Easter is just around the corner and if you have not yet made your holiday plans then you will be thankful that you found this piece today. Time is running out- the best way to make sure you have an exciting and unforgettable Easter holiday is to plan well in advance so you better start taking notes right now if you want to make some good memories.
Masai Mara is definitely one of the best places to visit over the Easter holidays, and for good reason too. It provides the perfect chance to see the Big Five in their natural element, enjoy sunrises and sunsets over the expansive savannah landscapes, settle down for a night in the heart of the wild and to take part in a host of other exciting activities. However, it is important to point out that the quality of your holiday will, to a significant extent, depend on the tour company that you choose to handle your excursion into the Masai Mara. To be more specific, how much you get to depend on the type of tour package that you choose and, therefore, this is one decision that should not be taken lightly.
Easter is considered one of the high seasons among tour companies, with thousands of visitors flocking into the country and even more locals scrambling to tour the Mara during this time. As you might expect, all the tour companies will be keen to attract these visitors to go for their services and many great tourist packages being offered during this time. So here is a simple rule of thumb that will save you a lot of heartache down the line; if the deal or package appears too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. A little skepticism could save you a lot of money and help you avoid scams that really have nothing good to offer.
The best way to find the best Easter tour packages for Masai Mara is by comparing different packages along various pointers, each of which is important in determining the overall quality of the tour. Below are some of the things that you should take into close consideration when comparing various Masai Mara tour packages in order to find the best one.
The Costs Involved
When comparing the costs of different Mara tour packages, you might want to go beyond simply looking at the figure at the bottom of the page. In this context, the cheapest tour package is not always the best one and if you are really keen on getting the best tour package then you should be prepared to dig a little deeper into your pocket since they are definitely not going to be the cheapest. The key here is to try and attain an optimal balance between the actual amount of money that you will have to pay and the quality of service that you are going to receive in exchange.
Start by going through all the expenses that are covered under the cost of the tour package. The best packages will usually include the costs of the following;
- Accommodation during the tour
- Transportation- ideally, this should include pick up and drop off at designated places which you can access with ease, as well as the costs of game drives and all other transportation needs during the tour.
- Full board- although some tour companies also offer half board, it is usually better to go with a package that includes full board if you can afford it.
- Park fees- this includes all park entry fees as well as camping fees. Note that many tour companies usually do not include park entry fees in their packages and this could present challenges down the line so make sure that you only go for tour companies that cover the same.
It is also important to find out and compare the costs that are not included in the tour package so that you can prepare to cover the same on your own. The most commonly excluded costs include the following;
- Drinks such as sodas, wine, beers, etc.
- Personal expenses
- Laundry
Accommodation
Whether you are thinking about camping out in a tent and experiencing nature in its true element, or you would much rather prefer to stay at an eco-lodge, it is important to find out and compare the types of accommodation that come with different tour packages before you make your decision. For instance, since Keekorok Lodge is one of the best lodges in the Masai Mara, you might want to restrict your choice to only tour packages that include a stay at the lodge.
It is also a good idea to find out about pre-tour and post-tour accommodation. Although this is typically not included in the actual tour package, some of the best tour companies, such as Kenya Tours & Safaris will usually be able to help you in making private arrangements for the same and this can be quite helpful if you are coming in from outside the country and are not 100% sure about your schedule.
Services and Itinerary
Because of the sheer size of the Masai Mara, and the numerous activities that one can engage in while visiting, it is usually advisable to first do your research and pick out the places you would like to visit the most, the things you would like to see and the activities you wish to take part in and then look for a tour package that will allow you to do all of the above. For instance, if you are keen on seeing the Big Five then you might want to go for a tour package that includes more game drives. But if, on the other hand, you want to see more of the smaller animals and enjoy bird watching then you would want to go for a tour package that includes nature walks through the Mara.
It is also important for you to make sure that there will always be an experienced, professional guide by your side at every step of the tour. And this does not just mean having a driver who knows all the roads within the Mara- you need a friendly guide who is knowledgeable and who will be able to provide you with additional information about the things you see and answer all the questions that you might have.
Most of the best tour companies will usually be more than happy to provide you with additional information about their packages upon request and you should take advantage of this to find out as much as you can before you decide on which package to go for. Kenya Tours & Safaris, one of the leading tour companies in the country, offers some of the best Easter tour packages of Masai Mara and you can get in touch with them directly through their website at http://kenyatoursandsafaris.com/ to find out more and request a free quote.
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