How long is the flight from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara

The flight from Wilson Airport to the Maasai Mara takes approximately one hour, offering spectacular views of the Great Rift Valley and the Mara plains below.

How long is the flight between the Mara and Samburu

The direct flight between the Maasai Mara and Samburu takes approximately 90 minutes, passing over the central highlands and Mount Kenya's forested slopes.

What are the Samburu Special Five

The Samburu Special Five are five rare species unique to northern Kenya: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich. None of these animals are found in the Maasai Mara, making this fly-in combination uniquely rewarding.

Is this safari suitable for families

Yes, children aged 6 and above are welcome. The scenic bush flights are an exciting addition to the safari experience, and expert guides ensure engaging and educational game drives at both destinations.

What is the baggage allowance for the bush flights

Each passenger is allowed 15 kilograms of luggage in a soft-sided duffel bag. Hard suitcases are not permitted on bush flights due to limited cargo space.

4 Day Fly-In Mara Samburu Safari Two Parks by Air

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Review

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Review

Overview

A fly-in Mara and Samburu safari is the most time-efficient way to experience the extraordinary contrast between two of Kenya’s finest and most ecologically distinct wildlife destinations. This four-day aerial adventure connects the legendary Maasai Mara, where lion prides rule the golden savannah and the world’s greatest wildlife migration unfolds, with the rugged semi-arid beauty of Samburu National Reserve, where rare northern species found nowhere else in Kenya’s famous southern parks await discovery. By flying between destinations, you eliminate the long road transfers entirely and arrive at each park fresh, energised, and ready to make the most of every available hour for game viewing. This fly-in Mara and Samburu safari delivers two completely different safari experiences in a single four-day itinerary. The Maasai Mara’s vast open grasslands support extraordinary predator concentrations, with lion, leopard, and cheetah all regularly encountered on expert-guided game drives through prime wildlife corridors. The Mara River teems with hippos and crocodiles, and during migration season the dramatic wildebeest crossings create one of nature’s greatest spectacles. Samburu’s Ewaso Nyiro River provides an equally thrilling but very different setting, where the exclusive Special Five species including Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich share the semi-arid landscape with large elephant herds and lion prides adapted to the arid northern conditions. With scenic bush flights, expert local guides, comfortable lodge accommodation, and full-board dining, this four-day flying safari is a remarkable achievement in wildlife diversity.

Trip Highlights

Big Five game drives in the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve
Rare Samburu Special Five found only in northern Kenya
Scenic bush flights connecting Nairobi, Mara, and Samburu
Aerial views of the Great Rift Valley and Mount Kenya from the aircraft
Lion prides and cheetah on the open Mara savannah
Reticulated giraffe and Grevy's zebra along the Ewaso Nyiro River
Comfortable lodge and camp accommodation with expert local guides
Two radically different ecosystems in a single four-day safari

Day 01 :

Nairobi to Maasai Mara by Air

Your fly-in Mara and Samburu safari begins at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, where you board a light aircraft for the one-hour scenic flight to the Maasai Mara. The flight sweeps over the dramatic Great Rift Valley escarpment before the vast golden grasslands of the Mara ecosystem come into view on the horizon. Upon landing at the bush airstrip, your professional safari guide greets you and drives you to your safari lodge for a welcome lunch. After settling in, you head out for an afternoon game drive through the heart of the reserve. The Mara’s open terrain provides exceptional visibility, and your guide navigates prime territories where resident lion prides rest under acacia trees, cheetah scan the plains from termite mounds, and buffalo herds move in great rivers through the grassland. Return to the lodge for sundowner drinks and dinner.

8 hours

Lunch + Dinner

Day 02 :

Full Day Maasai Mara Game Drive

Dedicate a full day to the Maasai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives through the reserve’s most productive wildlife areas. The early morning drive takes you across mist-drenched grasslands where predators remain active and the golden light illuminates the vast plains in warm tones. Your guide navigates toward the Mara River, where hippo pods crowd the deep pools and massive Nile crocodiles bask on the sandy banks. The legendary wildebeest crossings are possible here during migration season from July to October. The afternoon drive explores different sectors of the reserve, tracking leopards in the riverine forest and photographing elephant families moving through the woodland as the day draws to a close. Return to the lodge for a farewell dinner in the heart of the Mara.

12 hours

Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Day 03 :

Maasai Mara to Samburu by Air

After breakfast at the lodge, check out and transfer to the Mara airstrip for your connecting flight north to Samburu National Reserve. The scenic flight crosses the equator and the central highlands, offering stunning aerial views of Mount Kenya’s glacial peaks before descending into the rust-red semi-arid plains of northern Kenya. Upon landing at the Samburu airstrip, your Samburu guide meets you and transfers you to your riverside camp for lunch beside the Ewaso Nyiro River. The afternoon game drive immediately reveals the dramatic ecological difference from the Mara as you encounter reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, and the extraordinary gerenuk stretching on hind legs to browse tall acacias. The contrast between these two extraordinary parks is exhilarating and makes this fly-in safari a uniquely rewarding experience.

9 hours

Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner

Day 04 :

Samburu Game Drive and Return to Nairobi

Rise early for a final game drive through Samburu National Reserve as the reserve awakens in the golden first light. The morning is prime time for wildlife activity along the Ewaso Nyiro River, where elephant families drink in the cool dawn and predators make final patrols before the heat of the day builds. Your guide tracks the remaining Special Five members across the open plains, ensuring you have photographed all five of these remarkable northern species before departing. After returning to camp for a hearty breakfast, check out and transfer to the Samburu airstrip for your return flight to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, arriving by midday with extraordinary memories spanning two of Kenya’s most contrasting and rewarding wildlife destinations.

7 hours

Breakfast