tanzania border inside Maasai Mara National Reserve. The Kenyan side is marked with the letters “KE,” and the Tanzanian side is marked with the letters “TZ.”
In the photo below, I am standing in Tanzania. In the background, you can see the safari vehicles are still parked in Kenya.
There is no difference between the land of Kenya and Tanzania inside Maasai Mara National Reserve. My guide explained that in order to notice a difference in landscapes, we would have to cross the Mara River. Once across the river, we would be inside Serengeti National Park, which would look much different.
Maasai Mara National Reserve Tours and Packages
A tour is the best way to see the animals of Maasai Mara National Reserve. Without taking a tour, you are much less likely to have a successful safari. The tour guides are constantly in touch with each other on CB radios and know the best locations for wildlife viewing.
Below are various tours and packages that should fit all budgets. My tour was a three-day tour that featured a short safari on the first day and a twelve-hour, full-day safari on the second day.
Please note that as an affiliate of Viator, I will receive a commission if you purchase a package using one of my links. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
 3-Day Maasai Mara Safari Tour from Nairobi - $926.00 We make sure to give you a memorable experience using our regional knowledge and to make sure that you spend your time in the most memorable way.We give you an unforgettable experience. |
 3-Day Maasai Mara Safari - $250.00 We are able to do private and group joining safaris to maasai mara on a daily basis so anytime you are ready we will be able to take you o your dream trip to mara |
 3 days group joining safari to Maasai Mara with a Land Cruiser Jeep - $461.54 Maasai Mara National Reserve is an area of preserved savannah wilderness in southwestern Kenya, along the Tanzanian border. Its animals include lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras and hippos. Wildebeest traverse its plains during their annual migration. The landscape has grassy plains and rolling hills, and is crossed by the Mara and Talek rivers. The area nearby is dotted with villages (enkangs) of Maasai people. |
 3 Days & 2 nights Maasai Mara Budget Safari - $492.31 This safari is set for budget travelers who don`t mind sharing transportation from Nairobi to Maasai Mara National reserve. This tour is set for budget accommodation camps. |
 3 Days Maasai Mara Game Reserve Safari - $915.00 Visiting Maasai Mara during Migration Season is the ultimate way of experiencing the last multi-species migration on the planet. From mid-June to December more than a million wildebeest, zebras and antelopes scatter the vast plains of the Mara, making this natural wonder even more wondrous. |
 7 Days Maasai Mara and Amboseli Park Budget Safari - $1,924.00 Maasai Mara National Reserve is an area of preserved savannah wilderness in southwestern Kenya, along the Tanzanian border. Its animals include lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras and hippos. Wildebeest traverse its plains during their annual migration. The landscape has grassy plains and rolling hills, and is crossed by the Mara and Talek rivers. |
 7 Days Group Tour to Maasai Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha & Amboseli national Parks - $1,200.00 Welcome to this exciting tour organized by Maasai Mara safaris. This is a tour to the most visited and famous national parks in Kenya. Enjoy game drives and safari by professional guides, who are ready to show you the very best in Kenya. |
 3 Days Maasai Mara Safari - $725.00 Maasai Mara is world-renowned for its exceptional populations of lions, leopards, cheetahs and elephant, and the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra, Thomson's gazelle and other antelope, to and from the Serengeti every year known as the Great Migration |
 5-Day Maasai Mara and the Lakes Kenya Safari - $800.00 5 Days Maasai Mara and The Lakes gives traveler and opportunity to enjoy the scenic Kenya's beautiful landscape and an experience of the Rift valley lakes. Tour passes the magnificent Great Rift valley, with a stop at the view point, into the floor through Hills, Valleys, Escarpments, Mountains and the lakes most of which are result of volcanic activities. A visit to Lake Nakuru National Park located in the floor of the Great Rift Valley and home to the millions lesser flamingo and the pelicans among other wild animals. |
 10 Day Horizons Safari (samburu ,nakuru ,maasai Mara ,amboseli & Lake Naivasha ) - $3,400.00 Following a night in Nairobi to relax and enjoy a historic tour of Nairobi or a delightful restaurant, depart early in the morning on safari to Samburu. Best of Kenya is one of the most popular safaris in Kenya, where lodges are stylish, guides are knowledgeable and scenery extraordinary. From gerenuk browsing vertically in the Samburu, to the resident hippos of the Mara River, this is an exhilarating safari. |
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