Mara Conservancy Board recently released new requirements for those visiting the Mara Triangle in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, instructing visitors to have a valid ticket on entry.

The requirements, effective December 1, stipulate that failure to carry a valid ticket will result in a Ksh10 000 (€86) penalty, plus payment of a ticket.

The Mara Conservancy accepts valid Narok Park tickets for clients residing in a camp or lodge within the reserve, and for those who have spent the bulk of their game drive in the reserve.

The conservancy does not accept tickets purchased at Musiara for the purpose of visiting the Mara Triangle. In addition, all clients on a balloon safari must have a valid ticket. For those residing outside the reserve, or on the conservancies who wish to embark on a balloon safari in the Mara Triangle, they will need to purchase and be in possession of a Mara Triangle ticket.

In summary, the new requirements state that all guests of Governors’ Balloon Safaris Ltd and those embarking on a balloon safari within the Mara Triangle, will need to carry either a valid Mara Conservancy or valid Narok Park fee ticket.

The notification sent by Mara Conservancy read: “The Mara Conservancy Board directed that all clients visiting the Mara Triangle for whatever reason must have a valid ticket on entry. We will give a grace period of one month for clients based outside the Reserve, who wish to fly on a balloon, and the effective date will be December 1, 2018.  We will also recognise pre-existing bookings, in which the client has already paid for the balloon ride. We will require a list within a week, and will honour such pre-existing bookings until March 1, 2019.”

All Mara Triangle tickets will be valid for a period of 24 hours from the time of issue, and are not transferrable. The Narok Park ticket is acceptable for clients accommodated within the Reserve on the Narok side of the river.

Governors’ Balloon Safaris Ltd requests that operators ensure all clients staying outside the reserve purchase a Mara Conservancy park ticket prior to ballooning after December 1, and that a list is sent of all clients staying outside the Masai Mara National Reserve but who are already booked a balloon safari, so that Governor’s Balloon Safaris Ltd can forward it to Mara Conservancy in order to obtain an exemption from this ruling.