Two ways to get from Nairobi to the Mara
Most trips to the Maasai Mara start in Nairobi. You either drive, or you fly from Wilson Airport to an airstrip close to your camp. The road shows you the country on the way. The flight is shorter in the air but adds a transfer on the ground.
The drive time depends on where your camp is. One eastern camp lists a road transfer of 4 hours and gives the distance as 230 or 260 km. That figure belongs to that camp and does not apply to every corner of the reserve. A camp in the west or in a conservancy can take longer, so ask for the transfer time to your exact camp.
Road or flight: how they differ
Compare what each option covers before you compare prices.
| Point | By road | By air |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Your hotel in Nairobi | Wilson Airport |
| Time | About 4 hours to one eastern camp, longer to other areas | One operator lists Wilson to the Mara at 09:30–10:15 and 14:30–15:15 in 2026 |
| Last stretch | Asphalt from Narok to Sekenani, then tracks in the reserve | Transfer from the airstrip to the camp |
| Luggage | Depends on the vehicle | 15 kg in a soft bag, including hand luggage |
| Price example | Set by your operator | $250 one way for an adult with one operator in 2026 |
Park entry, the camp and the transfer from the airstrip are separate items on top of a flight. Strips, timetables and baggage rules are on the flights page.
Our picks: Maasai Mara trips from Nairobi
A day trip, a short group safari and a longer trip with Lake Nakuru, all starting in Nairobi.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
4-day group safari to the Mara and Lake Nakuru
A shared 4x4 Landcruiser for three nights, meals as per the route and pickup in Nairobi. Park fees for the Mara and Lake Nakuru, drinks, tips and the balloon flight are extra.
Check availability →
2-day group safari by 4x4 jeep
A shared 4WD jeep with full board, one night in a budget camp with bathroom and an English-speaking guide. Park fees, lodge drinks and the balloon flight are extra.
Check availability →One-day Maasai Mara safari from Nairobi
Pickup and return in Nairobi, half a day of game drives, a packed lunch and an English-speaking guide. Park fees and tips are extra, and a village visit is an optional extra.
Check availability →Maasai Mara trips from Nairobi
Day trips and multi-day safaris with live prices and availability.
Which road to take
Two routes lead into the reserve from the Nairobi side.
Via Narok and Sekenani
The road from Narok to Sekenani is asphalt. This is the quickest route for Mara Serena in the western part of the reserve. For camps near the Sekenani Gate it is the natural choice, since one eastern camp lists its distance to the gate as 2.5 km.
Via Aitong
Several camps outside the reserve in the west are reached by the Aitong route. Ask your camp which way its vehicles go. The same drive can take clearly longer on tracks, especially after rain.
Vehicle
A four-wheel-drive vehicle is the suitable choice on reserve tracks. Parking or sleeping outside a designated campsite is not allowed. Closed tracks are marked with stones or logs across the path, so do not drive around them.
Speed limits
In the Mara Triangle the limit is 50 km/h on well-kept main roads and 30 km/h on other tracks. Animals have the right of way.
What a trip from Nairobi does not include by itself
Check these items on every offer.
Park entry
Lodge and camp rates often list park fees as an extra. In 2026 an adult non-resident pays $100 per day from January to June and $200 per day from July to December. Children aged 9 to 17 pay $50, and younger children up to 8 years are free. Some camp documents use different child ages, so ask how your group is counted. Details are on the park fees page.
The park day
An entry ticket covers 06:00 to 18:00, whenever you enter. It does not carry over into the night. A long drive from Nairobi therefore uses part of the day you pay for if you arrive after the gate opens.
Paying at the Triangle
In the Mara Triangle, payment is cashless by M-Pesa or card. If you sleep in the Triangle but enter via Sekenani, the administration advises paying at Purungat Bridge on entry, so do not plan to pay twice.
Camp extras
One camp rate sheet for 2026 lists a community fee of $50 per person and night. A private vehicle for up to 6 guests costs $385 or $512 per vehicle and day there, depending on the season. Units differ between person, night and vehicle, so compare offers on the same basis.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the transfer fits in.
Flying to the Maasai Mara
Wilson Airport, airstrips and baggage.
Getting there
Roads, gates and airstrips.
What a safari costs
The parts of the price and their units.
Park fees
Daily rates, payment and the park day.
Travel tips
eTA, insurance and health notes.
If your trip continues to the Indian Ocean, the guide to combining a safari with the beach covers the coast side.
Maasai Mara from Nairobi: frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara?
One eastern camp lists a road transfer of 4 hours. The time to your own camp depends on the camp and the route, so ask for it when you book. A camp in the west may be farther.
Is the road paved?
The road from Narok to Sekenani is asphalt. Tracks inside the reserve and the approaches to some camps are different, especially after rain.
Should I drive or fly?
That depends on your budget, your luggage and your time. A flight is shorter, but it adds the airstrip transfer and a luggage limit of 15 kg in a soft bag. The road gives you more flexibility with bags.
Do I pay the park fee twice if I enter at Sekenani and sleep in the Triangle?
The Triangle administration advises paying once, at Purungat Bridge on entry. Ask your camp to confirm how your days are counted.
Can I see the Big Five on a short trip?
Sightings cannot be promised for any length of trip. Animals move, and the weather and the season change where they are.