Two ways in: road and air
Most visitors start in Nairobi. You can drive in a four-wheel-drive vehicle or fly from Wilson Airport to an airstrip near your camp. One lodge near Sekenani Gate lists about 4 hours by road from Nairobi. A flight is shorter in the air but adds a transfer from the airstrip to the camp.
Where you enter depends on where you stay. The eastern gate Sekenani and the western Triangle gates are different entry points with different payment points, so match the route to your camp before you leave.
Road or air compared
Examples for 2026.
| By road | By air | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Nairobi | Wilson Airport, Nairobi |
| Time | About 4 hours to a camp near Sekenani Gate | Wilson to Mara 09:30 to 10:15 and 14:30 to 15:15 at one operator; early flight 07:15 to 08:00 from 15 June to 31 October |
| After arrival | You are already in a vehicle | Transfer from the airstrip to your camp |
| Example price | – | $250 one way, $420 to $434 return per adult |
| Luggage | – | 15 kg including hand luggage, soft bag |
Flight times are local times, and extra stops can change them. Governors' Aviation lists these slots for 2026. Check the current schedule with your operator before you book.
Trips to the Maasai Mara
Safaris from Nairobi and fly-in options, with live prices and availability.
By road from Nairobi
What to expect on the way in.
The route
The road from Narok to Sekenani is paved. That says nothing about the tracks inside the reserve, which can be rougher. One lodge near Sekenani lists a transfer of about 4 hours from Nairobi, and gives the distance as 230 or 260 km depending on the document. Treat the time as an example, not a guarantee.
Safari from Nairobi →Choosing the gate
Sekenani is the fastest route for Mara Serena. For several camps in the west, the Aitong route is the one to use. Ask your camp which entrance it recommends.
Your vehicle
A four-wheel-drive vehicle is suitable. Camping or parking overnight outside a designated campsite is not allowed. Closed tracks are marked with stones or logs across the path, usually to protect the ground and vegetation.
Speed and animals
In the Triangle the limit is 50 km/h on maintained main roads and 30 km/h on other tracks. Animals have the right of way.
Gates, tickets and payment
Hours and payment points differ between the Triangle and the rest of the reserve.
Triangle gates
The Oloololo Gate, Purungat Bridge and Serena Airstrip are payment points in the Triangle. The gates are open every day from 06:00 to 19:00, with no entry after 18:30. The day ticket itself is valid from 06:00 to 18:00.
Park fees →Cashless in the Triangle
The Triangle does not take cash for park fees. You can pay by M-Pesa or card, either online through the KAPS system with Visa or from authorized staff at Purungat Bridge, Oloololo Gate and Serena Airstrip. Sekenani is not a payment point for the Triangle.
Staying in the Triangle, entering at Sekenani
If you sleep in the Triangle and enter by Sekenani, pay the fee when you cross at Purungat Bridge. Do not plan on paying twice.
Documents
The Triangle asks for a passport or national ID. A driver's licence is not accepted as proof. Without matching proof you are charged the non-resident rate.
By air to the airstrips
Which strip depends on your camp.
Airlines and airstrips
Safarilink and AirKenya fly from Wilson Airport to the Mara. Governors' Aviation lists these airstrips in its 2026 schedule: Musiara, Kichwa, Mara Serena, Keekorok, Olkiombo, Ol Seki Naboisho, Olare Oroke, Cotters, Ol Kurruk or Angama, Ngerende and Mara North. A listed strip does not mean every flight stops there.
Flights to the Mara →Luggage
Both Safarilink and AirKenya allow 15 kg in total, including hand luggage, in a soft bag. Excess baggage costs $4 per kg (or 400 KES) at Safarilink and $5 per kg at AirKenya, and is carried only if there is space. Carriage is not guaranteed.
Keekorok
Confirm that the Keekorok airstrip is operating for your date before you choose it.
Planning to add a beach stay after the Mara? The coast has its own travel page at getting to Kenya's coast.
How to get to the Maasai Mara: frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara?
One lodge near Sekenani Gate lists about 4 hours. The time depends on your camp, the road and the traffic, so ask your operator for the figure for your destination.
Can I fly to the Maasai Mara?
Yes. Safarilink and AirKenya fly from Wilson Airport to airstrips in and around the Mara. You still need a transfer from the airstrip to your camp.
Which gate should I use?
That depends on your camp. Sekenani is the fastest route for Mara Serena, and some camps in the west use the Aitong route. Your camp will tell you which entrance to use.
Do I need a four-wheel-drive vehicle?
A four-wheel-drive vehicle is suitable for the reserve. Tracks inside can be rougher than the paved road to the gate.
Can I pay the park fee in cash?
Not in the Triangle. There, pay by M-Pesa or card. Rules at other gates can differ, so ask your operator how the fee will be paid.