Sandriver Campsite in Masai Mara Reserve

[apfac]

Apfac

I haven’t actually looked at T4A, but I just want you to be aware of the difference between a camp (luxury tented camp) and a campsite. There is a luxury tented camp called Sand River Camp according to my Google searches. This may well be what you saw on T4A, but I am sure the public campsite at Sand River is on T4A. It is very easy to see on a map or Google Earth as it is on the road heading south from Keekorok towards the Kenya/Tanzania border (no border crossing though).

Hi WW,

Thank you for bringing me to attention to that. But in fact on the coordinates I supplied, T4A just labels it "Sand river Campsite", and not "Public Campsite". The spot was not in agreement with the descriptions provided by Ortelius or Stan. As you zoom in, at T4A, you can perfectly see the SR Public Campsite at the exact location Stan refered.

Just gathering some info, and we may visit your beloved Kenya, next October!

Thank you.

AP

P.S. : Please find enclosed some print shots from T4A; the first, one can see what I was referring to. Googling at it one can not see any sign of a CS. Probably T4A have it mislabeled.
On the second screen shot one can see, at the lower right hand side, the concrete drift and the banners for the border post, where it sits the proper Sand River Public Campsite. On this same frame, and on the upper left side, one can see a camping icon, which I believe, corresponds to the Sand River Camp Masai Mara, you mention, and belongs to the Elewana collection (http://www.elewanacollection.com/san.../getting-there).

AP

[Wazungu Wawili]

Hi WW,

P.S. : Please find enclosed some print shots from T4A; the first, one can see what I was referring to. Googling at it one can not see any sign of a CS. Probably T4A have it mislabeled.
On the second screen shot one can see, at the lower right hand side, the concrete drift and the banners for the border post, where it sits the proper Sand River Public Campsite. On this same frame, and on the upper left side, one can see a camping icon, which I believe, corresponds to the Sand River Camp Masai Mara, you mention, and belongs to the Elewana collection (http://www.elewanacollection.com/san.../getting-there).

AP

The second screen shot is, as you say, completely fake. Not only is this so called waypoint in the Mara Conservancy (as opposed to the MM Game Reserve) and nowhere near the river called Sand River, but has been placed on the road between the Mara Bridge and the Serena. Nonsensical!

The first screenshot does show Sand River public campsite (south of Keekorok). I think the Sand River luxury tented camp is on the Sand River but NW of the public campsite. On Ortelius’s trip report he has a photo of a sign saying Sand River Camp. This is undoubtedly a sign to the luxury tented camp of that name and not to the public campsite. It has a company logo on it, and the Mara Game Reserve authorities are not known for putting up helpful signs in the reserve.

[CalDriver]

A quick, but not very helpful, update on the Sand River Campsite.We went from the Conservancy to the Mara bridge (Purungat) gate to enter the Reserve and pay to camp at Sand River. We were told that the Sand River campsite is closed, for our security, and that his friend operated a great campsite outside the Talek gate. This seemed a little odd, so we paid the park day use entry but not for camping. Curious, we went to the Sand River Ranger Station and talked to the rangers, saying that it was too bad you can't camp here anymore. They said that we could, and showed us a camp site a little east of the ranger station on the river, somewhat overgrown with grass, but clearly where people had camped before. It wasn't clear if this was totally on the up and up, but it had taken longer to driver there than we planned so we went for it, thinking too late in the day to make it to Talek or back to Eluai in reasonable time. We paid $30 US/ea to camp there to the ranger, and signing the register saw that the last people to camp there were in April. When he wouldn't provide a receipt I became worried about this being legit, but it was too late to do anything else that point.The next day we took a leisurely game drive back to the Mara Bridge gate to spend another night in the Conservancy at Eluai. At the gate they oddly didn't seem surprised that we camped at Sand River, but they wanted to charge us. We explained that we had already paid at the ranger station there, sparking a long conversation about what to do, as it wasn't in their system. In the end it seemed to me that the ranger just took our money and it was not legit, but also the lack of surprise at the Mara Bridge gate about camping there directly contradicted what we had been told before, by the same person, 24 hours earlier. I suspect that the campsite is indeed closed and we should not have stayed there, but it was still strange that they had a way to pay for it in their system. I would emphasize that I don't endorse this plan to others. I wish we had been able to establish the campsite availability (and legitimacy) more clearly on the day we arrived. If we come again in the future we will stick to the Triangle/Conservancy side.

[apfac]

Just for clarification, 2-3 weeks ago I got the confirmation (e-mail) from Mara Conservancy, that camping is no longer officially allowed on the Reserve side. All the Public Campsites have been officially closed. Camping will be only allowed outside the Park or at the Triangle/ Conservancy.

AP

[CalDriver]

Just for clarification, 2-3 weeks ago I got the confirmation (e-mail) from Mara Conservancy, that camping is no longer officially allowed on the Reserve side. All the Public Campsites have been officially closed. Camping will be only allowed outside the Park or at the Triangle/ Conservancy.

AP

Thanks for this. I had actually read this before, but to be honest with all the planning and reading about our trip I had got a bit confused and just decided to "sort it out at the gate" and that turned out to be somewhat more complicated than I thought.

Now that I have an internet connection and I read this again I see that it was more clear than I had noted. So it goes...

[sylvia000]

At the moment I m in the Masai Mara and this morning I spoke with the ranger at the Sand River Campsite and he told me from this moment on they accept camping bookings again. So good news. No guards needed at night.

[apfac]

At the moment I m in the Masai Mara and this morning I spoke with the ranger at the Sand River Campsite and he told me from this moment on they accept camping bookings again. So good news. No guards needed at night.

Just hope this is not more of the same that happened to Caldriver. Nevertheless, if it stands, are indeed Very Good news!

Sylvia000, enjoy the trip!

AP

[elfoagile]

In recent days, 17 and 18 August, we tried to camp at SandRiver. It is no longer possible, we asked in the gates of Ololaimutiek, Sekenani and SndRiver. We tried to insist, but there was nothing to do.Fabio
In recent days, 17 and 18 August, we tried to camp at SandRiver. It is no longer possible, we asked in the gates of Ololaimutiek, Sekenani and SndRiver. We tried to insist, but there was nothing to do.Fabio

[ortelius]

Thanks for the info, Fabio.

[DutchieGoingAfrica]

I was wondering if there are any updates on this campsite? Has someone been there lately? Or any good alternatives? The plan is to spend majority of the time in the Triangle but I also like to experience the Mara Reserve.

[Wazungu Wawili]

I was wondering if there are any updates on this campsite? Has someone been there lately? Or any good alternatives? The plan is to spend majority of the time in the Triangle but I also like to experience the Mara Reserve.

As far as I know, camping is still banned in the greater Mara region except for the campsites in the Mara Triangle. Sand River campsite remains closed.

[Southerndreams]

As far as I know, camping is still banned in the greater Mara region except for the campsites in the Mara Triangle. Sand River campsite remains closed.

Why is camping banned?

[Wazungu Wawili]

https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum...a-camping-ban!

[atakanmerdin]

I was wondering if there are any updates on this campsite? Has someone been there lately? Or any good alternatives? The plan is to spend majority of the time in the Triangle but I also like to experience the Mara Reserve.

Still officially closed, but yet still in use... I'm sure you understand what that means....

[DutchieGoingAfrica]

Still officially closed, but yet still in use... I'm sure you understand what that means....

Probably bribes..
Any tips for campsites around the reserve?
Would love to see the Fast Five (if they are still around)

[Wazungu Wawili]

Probably bribes..
Any tips for campsites around the reserve?
Would love to see the Fast Five (if they are still around)

Before the ban on camping in the greater Mara, there was only one public campsite on the Narok side of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. That was Sand River - which has never had “facilities”. Sand River has an unhappy history which is one of the many reasons why it hasn’t been a popular place for most Kenyans and others.

The Mara-Serengeti is an incredible ecosystem. However, the distances involved in the Kenyan Mara aren’t that enormous in an East African context. The Mara Triangle is exactly the same as on the “Narok side” of the reserve. Both are part of the same reserve.

As I have said many times before, the Mara triangle is better managed and there are fewer visitors. I don’t bother going into the “Narok side” anymore - apart from transiting from Sekanani gate.

I don’t know what the “Fast Five” is, but the Mara has the “Big Five”.

Safari njema.

[Wazungu Wawili]

Probably bribes..
Any tips for campsites around the reserve?
Would love to see the Fast Five (if they are still around)

Before the ban on camping in the greater Mara, there was only one public campsite on the Narok side of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. That was Sand River - which has never had “facilities”. Sand River has an unhappy history which is one of the many reasons why it hasn’t been a popular place for most Kenyans.

The Mara-Serengeti is an incredible ecosystem. However, the distances involved in the Kenyan Mara aren’t that enormous in an East African context. The Mara Triangle is exactly the same as on the “ Narok side” of the reserve. Both are part of the same reserve.

As I have said many times before, the Mara triangle is better managed and there are fewer visitors. I don’t bother going into the “Narok side” anymore - apart from transiting from Sekanani gate.

I don’t know what the “Fast Five “ is, but the Mara has the “Big Five”.

Safari njema na karibuni Kenya.

[DutchieGoingAfrica]

Before the ban on camping in the greater Mara, there was only one public campsite on the Narok side of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. That was Sand River - which has never had “facilities”. Sand River has an unhappy history which is one of the many reasons why it hasn’t been a popular place for most Kenyans.

The Mara-Serengeti is an incredible ecosystem. However, the distances involved in the Kenyan Mara aren’t that enormous in an East African context. The Mara Triangle is exactly the same as on the “ Narok side” of the reserve. Both are part of the same reserve.

As I have said many times before, the Mara triangle is better managed and there are fewer visitors. I don’t bother going into the “Narok side” anymore - apart from transiting from Sekanani gate.

I don’t know what the “Fast Five “ is, but the Mara has the “Big Five”.

Safari njema na karibuni Kenya.

It’s a coalition of 5 cheetah males who live and hunt together. But not sure if they are still together.

[DutchieGoingAfrica]

It’s a coalition of 5 cheetah males who live and hunt together. But not sure if they are still together.

I did some research, the Fast Five or Tano Bora are now the Fast Four. The biggest of the five lost the fight with others and got ranked as fifth. He then left the coalition and partnered up with another male.

The Tano Bora is hunting/living in the Mara Reserve.

Here’s a video for those interested:
https://youtu.be/W_cJVIcPWKA

[Wazungu Wawili]

I did some research, the Fast Five or Tano Bora are now the Fast Four. The biggest of the five lost the fight with others and got ranked as fifth. He then left the coalition and partnered up with another male.

The Tano Bora is hunting/living in the Mara Reserve.

HereÂ’s a video for those interested:
https://youtu.be/W_cJVIcPWKA

My understanding is that the Tano Bora were mostly in the Naboisho Conservancy - which is one of the conservancies to the north of the main reserve. You have to be staying in one of the luxury tented camps in these community conservancies in order to access those conservancies. But, of course, cheetahs move around and the Tano Bora may well be elsewhere at the moment. The Tano Bora were also known as the Five Musketeers. If they are now down to four, they will have to be renamed the Nne Bora.

The chances of finding them without assistance from the guides from one of the luxury tented camps is almost nil. But it’s worth a try. I can tell you where your best chance is of seeing cheetahs in the Mara Triangle. We have also seen cheetahs very close to our campsite on the Mara River in the Triangle.