5-Day Masai Mara Fly-in Safari Itinerary

From $2,913.00 USD* / 1 day

Price per person include guide, safari vehicle, accommodation and park entrance. International fees are excluded.

For travelers who cannot spend a Kenya safari trip watching wildlife in a safari vehicle for hours on the road, this 5-day Masai Mara fly-in safari is a perfect way to visit Kenya’s most famous wildlife destination, the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Your Fly-in Kenya safari will begin in Nairobi, where you will leave the city behind and take a scenic flight towards the Masai Mara.

Flying simply means you can reach the reserve much faster than traveling by road, giving you more time to enjoy game drives, relax at your camp, and take in the incredible Mara landscape for the next 5 days.

You will explore its open grasslands on morning and afternoon game drives, looking for lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, cheetahs, birdlife, leopards, and rhinos. However, wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but having several days in the Mara gives you plenty of opportunities to explore different areas and observe wild animals at different times of the day.

This Kenya safari itinerary also leaves room for those quieter moments between game drives. You will have time to enjoy your accommodation, take in the views, relax over lunch, or simply listen to the sounds of your surroundings.

However, depending on your interests, you can add experiences such as a Maasai village visit or a hot air balloon safari for a different perspective of the Mara.

On the final morning, you will also fly back to Nairobi, bringing your safari to a close.

Whether you are a first-time safari traveler, a couple looking for a romantic escape, a family wanting an easier way to reach the Mara, or a seasoned wildlife enthusiast, this fly-in Kenya safari itinerary is for you.

Itinerary

Exploring all that Africa has to offer is a dream for many. From epic Kenya safari adventures spotting Africa’s Big Five, going on a Gorilla trekking in Uganda or relaxing at Diani Beach: Africa has it all. Good news: Africa Safari Trips can build a custom-made itinerary that suits all your wishes.

Our most popular itineraries can help you find some inspiration. A lot of our clients love to end their exciting safari with a few days of relaxation on Africa’s most stunning beaches. Would you like that as well?

Whether you choose one of our popular itineraries or prefer to customize your journey, we are here to assist you. Come aboard and get ready to explore Africa at your own pace, exactly the way you like it!

Day 1

Flight from Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve

Flying in Mara — Flight from Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve

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Your 5-day Masai Mara fly-in safari begins in Nairobi, an experience designed to save you time and get you into the heart of the wilderness without spending most of the day on the road.

The journey begins with a pick-up from a Nairobi hotel or another agreed location, then your driver will transfer you to Wilson Airport in Nairobi for your scheduled flight to the Masai Mara

Before leaving Nairobi, make sure you have all your personal belongings that you will need for the entire safari experience in the Mara.

On arrival at Wilson Airport, you will board your scheduled safari flight and enjoy the scenic journey from Nairobi towards the Mara. Flying offers a completely different perspective of Kenya, with the landscape gradually changing from the city and surrounding countryside to the open savannah. This flying option is considered shorter, which takes about 45 minutes compared to traveling by road, which takes about 5 to 6 hours.

Once you land at the designated Masai Mara airstrip, you will meet your safari guide and transfer you to your accommodation.

Upon arriving at your accommodation, you will check in and enjoy lunch, settle in, freshen up, and prepare for the afternoon adventure ahead.

Later in the afternoon, you will head out for your first Masai Mara game drive, a perfect introduction to the Mara.

As evening enters, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay.

Activities:

: Later in the afternoon, you will head out for your first game drive in the Masai Mara. Your guide will help you look for wildlife based on recent sightings and animal movements.

This game drive offers an opportunity to take your first photographs of the Mara. Do not only focus on the Big Five, but also focus on a herd of zebras moving across the plains. Giraffes feeding among acacia trees or a bird of prey circling overhead, creating unforgettable memories.
: In the evening, you will return to your accommodation as you relax and enjoy dinner. You may enjoy the changing colors of the Mara as the sun goes down.

Accommodations:

Platinum Tipilikwani Mara
Gold Fairmont Mara

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Day 2

Full-Day Masai Mara Safari

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Day 2 is your first full day in the Masai Mara with no long transfers to worry about.

You will start your day early when the temperatures are cooler and many wild animals are active. After your breakfast, you will be picked up by your safari guide and head out for your morning game drive. The morning game drive is usually a great time to search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, cheetahs, hyenas, and many more.

After the morning drive, you will return to your accommodation for lunch, take a swim if it has a swimming pool, and just enjoy the surroundings.

Later in the afternoon, you will head back out into the Mara. Your guide will help you explore different areas in the morning or follow recent wildlife sightings as temperatures cool, and animals may become active again.

In the evening, you will return to your accommodation before or around sunset, enjoy dinner, and relax.

Activities:

: The morning is one of the most important activities on a Masai Mara safari because the early hours offer a different wildlife experience from the afternoon drive you experienced the day before.

During this time, animals are active during the cooler morning hours. Interestingly, you may see predators such as lions and cheetahs still hunting or finishing a hunt while herbivores are out grazing before temperatures rise. This can give you opportunities to observe natural behaviors rather than simply seeing animals resting.
: The Mara is also excellent for bird lovers. Your guide will help identify the birds and explain their role in the ecosystem.
: You will head back into the Mara later in the afternoon. Your driver-guide can explore different parts of the Mara ecosystem for new wildlife sightings.

The cooler afternoon temperatures can bring increased animal activity, creating another opportunity to see predators, grazing herds, and other wildlife.

Accommodations:

Platinum Tipilikwani Mara
Gold Fairmont Mara

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Day 3

Full-Day Masai Mara Wildlife & Cultural Experiences

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Day 3 gives you another full day to enjoy the Masai Mara, but with a little more flexibility. After day 2 of extensive wildlife viewing, day 3 also allows you to explore further, spend time observing animal behavior, and, if you’d like, add a cultural experience to your safari.

You will wake up early in the morning, take your breakfast, and head out for a morning game drive. The cooler conditions in the morning make this a rewarding time to explore the Mara, with wildlife often active across the plains.

Depending on your schedule, you can return to your accommodation for lunch or carry a packed lunch.

In the afternoon, you can choose to include a Maasai village visit in your itinerary. This experience offers you an opportunity to learn about aspects of Masai culture, including traditional homes, livestock keeping, beadwork, music, and dances.

However, if you prefer to spend the afternoon entirely on safari, you will go ahead and continue with another game drive.

In the evening, you will return to your accommodation, enjoy dinner, and relax.

Activities:

: Going for an early morning game drive is one of the best things to do. You will get to see wild animals when they are most active, especially predators, before they settle down during the warmer hours.
: For travelers interested in local culture, an optional Maasai village visit can be arranged. You will learn about traditional Maasai homes, livestock keeping, beadwork, songs, dances, and aspects of everyday community life.

Note that this experience is approached respectfully. If you need to take photographs, ensure you ask for permission, listen to hosts, and remember that you are visiting a community rather than a tourist attraction.
: If you’d rather remain focused on wildlife, spend the afternoon on another game drive.
: Take some time to look beyond larger animals. The Mara supports impressive birdlife, including ostriches, eagles, vultures, and other bird species.

Your guide will help in identifying these bird species and explain their role in the ecosystem.

Accommodations:

Platinum Tipilkwani Mara
Gold Fairmont Mara

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Day 4

Full-Day Masai Mara Safari

Mara Game Drives — Full-Day Masai Mara Safari

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Day 4 is your final day in the Masai Mara, so there is no need to rush.

With another full day available, you can explore different parts of the reserve, look for wildlife you haven’t seen yet, and enjoy one last immersive day in the wilderness.

You will wake up early in the morning after your breakfast and head out into the wilderness before sunrise. The morning is a great time to look for predators like lions, cheetahs, and other wild animals.

For travelers who prefer to spend the entire day in the wilderness, a packed picnic lunch can be arranged where appropriate, allowing you to explore further without returning to your lodge or camp.

Later, you will continue with an afternoon game drive exploring areas you may not have visited during the previous days. This is a great time to watch herds moving across the plains, elephants feeding, or predators beginning their evening activities.

In the evening, you will return to your accommodation after the day’s final game drive. You will enjoy dinner and last night in the Mara as you pack and prepare for the next day’s departure while taking some time to appreciate the safari experience.

Activities:

: Early morning game drives offer opportunities to observe predators hunting or finishing a meal. Also, your guide will help in spotting more wildlife species and understanding how they are tracked in the Mara.
: Depending on the day’s route, you may visit the Mara River, an important water source within the ecosystem. You can look for hippos, crocodiles, and birds around the river.

If you are visiting during the Great Wildebeest Migration, the river may also be an area where large herds gather. However, actual river crossings are unpredictable and cannot be guaranteed.
: For a full-day game drive experience, a packed lunch can be arranged so that you do not have to return to your accommodation.

Therefore, your guide will select an appropriate location where it is safe. You will enjoy your meal surrounded by the Mara landscape before continuing with the Afternoon exploration.
: After your picnic lunch, you will continue exploring the reserve.

The afternoon drive offers another opportunity to find wildlife and explore areas you may not have visited earlier in the safari.

Interestingly, you may see wild animals becoming active again.
: A hot air balloon safari is one of the Mara’s memorable optional experiences. It normally begins very early in the morning before the regular game drive.

Note that the experience is weather-dependent, subject to availability, and usually comes at an additional cost.

Accommodations:

Platinum Tipilikwani Mara
Gold Fairmont Mara

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Day 5

Return Flight to Nairobi

Day 5 marks the end of your 5-day Masai Mara fly-in safari.

After your breakfast, you will check out and make sure you have all your belongings.

You will be picked up by your driver-guide, who will transfer you from your accommodation to the designated Masai Mara airstrip. However, the exact departure time depends on your confirmed flight schedule.

You will later board your scheduled flight from the Masai Mara to Nairobi. The return flight gives you one last aerial view of the Mara landscape before you transition into the city environment.

Once you arrive in Nairobi, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your agreed drop-off point.

However, if you are connecting to an international flight at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, make sure your Kenya safari itinerary allows a comfortable buffer between the safari flight and your onward flight.

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