When planning your trip to Masai Mara for that African Safari, one of the things you may be thinking about is how you are going to get there after you land. I have been wondering about the best way of going to the Masai Mara from Nairobi and I did some research.
The two most appropriate ways of getting to the Masai Mara from Nairobi is either Flying there using one of the local airlines or traveling by road using a tour van with a local driver who will also act as your guide. Your decision to either drive or fly to the Masai Mara from Nairobi will be influenced by your budget, time you will be spending in the Mara and the number of people you will be traveling with.
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Learn MoreHowever, Ultimately, it will depend on other factors like luggage limits, health considerations, levels of the desired exclusivity on your tour drives and how deeply you would like to immerse yourself in the local culture. If you will be spending less than 3 days at the Masai Mara and you have the budget for it, the best way to get there will be by flight. You will get to your actual safari quickly and maximize your time with the animals. However, if you are planning to stay in the Masai Mara for 3 days or more, going by road will be the most worth it for you. It will be more affordable than flying and you will get to see the beautiful Kenyan countryside on your way to your Safari.
Let’s look at a few factors that you will need to consider when planning your trip from Nairobi to the Masai Mara and help you determine the best way of getting there for you.
| Nairobi to Masai Mara By Road | Nairobi to Masai Mara By Flight |
| Best For: Travellers with lots of time and looking to enjoy the Kenyan Countryside | Best For: Travellers who don’t have much time for Safari and would like to maximize their time with the Animals. |
| Comfort: NOT Comfortable due to long hours and bumpy road | Comfort: Very comfortable since it will be a short 45-minute flight. |
| Travel Time: 6 hours | Travel Time: 0.75 Hours (45 Minutes) |
| Sceneries: Great ground view of the Rift Valley and Kenyan Villages by road | Sceneries: Beautiful Aerial view of the Great Rift Valley and remote Kenyan Villages |
| Cost: More Affordable and great for the budget traveler who wants to avoid large expenses on their Safari. | Cost: Less Affordable Since you will still need to hire a Safari Van to take you on your Game drives after you arrive. |
Masai Mara may have some animals along the way”/>Related
- Fly to Masai Mara – Don’t Drive (& Here’s Why)
- Why You Should NOT Wear Shorts in Tanzania
- Is Masai Mara in Nairobi?
- Why You Shouldn’t Take a Taxi From Nairobi to Masai Mara
- Is Masai Mara Safe For Tourists?
3 Main Factors to consider when choosing transport from Mombasa to Masai Mara
When choosing whether you will be traveling by road or air to the Masai Mara from Nairobi, You will need to put three major factors into consideration. These are:
- Budget
- Time
- Number of Travelling companions
Budget
When making the choice of whether you will be flying or driving to the Masai Mara from Nairobi, the cost of getting there will be one of your biggest considerations.
Return flights to Masai Mara from Nairobi will cost between $350 and $400 depending on the season. You can check Skyscanner to get the most up to date rates.
In comparison, driving to the Masai Mara will cost you roughly around $140 which is the daily cost for hiring a tour van.
You will need to keep in mind that the cost of flying is a per-person-cost and the cost of driving is a per-vehicle-cost. Most tour vans have a capacity of 7 passengers and you will achieve a great economy if you’ll be traveling as a group.
Time
If you are planning to spend 3 days more at the Masai Mara, traveling by road would most worth it for you. This is because you will have sufficient time to rest from the long road trip and enjoy several days of safari before having to get back to Nairobi by road all over again.
The road to the Masai Mara is very bumpy between Narok town and the Mara. This long stretch that takes around 4 hours to get through will make up the bulk of your journey and you will want to rest before doing it again on your return trip.
On the other hand, if you will be spending less than 3 days at the Mara, going by Air will be more appropriate. Your flight will just be 45 minutes and you will not have to deal with the stress of bumpy and dusty roads.
Number of companions going with you from Nairobi to the Masai Mara
When traveling as a group, using a shared tour van to the Masai Mara will save you hundreds of dollars. Here is a table that illustrates what I mean:
| Transport type (1 way) | Cost for 1 person | Cost for group of 7 |
| Road (Shared 7 Seater Tour Van) | $ 140 | $ 140 |
| Air(Light aircraft) | $ 170 | $ 980 |
As you can see in the table above, when traveling as a group, you will spend hundreds of dollars less if you use a tour van to get you from Nairobi to Masai than if you flew there.
If you will be traveling as a family, traveling by road will help you save lots of money that you can use for things like enjoying a few days at the Kenyan coast before going back home.
Other Considerations
Here are a few other considerations that will weigh into your decision of the best way of getting to the Masai Mara from Nairobi.
Luggage limits:
When flying to the Masai Mara, you will be restricted to how heavy your luggage will be. For Instance, Safarilink (one of the airlines servicing this route) has a baggage weight limit of 33lb (15kilograms). This may be unreasonably restrictive if you have a lot of luggage with you. Things like camera gear can add a lot to this weight and it’s quite easy to hit the limits.
On the other hand, If you choose to go to the Masai Mara from Nairobi by road, you will have the advantage of carrying as much luggage as you want.
Dust
If you are very allergic to dust, you might not find the drive to the Masai Mara very comfortable. The road from Narok town to Masai Mara (about half of your travel time) will be on rough dusty roads and should be avoided in the hot months if you have an allergy to dust.
Exclusive vehicle tours
If you use your own vehicle to go to the Mara, you will have exclusive use of it within the Mara for the length of your stay. This is unlike what the tourists who fly there experience since they may have to share a vehicle with other guests in their camp during their game drive. This will be the case if the tourist would not want to incur the cost of hiring an exclusive tour vehicle.
If you were to enjoy exclusive use of your own tour van if you flew to the Mara, your tour organizers will need to drive the tour van from Nairobi empty for your use and this will make the daily cost be higher than the ones who just drove with their tour vans from Nairobi.
Engagement with your tour guide
Going by road will give you a chance to interact with your tour guide (the driver) who will be happy to explain the culture and history of the different places you will be going through. You will find their insights really useful in understanding the local culture and immersing yourself in the spirit of an African adventure.
Other Less appropriate methods of getting to Masai Mara from Nairobi
I Highly advise you against using the following methods of transport as a tourist when getting to the Masai Mara. They are either extremely inconvenient or very dangerous.
- Self Drive using a hired vehicle: Doing a self-drive to the Masai Mara may seem like a great idea, especially if you have already hired a vehicle but there are a number of reasons why it’s not.
- Kenyan roads pose big risks to foreign drivers.
- Your vehicle may not be appropriate for the rough terrain on the way to the Mara and may get damaged along the way (here is an article I wrote about whether it’s appropriate to go on a safari without a guide).
- You may not be legally licensed to drive on Kenyan roads (here is an article I wrote on whether foreigners can drive in Kenya)
- Driving for 6 hours on Kenyan roads will be both stressful and tiring and you might not enjoy your safari as a result.
- Taking the Bus (public transport): I read an article by a tourist who traveled to the Masai Mara by public transport but I would say that this means of transport is not appropriate for most tourists. The hassle of having to deal with the matatus (Kenyan Public Transport vehicles) may be overwhelming for most travelers who are new to Africa. I wrote an article about why you should avoid public transport in Kenya as a foreigner. I think it will help put things in perspective.
- Hitchhiking: this is both dangerous and the very worst way of getting to the Masai Mara. There are truckers who drive on that route but the chances of you getting conned, robbed or lied to are high. I have lived in Kenya all my life and I would personally not hitchhike even if I was in need.
Conclusion
Your decision to either drive or fly to the Masai Mara from Nairobi will be influenced by your budget, the time you will be spending in the Mara and the number of people you will be traveling with. Ultimately, your decision will depend on other factors like luggage limits, health considerations, levels of the desired exclusivity on your tour drives and how deeply you would like to immerse yourself in the local culture. Whatever you decide, remember that the most important thing is to place a priority on the experiences that are most important to you since an African safari is one of the experiences that stick with you for many years.
A Final Word
As you prepare for your trip to Africa, I would like to recommend a few products that would help make your life easier.
- Information About Africa: I have created a YouTube channel that focuses on things about traveling to Africa that only Africans can tell you about. Check out the channel for insights about African culture and things you can do as a traveler to optimize your trip. You should also visit TripAdvisor forum posts (Here is the Kenya Forum) and ask questions about your particular situation. There are a lot of people who are happy to help you out.
- Choosing a Safari Company: I have written an extensive article on how to choose a safari Company. You can. Check it out before starting the process of searching for a safari company.
- Safari Planning Services: If you’d rather leave the planning to an expert, I offer personalized safari planning services. I handle everything from helping you choose the right safari company, creating your custom itinerary, managing bookings, and even providing a packing list and reminders for important trip details. It’s like having a personal assistant dedicated to your trip, ensuring that everything runs smoothly, so you can focus on enjoying the adventure. Learn More in this article
Have Fun. 😉
