masaimara.info
Menu
A twin-engine bush plane and a safari vehicle side by side on a grass airstrip in the Mara

KaribuGetting to Masai Mara, Kenya

Nairobi to Masai Mara: fly or drive, door to door

From Nairobi to Masai Mara, Kenya, a scheduled flight from Wilson Airport takes 30 minutes to 1 hour by scheduled flight, for Safarilink's USD 260 one way per adult before taxes (2026 timetable), with 15 kg (33 lb) in a soft bag. By road, Mara North Conservancy puts the drive at about 5 to 6 hours. The early flight lands at 8:15 and leaves about 10 hours of the ticket day; a 7:00 start by road leaves about 5 hours. The park fee is the same either way.

Photo: Ninara / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Edited by Rainer Lang Updated

Some links on this page are affiliate links: the guide earns a commission when you book through them. The partner sets the price; the guide adds no fee.

Fly if your stay is two nights or fewer and your bag fits the soft-bag rule: the flight gives back the arrival morning and an hour of the last one. Drive if the budget leads, your luggage is heavy, or you go as a day trip. On four nights the flight gives about 4 full days and 1 half day of drives and the road about 3 full days and 2 half days of drives, so the choice comes down to fare against the two travel mornings. The itinerary page shows what each night count gives; the safari cost page adds it all up.

30 minutes to 1 hourScheduled flight from Wilson, 2026 timetables

about 5 to 6 hoursBy road, as Mara North Conservancy states

USD 260Safarilink published fare 2026, one way per adult, before taxes

SaaDoor to door, hour by hour

Door to door, both ways

Pick where you start, the month and the nights. The board draws the arrival day and the last day on one clock; the table below it gives every step with the body that states its time. The ticket runs 6:00 to 18:00 and checkout is by 10:00, so the hours you keep in the reserve, not the fee, are what the choice changes.

Shown: from a hotel in central NairobiJKIA, in August, two nights. The flight column uses Safarilink 05 in and 02 out; the road column leaves Nairobi at 7:00, a time you set yourself. Both Safarilink flights run with at least 4 passengers: a party of two or three should confirm the seats with Safarilink, or take AirKenya 851 at 7:30, which flies with 2 passengers per airstrip.

Nairobi to the Masai Mara door to door, per adult. Times by scheduled flight are the airlines' 2026 timetable times; drive times are as the body named states them.
By scheduled flightBy road
To the Mara
From your door

Central Nairobi to Wilson Airport: about 15 minutes by road, AirKenya states. Leave by 6:00 for Safarilink 05 at 7:15.

JKIA to Wilson: about 25 minutes by road, or at least 1 hour by road in the morning and evening rush hours, Safarilink states. Leave JKIA by 5:50, or by 5:15 in the rush hours. Safarilink arranges a meet-and-transfer with 48 hours' notice; you pay the taxi directly. If your long-haul flight lands too late for that, take a later Mara flight or sleep a night near Wilson first (Nairobi).

Your driver collects you. This table leaves at 7:00; no timetable sets the hour.

The times below start in Nairobi; ask your driver how long the JKIA leg adds.
Check-in 60 minutes before departure at Wilson, as Safarilink, AirKenya and Governors' Aviation state. Each airline has its own check-in area there (Kenya Airports Authority). None.
On the way Wilson to the Mara: 1 hour by scheduled flight on Safarilink, 30 minutes to 1 hour by scheduled flight across the four airlines. Safarilink notes that times and airstrips vary daily with the aircraft routing; times can move by up to 40 minutes. Nairobi to Narok about 2 to 2.5 hours, then about 3 hours more to Mara North, as Mara North Conservancy states. Paved from Duka Moja to Narok (45 km (28 mi) by road) and from Ngoswani to Sekenani Gate, says KeNHA.
In the Mara by 8:15 at the first Mara airstrip; the camp's vehicle meets the plane. 12:00 to 13:00: the whole drive is about 5 to 6 hours by road (Mara North Conservancy), about 3 to 4 hours to Mara Siana (Mara Siana Conservancy).
Arrival day in the reserve about 10 hours 8:15 to 18:00 about 5 hours 13:00 to 18:00
The differenceabout 5 hours more by air, on the same ticket: it is valid 6:00 to 18:00 whatever time you enter.
Back to Nairobi
Last morning Game drive 6:00 to 11:00 on a fresh ticket, about 5 hours; check in 30 minutes before at the airstrip. Game drive 6:00 to 10:00 on a fresh ticket, about 4 hours; check out by 10:00.
Leaving the Mara Safarilink 02 at 11:00. Safarilink's flights back leave at 8:30 (high seasons only), 11:00 and 15:15; AirKenya's at 8:05, 11:15 and 15:10. After checkout, about 5 to 6 hours back. The State Department's Kenya travel information, dated 30 July 2026, advises against driving between cities at night.
Back at your door

Wilson 12:20, central Nairobi by 12:35.

Wilson 12:20, JKIA by 12:45, or 13:20 in the rush hours.

 Nairobi 15:00 to 16:00. JKIA later still; ask your driver for that leg.
The differenceabout 1 hour more by air on the last morning, and home in the early afternoon instead of the late afternoon.
Cost and luggage
Getting there, per adult USD 260 one way, USD 425 return on Safarilink (2026 timetable, before taxes), plus USD 11 to 15 departure tax per sector. No published transfer fare. Road trips sell as tours with vehicle and guide: a day trip from USD 190 per person (GetYourGuide, listed 12 November 2026, park fees excluded).
Park fees, per adult The same either way: USD 200 per non-resident adult per day in August, valid 6:00 to 18:00 on the day. Two days, one night need 1 or 2 ticket days: USD 200 to 400, the higher count with a last-morning drive. Three days, two nights need 2 or 3 ticket days: USD 400 to 600, the higher count with a last-morning drive. Four days, three nights need 3 or 4 ticket days: USD 600 to 800, the higher count with a last-morning drive. Five days, four nights need 4 or 5 ticket days: USD 800 to 1,000, the higher count with a last-morning drive.
Luggage 15 kg (33 lb) per person including hand baggage, in soft bags, on all four airlines. Safarilink allows one piece of at most 60 x 45 x 30 cm. No airline limit; the vehicle's space is the operator's to state.
Over the whole stay
Game drives, two nights about 1 full day and 1 half day of drivesabout 2 full days and 1 half day of drivesabout 3 full days and 1 half day of drivesabout 4 full days and 1 half day of drives about 2 half days of drivesabout 1 full day and 2 half days of drivesabout 2 full days and 2 half days of drivesabout 3 full days and 2 half days of drives

Hours in the reserve count inside the ticket window: by road from the slower end of the drive Mara North Conservancy states, by air from the landing time the timetable prints at the first Mara airstrip. Safarilink's 8:30 flight back runs in its high seasons only. The itinerary page sets these hours for any departure time and flight.

NdegeWilson Airport to the Mara airstrips

The flight: Wilson, soft bags and a fare with tax on top

Every scheduled flight to the Mara leaves from Wilson Airport, not from JKIA. The Kenya Airports Authority calls Wilson Nairobi's hub for safari flights, including the Masai Mara, and its Wilson page notes that each airline checks in at its own area. AirKenya flies only from its terminal there, about 15 minutes by road from the city center. From JKIA, Safarilink allows about 25 minutes by road, or at least 1 hour by road in the morning and evening rush hours, and it books a meet-and-transfer with 48 hours' notice (Safarilink FAQ).

Four airlines fly the route on a timetable. Safarilink leaves Wilson at 7:15, 10:00 and 14:15 (2026 timetable), AirKenya at 7:30, 10:30 and 14:15 (2026 timetable), Governors' Aviation at 7:15 (15 June to 31 October), 9:30 and 14:30 and Mombasa Air Safari at 10:00 and 14:15 (schedule). AirKenya and Governors' Aviation state about 45 minutes in the air (AirKenya FAQ); the timetables print 30 minutes to 1 hour because one plane drops at several strips. Safarilink's early and afternoon Mara flights need at least 4 passengers, it may combine loads onto another Mara strip, and its times can shift by up to 40 minutes: call the evening before.

Which airstrip, which camp and which airline serve your lodge is the subject of the Nairobi to Masai Mara flights page; where to stay matches the areas to their gates and strips.

A bush plane parked on the Musiara airstrip with a safari vehicle waiting beside it

Musiara airstrip, in the north of the reserve: the camp's vehicle waits on the grass, so the game drive starts at the plane's door.

Fares from Wilson to the Masai Mara, per adultTimetable fares are the 2026 published rates; engine fares were read on 12 November 2026 for the travel date shown.
Airline and sourceOne wayReturnTaxes
Safarilink, 2026 timetable, low and high seasonUSD 260USD 425Not included: USD 11 to 15 per sector (taxes page)
Safarilink booking engine, Wilson to Keekorok, 11 January and 12 August 2027USD 298Same each wayIncluded: USD 268 plus USD 30
AirKenya booking engine, Wilson to Keekorok, 11 January 2027USD 221 'SPECIAL', or USD 308Not shownIncluded: USD 50
AirKenya booking engine, 12 August 2027USD 308 onlyNot shownIncluded: USD 50
Mombasa Air Safari, 2026 published fareUSD 200USD 370Fuel surcharge USD 20 one way, USD 40 return
Governors' Aviation, 2026 recommended selling rateUSD 250USD 420 (1 January to 30 June), USD 434 (1 July to 31 October)Ask the airline

AirKenya's fares are shown as its booking engine printed them, tax included, with the travel date and the day they were read. Children aged 2 to 11 pay 75% of the adult fare on Safarilink (Y and M class) and 70% on AirKenya, with the full allowance. A fly-in package bundles the flight, camp and drives: a three-day private fly-in safari lists from USD 1,996 per person on GetYourGuide (listed 12 November 2026, park fees excluded).

A soft duffel bag with its three measurements, and a small day bag that counts toward the same allowance soft sides hand bag
One soft bag, hand baggage included in the weight: Safarilink allows a piece of at most 60 x 45 x 30 cm; Governors' Aviation soft bags up to 35 x 35 x 67 cm.

MavaziWhat fits in the plane

The soft-bag rule

All four airlines allow 15 kg (33 lb) per person on Mara flights, hand baggage and cameras included, in soft bags (AirKenya baggage policy, Governors' baggage policy, Mombasa Air Safari terms). Safarilink explains that its aircraft have small, irregular holds; a rigid suitcase might follow on the next flight (baggage page).

Extra weight flies only if there is room. AirKenya charges USD 5 per kg at check-in, or USD 30 for 5 kg and USD 50 for 10 kg bought 48 hours ahead. Safarilink charges KES 400 (about USD 3.00) per kg at the captain's discretion; Governors' Aviation USD 3 per kg at the pilot's. Safarilink and AirKenya store excess bags free at Wilson for return passengers, and AirKenya sells a soft bag at check-in for USD 20. What to wear on safari packs to the limit.

A dirt track running across open grassland in the Mara

Photo: Daniel Case / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

BarabaraThe road option

Tarmac to Sekenani Gate, then the tracks of the reserve.

LangoNarok, road B131 and the gates

The road: Narok, the B131 and your gate

Nairobi to the Masai Mara: the road through Narok and Ngoswani to Sekenani, and the flight to the airstrips Schematic: towns, gates and airstrips at their positions; the lines join them in order and do not trace the road. Nairobi Narok Ngoswani Sekenani Gate Keekorok airstrip Musiara airstrip Oloololo Gate Aitong Talek
Solid: the way in through Narok to Sekenani (road B131 in red) and through Aitong to Oloololo; dotted: the flights, drawn in a straight line. Schematic. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

The road leaves Nairobi for Narok, which Mara North Conservancy puts at about 2 to 2.5 hours, then about 3 hours more to the conservancy, about 5 to 6 hours in all (how to get there). Mara Siana Conservancy, in the east, states about 3 to 4 hours by road (Mara Siana). For Sekenani, Talek or Musiara, plan on the conservancies' figures and ask your camp how long the last stretch takes.

  • Duka Moja to Narok 45 km (28 mi) by road, paved single carriageway (KeNHA).
  • Narok to Ngoswani on road B131, about 45.6 km by road, single carriageway (KeNHA).
  • Ngoswani to Sekenani Gate 36 km by road, paved, which KeNHA calls the key link road to the reserve (KeNHA).
  • Narok to Sekenani in all about 82 km by road, tarmac all the way in the Mara Conservancy's description.

For the Mara Triangle, west of the river, the Mara Conservancy names three routes: through Sekenani and Keekorok to Purungat Bridge, through Aitong and Mara North to Oloololo Gate, or from Kisii through Kilgoris down the escarpment to Oloololo (driving to the Triangle). Inside the Triangle, Oloololo to Purungat is a little over 1 hour by road at 50 km/h on the Triangle main road. On the Narok side, Narok County reported in November 2024 that the Mara Simba Bridge between Sekenani and Talek had been swept away in the rains the year before (Narok County). The map shows every gate.

The entrance arch of Sekenani Gate on the Narok side of the reserve
Sekenani Gate, where the paved B131 meets the reserve on the Narok side.
Oloololo Gate at the north-western edge of the Mara Triangle
Oloololo Gate, the Triangle's way in from Aitong and from Kilgoris.
Dark rain clouds over green plains and a muddy track
Rain on the plains: unpaved roads can close in the wet months, says the US Department of State.

UsalamaDriving yourself

Driving yourself, as the State Department puts it

The State Department's Kenya travel information, dated 30 July 2026, advises avoiding driving between cities at night because of poor roads and lighting and banditry, notes that traffic keeps to the left, and says some unpaved roads become impassable in the rainy seasons even for high-clearance 4x4s (Kenya travel information). It says US travelers may drive on a valid US license for up to 3 months. Safety in the Masai Mara has the full advisories; the weather page shows when the rain falls.

PesaRoad trips with the drive included

Road trips you can book from Nairobi

The road is usually bought with the safari: vehicle, driver and guide in one price. Prices are the listing's own, read on 12 November 2026; none includes park fees.

A safari vehicle parked under an acacia on open plains
On a road safari the drive from Nairobi is part of the trip, not a separate fare.

  • Day trip to the reserve and a Maasai village

    From USD 190 per person

    GetYourGuide, small group, one day, park fees excluded. A day trip spends most of its hours on the road: at about 5 to 6 hours each way, it fits only the middle of a 6:00 to 18:00 ticket.

  • Day tour to the reserve from Nairobi

    From USD 225 per person

    Viator, private vehicle, the search-page price for two adults with no date picked; the listing says it varies by group size. Park fees excluded.

  • Three-day, two-night group safari in a 4WD jeep

    From USD 199 per person

    GetYourGuide, group of seven to eight, three days and two nights by road, park fees excluded. Add USD 400 to 600 per adult in fees from July to December, USD 200 to 300 from January to June.

More trips by length and style: how to go on a Masai Mara safari, and the finder on the home page.

MpangoFly, drive or both

Which way fits your trip

  • about 1 full day and 1 half day of drives

    Fly in and out

    On one night, as the itinerary ledger counts it. Worth it for one or two nights and for a camp near a strip, if your bag fits the soft-bag rule.

  • about 2 half days of drives

    Drive both ways

    On the same night by road. It suits three nights or more, heavier luggage and tight budgets, and it is the only way for a day trip by tour.

  • USD 260

    Drive in, fly out

    Safarilink's one-way fare before taxes. Driving in on day one and flying back on the 11:00 flight keeps the last morning; the airlines sell one-way seats at their published fares.

The fee for the reserve does not change with the way you arrive: USD 200 per non-resident adult per day from July to December, valid 6:00 to 18:00. The entrance fee page counts your ticket days; the conservancies charge their own fees through the camps; the best time to visit weighs the half-price months against the rain.

MaswaliNairobi to the Mara

Questions about getting from Nairobi to the Mara

Every time in the answers is in the door-to-door table. Nairobi covers the night before, where the Masai Mara is the geography.

How long is the drive from Nairobi to the Masai Mara?

Mara North Conservancy states about 5 to 6 hours from Nairobi: about 2 to 2.5 hours to Narok and about 3 hours more. Mara Siana Conservancy, closer to the eastern gates, states about 3 to 4 hours. The Mara Conservancy describes the road as tarmac from Narok to Sekenani Gate.

How much is a flight from Nairobi to the Masai Mara?

Safarilink publishes USD 260 one way and USD 425 return for 2026, plus USD 11 to 15 tax per sector. Its booking engine, read on 12 November 2026, showed USD 298 one way with tax for January and August 2027; that is a booking-engine reading, not the published fare. Mombasa Air Safari publishes USD 200 plus a fuel surcharge; Governors' Aviation USD 250.

Is it safe to drive from Nairobi to the Masai Mara?

The State Department's Kenya travel information, dated 30 July 2026, advises avoiding driving between cities at night, notes that traffic keeps to the left, and says some unpaved roads are impassable in the rains even for high-clearance 4x4s. The safety page has the advisory levels with their dates.

Can I land at JKIA and fly to the Mara the same day?

Yes, if you land early enough. Mara flights leave from Wilson, not JKIA. Safarilink allows about 25 minutes by road between the two, or at least 1 hour by road in the morning and evening rush hours, and check-in closes 60 minutes before departure. For the 7:15 you leave JKIA by 5:50; Safarilink's later flights leave Wilson at 10:00 and 14:15. Land later than that and sleep a night near Wilson (Nairobi).

Can you visit the Masai Mara as a day trip from Nairobi?

Yes, by road or air. Day tours list from USD 190 per person, park fees excluded, or from USD 225 in a private vehicle, but at about 5 to 6 hours each way most of the day is on the road. A stay of two or three nights gives full days on the plains.

Sources

  1. Mara North Conservancy states the drive from Nairobi takes about 5-6 hours (about 280 km to the Mara); Nairobi to Narok about 2-2.5 hours and about 3 more hours to the conservancy. Mara North Conservancy: How to Get There.
  2. Mara Siana Conservancy recommends flying from Nairobi Wilson to Mara Keekorok airstrip with camp transfers, or driving about 240 km (3-4 hours) from Nairobi. Mara Siana Conservancy: website (marasianaconservancy.org, text read from the site's script bundle).
  3. Safarilink FAQ: excess baggage, carried only at the captain's discretion, is charged at the freight rate of KES 400 per kg (about USD 4), inclusive of VAT; check-in staff normally allow up to 2 kg leeway. Safarilink: FAQs.
  4. Safarilink offers a complimentary secure store for excess baggage at its Wilson Airport office. Safarilink: Baggage Allowance.
  5. Safarilink asks for soft bags because most of its aircraft have small, irregular luggage compartments; rigid suitcases might in an extreme case travel on the next flight. Golf bags on Dash 8 only, USD 20 per bag per sector. Safarilink: Baggage Allowance.
  6. AirKenya baggage: maximum 15 kg (33 lb) per passenger on all services in soft-sided bags, including carry-on items up to 5 kg; guideline checked-bag size 60 x 45 x 33 cm, hand luggage 30 x 53 x 23 cm. AirKenya: Baggage Policy (web page and PDF 'Updated Baggage Policy').
  7. AirKenya: excess baggage at check-in is USD 5 per kg on domestic and international routes, subject to space; advance bundles are USD 30 for up to 5 kg or USD 50 for up to 10 kg, bought at least 48 hours before, maximum 10 kg extra per passenger per sector. AirKenya: Baggage Policy (web page and PDF 'Updated Baggage Policy').
  8. AirKenya: a passenger without a soft bag can buy one at check-in for USD 20; AirKenya offers complimentary luggage storage at its Wilson Airport terminal for passengers on return flights; its baggage policy carries collapsible wheelchairs and other assistive devices free of charge for qualified passengers with disability, outside the allowance, and says baby car seats and foldable prams or strollers will also be accepted. AirKenya: Frequently Asked Questions.
  9. Mombasa Air Safari: the total baggage allowance for each passenger is 15 kg including hand baggage and cameras (terms and conditions); its packing guide says soft-sided duffel bags or rucksacks are mandatory for light aircraft flights. Mombasa Air Safari: Terms and Conditions.
  10. Governors' Aviation baggage policy: a total weight limit of 15 kg per passenger including personal carry-on items; soft bags up to 35 x 35 x 67 cm and hard-shell suitcases up to 38 x 55 x 30 cm; excess baggage is accepted at the pilot's discretion and charged USD 3 per kg for each destination; it stores excess baggage at its Wilson Airport office for clients traveling with Governors' Aviation. Governors' Aviation: Our Baggage Policy.
  11. Safarilink's booking engine, read on 12 Nov 2026, offered a one-way adult fare of USD 298 (rack fare USD 268 plus USD 30 tax, fare 'PLUS') from Nairobi Wilson to Mara Keekorok airstrip on 11 January 2027, on flights 005 (7:15-8:15, non-stop), 001 (10:00-11:00 via Naivasha Loldia) and 003 (14:15-15:15). Safarilink Aviation: online booking engine, flight results WIL-KEU 2027-01-11, 2026-11-12.
  12. Safarilink's booking engine, read on 12 Nov 2026, offered a one-way adult fare of USD 298 from Mara Keekorok to Nairobi Wilson on 11 January 2027 (flights 006 8:15-9:40, 002 11:00-12:20, 004 15:15-16:15), and the same USD 298 each way on 12 August 2027 on the same flight numbers and times. Safarilink Aviation: online booking engine, flight results KEU-WIL 2027-01-11, WIL-KEU and KEU-WIL 2027-08-12, 2026-11-12.
  13. Safarilink's 'PLUS' fare to the Mara includes 1 x 5 kg hand luggage and 1 x 15 kg checked luggage (10 kg on safari routes), free changes up to 48 hours before departure (fare info: free changes before 14 days, then an amendment fee), and the service runs subject to a minimum of 4 passengers per service and 2 per airstrip. Safarilink Aviation: online booking engine, fare conditions of flight 005 WIL-KEU 2027-01-11, 2026-11-12.
  14. AirKenya's booking engine, read on 12 Nov 2026, offered one-way adult fares from Nairobi Wilson to Mara Keekorok on 11 January 2027 of USD 221 in class 'SPECIAL' (rack USD 171 plus USD 50 tax) and USD 308 in 'Y STANDARD' (rack USD 258 plus USD 50 tax) on flight 851 (7:30-8:10); flight 853 (10:30-11:10) from USD 308. AirKenya: online booking engine, flight results WIL-KEU 2027-01-11, 2026-11-12.
  15. AirKenya's booking engine, read on 12 Nov 2026, offered only 'Y STANDARD' at USD 308 one way (rack USD 258 plus USD 50 tax) between Nairobi Wilson and Mara Keekorok on 12 August 2027 in both directions (flights 851, 853, 951 out; 852, 854, 952 back); no SPECIAL fare was shown. AirKenya: online booking engine, flight results WIL-KEU and KEU-WIL 2027-08-12, 2026-11-12.
  16. AirKenya's fare conditions for Mara flights state that baggage is strictly 15 kg per passenger including hand luggage, all in soft bags, and that it operates with a minimum of two passengers to scheduled airstrips, charging an extra seat if fewer are booked. AirKenya: online booking engine, fare conditions WIL-KEU 2027-01-11, 2026-11-12.
  17. The Kenya Airports Authority describes Wilson Airport (IATA WIL) as Nairobi's hub for domestic, safari and charter flights, including routes to the Maasai Mara, on Langata Road about 5 km south of Nairobi city center. Kenya Airports Authority: Wilson Airport page.
  18. The Kenya Airports Authority states that at Wilson Airport each scheduled airline and charter operator has its own check-in area, so passengers must check with their airline where to check in. Kenya Airports Authority: Wilson Airport page.
  19. AirKenya states flight time Wilson to Maasai Mara is about 45 minutes (Amboseli 35, Arusha 55, Nanyuki 40, Lewa 45, Loisaba and Samburu 55, Meru 60 minutes). AirKenya: Frequently Asked Questions.
  20. Governors' Aviation states its Wilson-Masai Mara flights take approximately 45 minutes, flown with two Cessna Grand Caravans; on days its aircraft are not flying, confirmed passengers may be rebooked on Safarilink or AirKenya. Governors' Camp: Governors' Aviation page.
  21. Safarilink's published one-way (single) fare Nairobi Wilson to Masai Mara (or Masai Mara to Wilson) is USD 260 per adult in both low and high season 2026, exclusive of taxes. Safarilink: Timetable and Fares 2026, 1st Edition (valid up to 31 December 2026).
  22. Safarilink's published return fare Nairobi Wilson to Masai Mara is USD 425 per adult in both low and high season 2026, exclusive of taxes. Safarilink: Timetable and Fares 2026, 1st Edition (valid up to 31 December 2026).
  23. Safarilink fares exclude taxes; domestic departure taxes, also levied at safari airstrips to cover landing fees, range from USD 11 to 15 per sector depending on destination. Safarilink: Taxes.
  24. AirKenya FAQ says its quoted fares include taxes; its terms and conditions say fares are quoted exclusive of taxes. AirKenya: Frequently Asked Questions.
  25. Mombasa Air Safari 2026 published fare, Wilson to Mara one way: USD 200 per person plus a fuel surcharge of USD 20. Mombasa Air Safari: Flight Schedule (Scheduled Fares for 2026 and Flight Timetable).
  26. Mombasa Air Safari 2026 published fare, Wilson-Mara return: USD 370 per person plus a fuel surcharge of USD 40. Mombasa Air Safari: Flight Schedule (Scheduled Fares for 2026 and Flight Timetable).
  27. Governors Aviation recommended selling rate Nairobi Wilson to all Masai Mara airstrips, return, 1 January to 30 June 2026: USD 420 per adult, USD 294 per child (2 to 15 years). Governors Aviation: Recommended Selling Rates, validity 01-Jan-2026 to 31-Dec-2026, 2026-02-27.
  28. Governors Aviation recommended selling rate Nairobi Wilson to all Masai Mara airstrips, return, 1 July to 31 October 2026: USD 434 per adult, USD 304 per child (2 to 15 years). Governors Aviation: Recommended Selling Rates, validity 01-Jan-2026 to 31-Dec-2026, 2026-02-27.
  29. Governors Aviation recommended selling rate Nairobi to all Masai Mara camps one way, 1 January to 31 December 2026: USD 250 per adult, USD 176 per child (2 to 15). Governors Aviation: Recommended Selling Rates, validity 01-Jan-2026 to 31-Dec-2026, 2026-02-27.
  30. Safarilink states the drive between JKIA and Wilson Airport takes about 25 minutes, but a minimum of 1 hour should be allowed in the morning and evening rush hours. Safarilink: FAQs.
  31. Safarilink arranges a JKIA-to-Wilson meet-and-transfer with at least 48 hours' notice; the passenger pays the taxi company directly. Safarilink: FAQs.
  32. AirKenya flies only from its private terminal at Wilson Airport (WIL), about 15 minutes from Nairobi city center; it has no scheduled flights from JKIA. AirKenya: Frequently Asked Questions.
  33. Safarilink child fare: children aged 2 to 11 years pay 75% of the applicable adult fare in Y and M class; other fare classes have no child fare (2026 timetable). Safarilink: Timetable and Fares 2026, 1st Edition (valid up to 31 December 2026).
  34. Safarilink: all safari airstrips are subject to a minimum of 2 passengers, a few to a minimum of 4, in both low and high seasons; Mara flights 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09 and 071 need a minimum of 4 passengers year-round, and landings are limited to a maximum of 4 stops per aircraft. Safarilink: Timetable and Fares 2026, 1st Edition (valid up to 31 December 2026).
  35. Safarilink: Mara flight 01 can route via Naivasha (Loldia airstrip); operations may combine loads to alternative Mara airstrips because of aircraft limitations at some strips. Safarilink: Timetable and Fares 2026, 1st Edition (valid up to 31 December 2026).
  36. Safarilink 2026: baggage allowance is strictly 15 kg per person on safari routes (20 kg to Diani, Entebbe, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Zanzibar), inclusive of hand baggage, in soft bags; infants without a seat get no allowance; one piece per person max 60 x 45 x 30 cm. Safarilink: Timetable and Fares 2026, 1st Edition (valid up to 31 December 2026).
  37. Safarilink 2026 timetable: latest check-in is 90 minutes before international flights (Zanzibar, Entebbe, Arusha), 60 minutes at Nairobi Wilson, Malindi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Diani and Lamu, and 30 minutes elsewhere (bush airstrips); the aircraft may leave up to 15 minutes early. Safarilink: Timetable and Fares 2026, 1st Edition (valid up to 31 December 2026).
  38. Safarilink: timings on some routes can vary by up to 40 minutes depending on aircraft routing; it recommends calling operations the evening before to reconfirm. Safarilink: FAQs.
  39. AirKenya Masai Mara services: daily, minimum 2 passengers per airstrip; passengers should call AirKenya operations on the departure date to confirm arrival and pick-up times at the various airstrips. AirKenya: Flight Schedule 2026 (valid from 21 December 2025 to 31 December 2026).
  40. AirKenya 2026 timetable: check-in is 60 minutes before departure at Nairobi Wilson and Arusha and closes 30 minutes before departure; check-in at bush airstrips is 30 minutes before departure. AirKenya: Flight Schedule 2026 (valid from 21 December 2025 to 31 December 2026).
  41. AirKenya: children aged 2 to 11 pay 70% of the adult fare and get the full 15 kg allowance; infants under 2 fly free on an adult's lap without baggage allowance. AirKenya: Frequently Asked Questions.
  42. Governors Aviation: check-in is 60 minutes before flight time at Nairobi Wilson and 30 minutes elsewhere; the aircraft may leave up to 15 minutes early. Governors Aviation: Flight Terms and Conditions (valid with effect from 1 January 2021), 2023-06-01.
  43. Safarilink flight 05 departs Nairobi Wilson for the Masai Mara airstrips at 7:15 and arrives 8:15, daily, subject to a minimum of 4 passengers throughout the year (2026 timetable, valid to 31 December 2026); times and airstrips vary daily with the aircraft routing. Safarilink: Timetable and Fares 2026, 1st Edition (valid up to 31 December 2026).
  44. Safarilink flight 06 departs the Masai Mara airstrips for Nairobi Wilson at 8:30 and arrives 9:34, in high seasons only (note b), subject to a minimum of 4 passengers (note e), per the 2026 timetable. Safarilink: Timetable and Fares 2026, 1st Edition (valid up to 31 December 2026).
  45. Safarilink flight 02 departs the Masai Mara airstrips for Nairobi Wilson at 11:00 and arrives at 12:20, daily, per the 2026 timetable (valid to 31 December 2026); times and airstrips vary daily with the aircraft routing, subject to a minimum of 4 passengers throughout the year (timetable note e). Safarilink: Timetable and Fares 2026, 1st Edition (valid up to 31 December 2026).
  46. AirKenya flight P2 851 Wilson to Masai Mara: departs 7:30, arrives 8:00, daily, valid 21 December 2025 to 31 December 2026; Mara times show the first stop and vary with routing over multiple airstrips. AirKenya: Flight Schedule 2026 (valid from 21 December 2025 to 31 December 2026).
  47. Safarilink 2026 high seasons are 1 January to 31 March, 16 June to 31 October and 16 to 31 December 2026 (timetable). Safarilink: Timetable and Fares 2026, 1st Edition (valid up to 31 December 2026).
  48. GetYourGuide listing '3-Day, 2-Night Maasai Mara Group Safari in a 4WD Jeep' (operator Perfect Wilderness Tours and Safari), read 12 November 2026: listed price from USD 199 per person, 3 days and 2 nights, group of 7-8 (private option available), park fees excluded. GetYourGuide: 3-Day, 2-Night Maasai Mara Group Safari in a 4WD Jeep, 2026-11-12.
  49. GetYourGuide listing 'Nairobi: Day Trip to Maasai Mara Reserve & Maasai village' (operator Niroskos Tours And Safaris), read 12 November 2026: listed price from USD 190 per person, 1 day, small group, park fees excluded. GetYourGuide: Nairobi: Day Trip to Maasai Mara Reserve & Maasai village, 2026-11-12.
  50. GetYourGuide listing 'Nairobi: 3-Day Fly-In Private Maasai Mara Safari Experience' (operator Day 2 Day Tours and Safaris Ltd), read 12 November 2026: listed price from USD 1996.25 per person, 3 days and 2 nights, private, park fees excluded. GetYourGuide: Nairobi: 3-Day Fly-In Private Maasai Mara Safari Experience, 2026-11-12.
  51. Viator listing 'Day Tour to Maasai Mara Reserve From Nairobi' (operator not shown on the page), read 12 November 2026: listed 'from' price USD 225 per person on the search page for 2 adults with no date picked (the page says the price varies by group size), 1 day, private vehicle, max 8 travelers, park fees excluded (the listing excludes the Maasai Mara park fees of USD 200 per person per day July to December and USD 100 January to June). Viator: Day Tour to Maasai Mara Reserve From Nairobi, 2026-11-12.
  52. The Mara Conservancy / KAPS ticket rate card, co-branded with Narok County Government, charges a non-resident adult the same park fee whether accommodated inside or outside the park: USD 200 per person per day from July to December. Mara Conservancy / KAPS: Park Fees Itemization rate card (Nature Paas ticket portal).
  53. The same co-branded rate card charges a non-resident adult USD 100 per person per day from January to June, whether accommodated inside or outside the park; non-resident children aged 9 to 17 and students in organized groups pay USD 50 per person per day in both blocks. Mara Conservancy / KAPS: Park Fees Itemization rate card (Nature Paas ticket portal).
  54. The Mara Conservancy ticket portal states that day tickets are valid 12 hours (6:00 to 18:00) and expire automatically at 6:00 pm, whatever time they are bought. Mara Conservancy / KAPS: Nature Paas ticket portal, 'Know Before You Go'.
  55. The Mara Conservancy ticket portal states that overnight guests must check out by 10:00 am, and that a morning game drive on the checkout day needs a fresh full-day ticket. Mara Conservancy / KAPS: Nature Paas ticket portal, 'Know Before You Go'.
  56. Under the reserve management plan visitor rules, visitors may not enter the Maasai Mara National Reserve after 18:30 and must leave by 19:00 if staying outside or be back at their accommodation by 19:00 if staying inside. Narok County: Maasai Mara National Reserve Management Plan 2023-2032 (Final, February 2023).
  57. KeNHA: the road from Narok town to Sekenani Gate of the Maasai Mara National Reserve is road B131, a national road managed by KeNHA (South Rift Region), described as the key link road to the reserve. Kenya National Highways Authority: Tender KeNHA/R4/309/2024 (Revised), Performance Based Contract, Ngoswani - Sekenani Gate (B131) Road.
  58. KeNHA: the Ngoswani to Sekenani Gate section of B131 is a paved single-carriageway road of 36 km (the same tender document also says approximately 37 km), with an average carriageway width of 9.5 m and medium traffic. Kenya National Highways Authority: Tender KeNHA/R4/309/2024 (Revised), Performance Based Contract, Ngoswani - Sekenani Gate (B131) Road.
  59. KeNHA: the Narok (junction with B7, TM junction) to Ngoswani section of B131 is a single carriageway of approximately 45.6 km. Kenya National Highways Authority: Tender KeNHA/R4/308/2024, PBC Works Junct (B7) Narok - Ngoswani (B131).
  60. The US Department of State tells US travelers they may drive in Kenya with a valid US driver's license for up to 3 months (travel guidance dated 30 July 2026). US Department of State: Kenya Travel Advisory and travel guidance, 2026-07-30.
  61. Narok County: the Mara Simba Bridge, which connects Sekenani and Talek across the Mara River, had been swept away by El Nino rains the year before (reported November 2024). Narok County Government: Siana Ward Development Tour, 2024-11-04.
  62. KeNHA: the Duka Moja (near the SGR bridge) to Enkare Narok (Narok town) road is a paved single carriageway of 45 km, average width 10.2 m, over rolling terrain with 3 bridges and medium traffic. Kenya National Highways Authority: Tender KeNHA/R4/336/2025, PBC Duka Moja - Narok.
  63. The US Department of State advises avoiding driving between cities at night (poor roads and lighting, banditry), notes traffic drives on the left, and says some unpaved roads are impassable in the rainy seasons even for high-clearance 4x4s. US Department of State: Kenya Travel Advisory and travel guidance, 2026-07-30.
  64. The Mara Conservancy names three road routes to the Mara Triangle: via Sekenani Gate (tarmac from Narok to Sekenani, then via Keekorok to Purungat Bridge; fastest for guests of Mara Serena), via Aitong through Mara North Conservancy to Oloololo Gate (fastest for guests of the camps just outside the Triangle it names, such as Angama, Kichwa Tembo and Bateleur), and from Kisii via Kilgoris and Lolgorian down the Siria escarpment to Oloololo Gate. Mara Conservancy: Driving to the Mara Triangle.
  65. Driving from Oloololo Gate to Purungat Bridge Gate on the Mara Triangle main road takes a little over one hour at 50 km/h. Mara Conservancy: Driving to the Mara Triangle.
  66. Travel times and distances. Drive times as stated by Mara North Conservancy, Mara Siana Conservancy, the Mara Conservancy, Safarilink and AirKenya; road distances from KeNHA, Narok County, Kenya Wildlife Service and Mara Siana Conservancy; flight times from the 2026 timetables of Safarilink, AirKenya, Governors' Aviation and Mombasa Air Safari
  67. Unit conversions. Metric figures with US equivalents (1 km = 0.621371 mi, 1 m = 3.28084 ft, 1 kg = 2.20462 lb, 1 ft = 0.3048 m, 1 acre = 0.404686 ha, °F = °C × 9/5 + 32)
  68. Hours on the ground by plan, and the Nairobi half-day planner. Computed from the Mara Conservancy ticket portal (ticket 6:00 to 18:00, checkout 10:00), the reserve management plan (no entry after 18:30, in camp by 19:00), the drive time Mara North Conservancy states, the Safarilink and AirKenya 2026 timetables, the check-in times Safarilink, AirKenya and Governors' Aviation state at Wilson and the transfer times Safarilink and AirKenya state; the departure time from Nairobi is a scenario
  69. Exchange rate. Central Bank of Kenya, daily indicative exchange rate posted 12 November 2026 (average of major market participants' buying and selling rates at the open of trade)
  70. Masai Mara park fees. Mara Conservancy and Narok County Government rate card, non-resident adult per day; ticket valid 6:00 to 18:00

Safari njemaHave a good trip