How to Get to Masaai Mara National Reserve
There are different ways of how to get to Maasai Mara reserve. This will depend on the traveler’s budget.
International air travel
when traveling to the Masai Mara, is Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) in Nairobi is recommended. NBO Airport serves as East Africa’s biggest hub and as a result many convenient flight options are available. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Emirates, Ethihad Airways, Kenya Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Swiss all operate flights from a multitude of major airports around the world. Also, many regional flights options (including flights to neighbouring countries and Southern African destinations) are available.
Domestic air travel
The favoured route for a Masai Mara fly-in safari is by flying from Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL). From here it is short between 45 and 60 minutes to the Mara. For this reason, flying into the Masai Mara is the best mode of travel.
Although road conditions have improved in recent years, there are still considerable stretches of road that are in very poor condition. There are several airstrips in and around the Masai Mara for you to fly into. Which one you fly into will depend on where you decide to stay during your safari.
Flights to the Mara are operated by airlines such as Safari Link and Air Kenya. Upon your arrival at the airstrip closest to your accommodation, a safari vehicle will be waiting to take you to your Masai Mara safari lodge. The good news is… you are now in the Masai Mara – so you can start spotting wild animals by air during your flight and on the ground while in the safari vehicle taking you to your camp.
It is also possible to fly from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Tanzania. There are also direct flights (mostly in high season) from the Kenyan coast (Mombasa and Diani) and other national parks in Kenya such Amboseli National Park and Samburu National Reserve.
Getting to the Masai Mara by road
Masai Mara drive-in safaris
This is the most common way to travel to the Masaai Mara by road by booking a guided drive-in safari. Drive-in safaris start from Nairobi and allow you to include multiple other destinations in Kenya besides the Masai Mara.
Masai Mara self-drive safaris
The Masai Mara is accessible when traveling by (rental) vehicle though not recommended. Please keep in mind that careful planning is necessary when driving yourself. A 4×4 vehicle is required to access all roads throughout the year. Kindly note that there is no assistance given to self-driving visitors.
Once you reach the Masai Mara National Reserve there are several entry gates. It is important to take the correct gate into the National Reserve to save time getting to your accommodation. There are five main gates leading into the Masai Mara National Reserve: Sand River, Talek, Sekenani, Musiara and Oloololo.
These final two gates are a bit further away and will take an additional 30 minutes to reach in comparison to the other gates. All gates open at 6.00 AM in the morning and all gates close at 6.00 PM in the evening.
