How To Get to Masai Mara
Masai Mara National Reserve also known as “Mara” meaning “spotted” in the Maa language is the most famous reserve in the world and the most popular wildlife destination in Kenya located in South West Kenya, the reserve is a vast scenic expanse of gently rolling African savannah plains measuring 1510 square kilometers in area and bordering the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the South.
Masai Mara National Reserve is a unique wildlife conservation haven in Kenya famous for its premier Kenya Safari location in East Africa, the reserve is renowned for its large numbers of wildlife such as lions, Cheetah, Elephant, Rhino, African Buffalo, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Zebra and many more animals.
Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most accessible African Safari destinations accessed by road and air means of transport, most of the Masai Mara Safaris and adventures start off with a flight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for international tourists.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the main international Airport in Kenya located in Nairobi City, the capital of Kenya. From here, it is the choice of the tourists to either use road transport or domestic/charter flight to get to Masai Mara for a Kenya safari.
From Nairobi City – it is a road distance of about 225 kilometers (140 miles) to the nearest entry point of Masai Mara National Reserve, however the distance differs depending on the entry gate you use to get to the reserve.
Road trip to Masai Mara National Reserve from Nairobi takes approximately 6 hours to the main entry gates in the reserve situated on the Narok side of the reserve such as Sekenani Gate, Talek Gate and Oloolaimutia Gate. This journey is approximately 6 hours including a couple of brief stops in Narok and at the rift valley view point.
Entry gates found on the western side of the reserve are Musiara Gate and Oloololo Gate, accessing these gates takes about more 30 minutes longer using a different route which turns west onto the B3 highway towards Bomet, just after passing the Narok Town. For the last 75 kilometers to the reserve, road conditions are poor in some places being on bumpy gravel road.
Flying to Masai Mara is a more convenient option as it is only about 1 hour flight from Wilson Airport situated in Nairobi to several airstrips serving the reserve such as Keekorok Airstrip, Siana Airstrip, Serena Airstrip, Musiara Airstrip, Kichwa Tembo Airstrip, Ol Kiombo Airstrip, Ngerende Airstrip, Ol Seki airstrip and Olare Orok Airstrip.
Traveling by Road from Nairobi to Masai Mara
Road transport is the most commonly used mode of transport to get to Masai Mara National Reserve from Nairobi, the road is currently tarred all the way from Nairobi to Masai Mara’s Sekenani Gate. The distance varies from 225 kilometers (140 miles) to 275 kilometers (170 miles) depending on which entry gate you use to access the reserve.
The journey to Masai Mara takes approximately 5.5 hours for the most entry gates situated in the Eastern or Narok side of the reserve such as Sekenani Gate, Talek Gate and Ololaimutia Gate. And about 6 to 6.5 hours for Musiara (Narok Country side but on the Western Side) and the Oloololo Gate (closer to the Masai Mara Conservancy and Mara Triangle). This includes a couple of brief stops enroute for a fuel stop and washroom break in Narok Town.
Route: The A104 highway heading out from Nairobi City and onto the B3 just before the Limuru junction is used, if you are leaving from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Use the Southern Bypass to connect to A104 at Kikuyu town to cut out the city traffic.
Once you reach the Narok Town, you now take the C12 road to Sekenani, Talek and Ololaimutia gates or the C13 to Musiara and Olololo gates as well as Rianta Town. The latter road is rougher which is why it is best to use a 4×4 vehicles.
Approximate Drive Times to Masai Mara
| GATE | DRIVING TIME | |
| Nairobi to Masai Mara | Sekenani Gate | 5.5 – 6 hrs |
| Nairobi to Masai Mara | Oloolaimutia Gate | 6 hrs |
| Nairobi to Masai Mara | Talek Gate | 5.5 – 6 hrs |
| Nairobi to Masai Mara | Oloololo Gate | 6.5 hrs |
| Nairobi to Masai Mara | Musiara Gate | 6.5 hrs |
Road Conditions to Masai Mara
One of the frequently asked questions about getting to Masai Mara National Reserve is the road conditions, most of the route is actually a tarred road starting with highway A104, B3 and finally C12 except for the last section of approximately 1 hour.
However, the tarmac portion of the tarmac road is in sub standard condition in certain places with a few stretches of potholes, the last unpaved portion can be bumpy and dusty which simply adds to the adventure of getting to Masai Mara.
Safari Vehicles Used to Get to Masai Mara
Typically, on a Masai Mara Safari, there are two types of vehicles that is the safari tour mini buses and the 4×4 safari jeeps typically the Toyota Land cruiser, all these vehicles have built in, pop – up game viewing rood hatches which are opened once in the reserve on a game drive. They also have UHF Radio Calls and Cooler boxes.
The Safari Tour minibuses/tour vans cost much less than the four – wheel drive safari jeeps, some of the tour vans come with 4×4 capability, albeit with the lack of ground clearance of off-road ability that comes with a land cruiser.
Flights to Masai Mara
Masai Mara National Reserve is served by domestic and chartered flights operated by several local airlines flying from Nairobi to various airstrips, some of the airlines offer twice daily return flight to the reserve with a one-way flight taking approximately 1 hour. The plane usually turns around back to Nairobi after dropping off or collecting passengers from a number of airstrips in the reserve.
Note: Domestic/charter flights take off from Wilson Airport.
The main airlines offering domestic flights from Nairobi to Masai Mara are AirKenya and Safarilink.
FLIGHT SCHEDULE
- Morning Flight: Depart Nairobi 10am – Arrive Masai Mara 11am
- Return Morning Flight: Depart Masai Mara 11am – Arrive Nairobi 12pm
- Afternoon Flight: Depart Nairobi 3pm – Arrive Masai Mara 4pm
- Return Afternoon Flight: Depart Masai Mara 4pm – Arrive Nairobi 5pm
Airstrips to Masai Mara
Masai Mara is served by serval airstrips which are situated in the surrounding game reaches and conservancies, these include
List of Airstrips in Masai Mara National Reserve
- Keekorok Airstrip
- Siana Airstrip
- Serena Airstrip
- Musiara Airstrip
- Kichwa Tembo Airstrip
- Ol Kiombo Airstrip
- Ngerende Airstrip
- Ol Seki airstrip
- Olare Orok Airstrip
- Angama Airstrip.
Masai Mara National Reserve also known as “Mara” meaning “spotted” in the Maa language is the most famous reserve in the world and the most popular wildlife destination in Kenya located in South West Kenya, the reserve is a vast scenic expanse of gently rolling African savannah plains measuring 1510 square kilometers in area and bordering the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the South.
Masai Mara National Reserve is a unique wildlife conservation haven in Kenya famous for its premier Kenya Safari location in East Africa, the reserve is renowned for its large numbers of wildlife such as lions, Cheetah, Elephant, Rhino, African Buffalo, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Zebra and many more animals.
Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the most accessible African Safari destinations accessed by road and air means of transport, most of the Masai Mara Safaris and adventures start off with a flight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for international tourists.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the main international Airport in Kenya located in Nairobi City, the capital of Kenya. From here, it is the choice of the tourists to either use road transport or domestic/charter flight to get to Masai Mara for a Kenya safari.
From Nairobi City – it is a road distance of about 225 kilometers (140 miles) to the nearest entry point of Masai Mara National Reserve, however the distance differs depending on the entry gate you use to get to the reserve.
Road trip to Masai Mara National Reserve from Nairobi takes approximately 6 hours to the main entry gates in the reserve situated on the Narok side of the reserve such as Sekenani Gate, Talek Gate and Oloolaimutia Gate. This journey is approximately 6 hours including a couple of brief stops in Narok and at the rift valley view point.
Entry gates found on the western side of the reserve are Musiara Gate and Oloololo Gate, accessing these gates takes about more 30 minutes longer using a different route which turns west onto the B3 highway towards Bomet, just after passing the Narok Town. For the last 75 kilometers to the reserve, road conditions are poor in some places being on bumpy gravel road.
Flying to Masai Mara is a more convenient option as it is only about 1 hour flight from Wilson Airport situated in Nairobi to several airstrips serving the reserve such as Keekorok Airstrip, Siana Airstrip, Serena Airstrip, Musiara Airstrip, Kichwa Tembo Airstrip, Ol Kiombo Airstrip, Ngerende Airstrip, Ol Seki airstrip and Olare Orok Airstrip.
Traveling by Road from Nairobi to Masai Mara
Road transport is the most commonly used mode of transport to get to Masai Mara National Reserve from Nairobi, the road is currently tarred all the way from Nairobi to Masai Mara’s Sekenani Gate. The distance varies from 225 kilometers (140 miles) to 275 kilometers (170 miles) depending on which entry gate you use to access the reserve.
The journey to Masai Mara takes approximately 5.5 hours for the most entry gates situated in the Eastern or Narok side of the reserve such as Sekenani Gate, Talek Gate and Ololaimutia Gate. And about 6 to 6.5 hours for Musiara (Narok Country side but on the Western Side) and the Oloololo Gate (closer to the Masai Mara Conservancy and Mara Triangle). This includes a couple of brief stops enroute for a fuel stop and washroom break in Narok Town.
Route: The A104 highway heading out from Nairobi City and onto the B3 just before the Limuru junction is used, if you are leaving from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Use the Southern Bypass to connect to A104 at Kikuyu town to cut out the city traffic.
Once you reach the Narok Town, you now take the C12 road to Sekenani, Talek and Ololaimutia gates or the C13 to Musiara and Olololo gates as well as Rianta Town. The latter road is rougher which is why it is best to use a 4×4 vehicles.
Approximate Drive Times to Masai Mara
| GATE | DRIVING TIME | |
| Nairobi to Masai Mara | Sekenani Gate | 5.5 – 6 hrs |
| Nairobi to Masai Mara | Oloolaimutia Gate | 6 hrs |
| Nairobi to Masai Mara | Talek Gate | 5.5 – 6 hrs |
| Nairobi to Masai Mara | Oloololo Gate | 6.5 hrs |
| Nairobi to Masai Mara | Musiara Gate | 6.5 hrs |
Road Conditions to Masai Mara
One of the frequently asked questions about getting to Masai Mara National Reserve is the road conditions, most of the route is actually a tarred road starting with highway A104, B3 and finally C12 except for the last section of approximately 1 hour.
However, the tarmac portion of the tarmac road is in sub standard condition in certain places with a few stretches of potholes, the last unpaved portion can be bumpy and dusty which simply adds to the adventure of getting to Masai Mara.
Safari Vehicles Used to Get to Masai Mara
Typically, on a Masai Mara Safari, there are two types of vehicles that is the safari tour mini buses and the 4×4 safari jeeps typically the Toyota Land cruiser, all these vehicles have built in, pop – up game viewing rood hatches which are opened once in the reserve on a game drive. They also have UHF Radio Calls and Cooler boxes.
The Safari Tour minibuses/tour vans cost much less than the four – wheel drive safari jeeps, some of the tour vans come with 4×4 capability, albeit with the lack of ground clearance of off-road ability that comes with a land cruiser.
Flights to Masai Mara
Masai Mara National Reserve is served by domestic and chartered flights operated by several local airlines flying from Nairobi to various airstrips, some of the airlines offer twice daily return flight to the reserve with a one-way flight taking approximately 1 hour. The plane usually turns around back to Nairobi after dropping off or collecting passengers from a number of airstrips in the reserve.
Note: Domestic/charter flights take off from Wilson Airport.
The main airlines offering domestic flights from Nairobi to Masai Mara are AirKenya and Safarilink.
FLIGHT SCHEDULE
- Morning Flight: Depart Nairobi 10am – Arrive Masai Mara 11am
- Return Morning Flight: Depart Masai Mara 11am – Arrive Nairobi 12pm
- Afternoon Flight: Depart Nairobi 3pm – Arrive Masai Mara 4pm
- Return Afternoon Flight: Depart Masai Mara 4pm – Arrive Nairobi 5pm
Airstrips to Masai Mara
Masai Mara is served by serval airstrips which are situated in the surrounding game reaches and conservancies, these include
List of Airstrips in Masai Mara National Reserve
- Keekorok Airstrip
- Siana Airstrip
- Serena Airstrip
- Musiara Airstrip
- Kichwa Tembo Airstrip
- Ol Kiombo Airstrip
- Ngerende Airstrip
- Ol Seki airstrip
- Olare Orok Airstrip
- Angama Airstrip.
