I have an upcoming trip to explore the Masai Mara National Park in January 2027, and I was able to use points to book Qatar Airways Business Class flights to reach Nairobi from the US (review).
Bilt Palladium Semiannual Hotel Credits
I have recently obtained the Bilt Palladium credit card and was looking to make use of the $200 semiannual hotel credits. An additional $100 hotel credit can be added to the same booking if you have Gold status and any leftover Bilt Cash in your account. This brings the Bilt Palladium credits to a total of $300 semi-annually (Bilt Palladium review).
Mara Major Camp
After hours of research into the ideal camps to explore the Masai Mara National Park, I settled on Mara Major Camp due to the following reasons:
- Mara Major Camp is located very close to the Tarek Gate.
- Mara Major Camp has only 6 luxury tents, offering a private stay experience.
- The camp is operated by the Masai locals, who are known to cook high-quality food with locally sourced ingredients.
- I read great things about the Game drives with experienced drivers.
I compared prices between Expedia and Bilt to make sure I am not overcharged by the new Bilt system. I also checked prices on Citi Travel (to earn 12X points with Strata Elite) and Rove Hotels, but could not find the Mara Major Camp listed there.
Bilt Prices
It is important to note that Bilt prices always include all the applicable taxes/fees for the hotel booking.
Expedia.com Price
I am happy to report that I noticed identical pricing between Bilt and Expedia for the same dates and room type (see image below).
My final price with Bilt Palladium after applying $300 credits
Additional cost when visiting the Masai Mara National Park
- I am aware of the steep Masai Mara National Park Entrance Fees that are paid directly to the park authorities (Narok County Government): Daily fees for the reserve ($100 per person/day from January to June; $200 per person/day from July to December).
- You should set aside around $500 USD per person for a return trip on bush planes to reach the accommodation and avoid driving 5-7 hours on bumpy roads.
Conclusion
A luxury safari trip to explore the Masai Mara National Park is no doubt expensive, but I was happy to make use of the $200 Bilt Palladium semi-annual credit (plus $100 in Bilt Cash) to make a booking at Mara Major Camp. While I am not earning 12X points compared to Citi Strata Elite & Rove Hotel bookings, it comes to about 5X earnings with the Palladium (2+2+1 X Accelerator), before any 100-125% rent-day transfer bonuses.