Destination guide
Planning a Maasai Mara safari
Reviewed 16 Oct 2026 · Each statement is labelled.
The reserve
The Maasai Mara National Reserve was designated a protected area on 1 September 1961 and is managed by the Narok County Government.
Source: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
The reserve covers about 1,510 km² and is the northernmost part of the Mara–Serengeti ecosystem, which spans some 25,000 km² across Kenya and Tanzania.
Source: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
It is known for the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras, and is home to the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhinoceros.
Source: Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
When to go
Wildebeest and zebras usually cross the Mara River into the Maasai Mara between July and October — the most dramatic part of the migration.
Sources: Magical Kenya (Kenya Tourism Board) (opens in a new tab); Kenya News Agency (kenyanews.go.ke) (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
If your dates fall outside July to October, don't plan your trip around river crossings, and check the rainy-season outlook for your dates.
KenyaPlus planning advice, not from an official source.
Getting there by air
Scheduled flights of about 45 minutes run from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to the reserve, which has eight airstrips, including Ol Kiombo, Keekorok, Serena and Kichwa Tembo.
Source: Kenya News Agency (kenyanews.go.ke) (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
Reported in December 2025. Airlines choose which airstrips they serve — check with yours.
Narok County is building an international airport at Ewaso Nyiro, in Narok North, to serve visitors to the Mara. The report gave no completion date.
Source: Kenya News Agency (kenyanews.go.ke) (opens in a new tab) · checked 16 Oct 2026
Ask your camp which airstrip is closest and whether transfers from it are included — KenyaPlus doesn't hold camp or package details.
KenyaPlus planning advice, not from an official source.
By road
The table below shows KenyaPlus estimates of driving time, not live traffic data. The last stretch to many camps is on unpaved roads, so allow extra time, especially after rain.
Worked out as described under the table: from openrouteservice road routes plus an allowance for stops where KenyaPlus holds them, otherwise straight-line distance × 1.3 at an assumed 50 km/h average, including stops. The note on unpaved roads is KenyaPlus planning advice.
| To | From Nairobi | From Mombasa |
|---|---|---|
| Nairobi | — | ~6½ h (long day) |
| Maasai Mara | ~5 h | ~11½ h (too far for one day) |
| Amboseli | ~4½ h | ~6½ h (long day) |
| Diani Beach | ~7 h (long day) | ~½ h |
| Mombasa | ~6½ h (long day) | — |
| Naivasha | ~1½ h | ~8 h (long day) |
| Lake Nakuru | ~2½ h | ~9 h (long day) |
| Tsavo East | ~5½ h | ~3 h |
| Samburu | ~5½ h | ~12 h (too far for one day) |
| Lamu | ~10 hto Mokowe + boat (too far for one day) | ~5½ hto Mokowe + boat |
| Mount Kenya | ~3 h | ~9½ h (too far for one day) |
| Malindi | ~9 h (long day) | ~2 h |
| Watamu | ~8½ h (long day) | ~2 h |
| Aberdare National Park | ~4 h | ~10½ h (too far for one day) |
| Lake Bogoria | ~4½ h | ~11 h (too far for one day) |
| Kakamega Forest | ~6 h (long day) | ~12½ h (too far for one day) |
| Tsavo West National Park | ~4½ h | ~4½ h |
| Meru National Park | ~6 h (long day) | ~12½ h (too far for one day) |
| Shimba Hills National Reserve | ~11½ h (too far for one day) | ~1 h |
| Mount Elgon National Park | ~6½ h (long day) | ~13 h (too far for one day) |
Driving time on the road route plus 20% for stops and slower traffic (Road routes © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT, map data © OpenStreetMap contributors). Orange: a long day (over 6 h). Red: too far for one day (over 9 h).
Confirm before you travel
- How to pay reserve entry fees, and whether a later Narok County Finance Act has changed them
- Whether your camp is inside the reserve or outside it, and which fees apply
- Which airstrip serves your camp, plus flight schedules and baggage limits
Ready to plan?
Turn this into a day-by-day plan and run the Trip Reality Check.
Sources
- Kenya Biodiversity — National Clearing House Mechanism (opens in a new tab) — Maasai Mara National Reserve (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- Magical Kenya (Kenya Tourism Board) (opens in a new tab) — The Great Migration (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- Kenya News Agency (kenyanews.go.ke) (opens in a new tab) — Wildebeest migration attracts millions of tourists (checked 16 Oct 2026)
- Kenya News Agency (kenyanews.go.ke) (opens in a new tab) — Narok government to build international airport (published 25 Dec 2025) (checked 16 Oct 2026)