Mara River Camp by Karibu Camps

Twelve tented suites plus a Family Suite. Maximum capacity around 30 guests.

Year round, with peak migration months June to October driving the highest demand and rates.

By Cessna flight from Arusha Airport (1hr 30min) to Kogatende airstrip, then a 30 minute game drive transfer. Drive access from Arusha is impractical at 11 to 12 hours and rarely chosen.

Yes. The Family Suite is built for four to five guests. Karibu charges children aged 5 to 14 at 50% of the adult rate; under 5 stay free when sharing with a parent.

Full board, soft drinks, daily laundry, and TDL. Excluded: park fees, concession fees, the game drive vehicle, soft drinks, flying doctors cover, bush flights, tips, and personal items.

Mid July through October is the peak crossing window, with the highest activity in August and September. Crossings are unpredictable, guests should plan a minimum 3 night stay to maximise the chance of witnessing one in full.

Karibu puts the camp about ten minutes from the Mara River. That is the whole reason to stay here: a crossing happens without warning, at no fixed point and on no schedule, so being on the bank early and being able to move when word comes over the radio is worth more than any other single thing.

The camp publishes wireless internet and power around the clock, with charging points in the tents. Bandwidth this far north is variable and shared, so treat it as enough for messages rather than for video calls, and bring a power bank for long days out at the river.

The resident wildlife does not migrate. Northern Serengeti holds large lion prides, leopard, elephant and buffalo after the herds have gone south, and the country empties of vehicles at the same time. Short rains fall in November and December and the long rains from March to May. Afternoons sit around 25 degrees Celsius and nights around 14.

The camp does not publish its own medical or evacuation arrangements, and flying doctors cover is excluded from the rate. Kogatende airstrip is the evacuation point and it is close. Arrange flying doctors membership and travel insurance before you travel, and we will help you set both up.

Yes. From 1 October 2026 visitors entering mainland Tanzania must hold the government inbound travel insurance, 44 USD per adult and valid for up to 92 days, covering emergency medical care, evacuation, repatriation and lost luggage. Children aged 3 to 17 pay half and infants under 3 are free. It is bought online before you fly or on arrival, and residents of Tanzania and of East African and SADC countries are exempt. If you land in Zanzibar first, the Zanzibar policy covers you instead. It is paid by you directly and is not part of your trip price.