Flights in Kenya

Nairobi to Maasai Mara

Getting to the Mara in under an hour and a half. About 45 min in the air.

Safarilink, AirKenya Express Reviewed 24 October 2026

Nairobi Maasai Mara

Nairobi to Maasai MaraPositions are approximate

In the air: 45 min About 45 minutes to the first Mara airstrip; up to about 1 hour 15 minutes if the flight makes two or three stops.
Indicative fare, one way: USD 190–260 Indicative one-way range: Safarilink about USD 200 to 260, AirKenya about USD 190 to 250. Fares are set by the airline and change with season.
How often: Most Mara flights leave Wilson Airport between about 8 and 10 am.
Best for: Getting to the Mara in under an hour and a half

The route in brief

A scheduled flight from Wilson Airport is the quickest way into the Maasai Mara and replaces a long, bumpy road journey. Small Cessna Caravan aircraft land at airstrips close to the lodges and camps, so your driver-guide can meet you at the strip and begin your first game drive almost at once.

Safarilink and AirKenya fly the route. Safarilink serves strips such as Ol Kiombo, Musiara, Kichwa Tembo and Mara North; AirKenya serves strips including Keekorok, Mara Serena and Governors'.

How to do it

Choose your camp or lodge first, then ask which airstrip it uses. The airline and the strip must match.
Book with the airline directly or ask your safari operator to book the seats for you.
Check in at your airline's own building at Wilson Airport 45 to 60 minutes before departure (some guides suggest 90). Bags and passengers are weighed.
Fly in a soft duffel bag, keeping to about 15 kg per person.
Your camp usually collects you from the airstrip; confirm the pickup when you book.

Who flies it

Airlines that fly Nairobi to Maasai Mara
Airline	Airports	Fare guide	Checked bag	Good to know
SafarilinkSafari airline	WILStrip Wilson Airport	USD 200–260	about 15 kg	Serves Ol Kiombo, Musiara, Kichwa Tembo and Mara North. Confirm your strip.
AirKenya ExpressSafari airline	WILStrip Wilson Airport	USD 190–250	about 15 kg	Serves Keekorok, Mara Serena and Governors. Confirm your strip.

Tips worth knowing

Fly in a soft-sided duffel bag. Hard suitcases are usually refused on the small safari aircraft.
Keep to about 15 kg per person for all your luggage; excess is charged by the kilogram and may travel on a later flight if the aircraft is full.
Most safari flights leave in the morning, so plan to be at Wilson Airport early and to check in at your airline's own building.
Carry your original passport. Guides report that photos or screenshots of identity documents have been refused at the gate.
Expect delays of 20 to 40 minutes in the busy months (July to September); do not tie a tight onward connection to a bush flight.

Other ways to get there

Ways to travel from Nairobi to Maasai Mara
Way to travel	Time	Cost	Good to know
FlySafarilink, AirKenya Express	About 45 min	USD 190–260one way, indicative	About 45 minutes to the first Mara airstrip; up to about 1 hour 15 minutes if the flight makes two or three stops.
Road transfer from Nairobi	A full day on the road	Quoted by your operator	The last stretch is on unpaved tracks, so many travellers fly one way and drive the other.

Where this comes from

Times, fares and schedules are gathered by hand from airline websites and published travel guides, then entered here as ranges. They are indicative, not live, and the airline’s own page always wins.

Last reviewed 24 October 2026

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