Nairobi & Masai Mara Safari Guide

Mid-July to late October: Great Migration in the Mara — river crossings on the Mara and Talek rivers. Highest rates, book 6-12 months ahead.

December-February: 'green season' short-dry — resident game (lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe) is excellent, big cats have cubs, prices drop 30-50%.

March-May: long rains — cheapest, greenest, sometimes muddy tracks, fewest tourists. Only for return safari-goers happy with lower predictability.

June and November: shoulder — good weather, moderate rates, no migration guarantee.

The Masai Mara National Reserve (public) is the classic — best river crossings sightings but no off-road driving, no night drives, no walking, and up to 30 vehicles at a single sighting in peak season.

Private conservancies (Mara North, Olare Motorogi, Naboisho, Ol Kinyei, Mara Triangle) adjoin the reserve — same ecosystem, same wildlife, but limits on vehicles per sighting, off-road access, night drives and guided walks are allowed. Higher rates, radically better safari experience.

Mara Triangle (western part of the public reserve, separately managed) is the best-run public section — fewer vehicles, cleaner tracks, active anti-poaching. Book a camp on this side for public-reserve pricing with better management.

The best trips combine: 2 nights in a conservancy (game density and quiet) + 1 night in the Mara Triangle in peak migration season to catch a river crossing.

Fly Nairobi (JKIA) → Wilson Airport (WIL) taxi (~30 min) → SafariLink or Air Kenya 45-minute bush flight to the Mara airstrip nearest your camp. Book flights through your camp/operator so timings coordinate.

Road transfers Nairobi ↔ Mara are 6-7 hours on rough sections and not worth the saving unless you're combining with Naivasha or Nakuru.

Kiwitaxi is useful for the JKIA → Wilson airport hop and your Nairobi arrival/departure nights, not for the safari legs.

Every camp includes 2x game drives per day plus meals. Additional walking safaris and cultural Masai village visits book separately with the camp.

Day 1 — arrive Nairobi (JKIA), Kiwitaxi transfer to Giraffe Manor or Hemingways Nairobi for the first night.

Days 2-4 — fly to a Mara North / Naboisho / Olare Motorogi conservancy camp for 3 nights (off-road, night drives).

Day 5 — transfer within the Mara to a Mara Triangle camp (Little Governors' Camp, Angama Mara) for 1-2 nights of migration crossings.

Day 6-7 — either fly to Amboseli (Tortilis, Elewana Tawi Lodge) for elephants-under-Kilimanjaro OR to Ol Pejeta/Lewa for rhino conservation.

Final night — return Nairobi, JKIA departure.

Ultra-luxury conservancy (Angama Mara, Bateleur Camp, Sanctuary Olonana, Cottar's 1920s): USD 1,500-3,000+/night all-inclusive, private guide options, best food.

Mid-luxury conservancy (Kicheche Bush Camp, Porini Lion Camp, Naboisho Camp): USD 700-1,300/night all-inclusive — the sweet-spot value for the safari experience quality.

Public-reserve classic camps (Governors' Camp, Little Governors', Serena Mara): USD 500-900/night, best migration river-crossing access, more vehicles at sightings.

Budget tented (Mara Simba, Sarova Mara): USD 250-500/night, group game drives, budget-tour operator crowds.

Almost every Kenya safari starts and ends in Nairobi. Direct long-haul flights land at Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO / JKIA). Bush flights to the Mara depart from Wilson (WIL), a 30-minute Kiwitaxi transfer across town — allow 2 hours between arrival and any onward bush flight.

The city itself is worth 1-2 nights on the front or back end. Highlights: the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage (11:00 daily), the Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum, Nairobi National Park (the only capital-city big-game park in the world), and dinner at Talisman or Cultiva in Karen.

Where to stay depends on your flight timing. If you land at night and fly to the Mara at 10:00 the next morning, pick a hotel 15 minutes from Wilson (Karen or Langata). If you have a full arrival day, base in Karen for the elephants-and-giraffes-and-blixen loop.

Day 1 — arrive Nairobi (JKIA), Kiwitaxi transfer to a Karen or Langata hotel; recover and eat at Talisman.

Day 2 — Sheldrick Elephants at 11:00, lunch at Karen Blixen Coffee Garden, Giraffe Centre in the afternoon, dinner at your hotel; early night before the bush flight.

Day 3 — Kiwitaxi to Wilson (WIL), 45-min SafariLink flight to a Mara conservancy airstrip; afternoon game drive on arrival.

Days 4-6 — full days in the conservancy: sunrise drives, bush breakfasts, walking safari, sundowners, optional night drive.

Day 7 — final morning drive, midday flight back to Wilson, Kiwitaxi to JKIA for a late-evening long-haul departure. Add a shower/day-room booking if the gap is awkward.