Masai Mara Flying Safari Packages
All our fly-in itineraries — from Wilson Airport or the coast — with airstrip logistics, luggage rules and camp options explained.
From $1,400 per person
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On a beach holiday in Mombasa, Diani or Watamu and want the Mara too? Driving direct is a false economy — here are the two routes that actually work, priced honestly.
Kenya's two headline attractions — the Indian Ocean beaches and the Maasai Mara — sit at opposite ends of the country, and plenty of operators gloss over what that means in practice. Let us not: driving from Mombasa to the Mara takes well over 10 hours each way. On a 3-day package that would mean spending two of your three days staring at tarmac, arriving exhausted, and seeing less wildlife than a Nairobi day-tripper. We don't sell that itinerary, and we'd caution you against anyone who does.
The good news is that the two realistic routes are both excellent. You can fly direct from Mombasa or Ukunda (Diani) to the Mara's airstrips in roughly 2–2.5 hours including stops — a scenic hop that turns a punishing transfer into part of the holiday. Or, if the budget is tighter, you can ride the SGR Madaraka Express train to Nairobi in about 5–6 hours and join a road safari from there, cutting the cost by more than half in exchange for an extra travel day each way.
| Option | Journey | Time to the Mara | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fly direct from the coast | Mombasa or Ukunda-Diani → Mara airstrip (seasonal) | ~2–2.5 hours with stops | Shortest total trip; migration-season travellers |
| SGR train + road safari | Madaraka Express to Nairobi (~5–6 hrs), then road safari (5–6 hrs) | Two travel legs, ideally over two days | Budget travellers with time to spare |
| Fly via Nairobi Wilson | Coast → Nairobi, transfer to Wilson, → Mara airstrip | Half a day with connections | Dates outside the direct flight season |
Direct coast–Mara flights operate seasonally, with the fullest schedules during the July–October migration. When directs aren't flying, the Wilson connection covers the same ground with one change of aircraft.
A morning transfer from your beach hotel to Mombasa's Moi International or Ukunda's Diani airstrip, then the light-aircraft flight west — roughly 2–2.5 hours including en-route stops. A camp vehicle meets you at the Mara airstrip, and the drive to camp doubles as your first game drive. Lunch, a short rest, then out again at around 4:00 pm as the heat eases. Dinner and overnight at your camp.
A dawn start when the big cats are still moving, then a full day of game drives with a picnic lunch out on the plains. Between July and October your guide positions near the Mara River for a chance at a wildebeest crossing. Optional balloon safari at sunrise (~$450, booked ahead). Dinner and overnight at camp.
A final early game drive and breakfast at camp before your flight out — back to the coast to finish the beach holiday, or on to Nairobi Wilson if you're heading home. The open-jaw routing (in from the coast, out to Nairobi) is popular for end-of-trip departures.
| Package | Low Season (Jan–Jun) | High Season (Jul–Dec) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-day fly-in from the coast | from $1,800 | from $2,400 | Return flights, camp, game drives, park fees |
| SGR + 3-day road safari (group joining) | from $600 | from $800 | Train tickets extra (~$10–30 each way) |
| SGR + 4-day road safari (group joining) | from $720 | from $980 | Train tickets extra (~$10–30 each way) |
Prices include Maasai Mara park fees ($100/adult/day January–June; $200 July–December). SGR options price the safari from Nairobi — add your train tickets and a Nairobi hotel night each way if your timings need one.
Book flights early for migration season. July to October is when everyone wants the direct coast–Mara flight, and light aircraft carry only a handful of passengers. Seats and camps both sell out weeks ahead — lock in the safari leg before you finalise beach hotel dates if you can.
Beach-and-bush is the classic Kenya combination for good reason. A week on the sand in Diani or Watamu bracketing three days in the Mara gives you two completely different holidays in one country, and the flight connections exist precisely because so many travellers do it. Ordering matters less than people think, though ending on the beach lets you unwind after the early safari mornings.
Watamu and Malindi travellers connect through the same system — transfers to Mombasa or Malindi's airstrip are straightforward, and we fold them into the quote. Diani guests are best placed of all: Ukunda airstrip is minutes from most south-coast hotels.
Pack light for the aircraft. The 15 kg soft-bag limit is enforced. Leave your main suitcase in the beach hotel's storage, carry neutral-coloured layers (Mara mornings are surprisingly cool at altitude), and keep camera gear in your hand luggage.
Tell us where you're staying on the coast and your rough dates — we'll reply on WhatsApp with routings, an itemised price and current flight schedules.
All our fly-in itineraries — from Wilson Airport or the coast — with airstrip logistics, luggage rules and camp options explained.
Pairing the SGR train with a group joining road safari? This is the package you'd join in Nairobi — camps, prices and departures.