How much does a 3-day fly-in Maasai Mara safari from Nairobi cost?

The price depends on travel dates, camp standard, airstrip routing, group size and whether extras such as a hot-air balloon safari are added. Fly-in safaris usually cost more than road safaris because they include return scheduled flights between Nairobi Wilson Airport and the Maasai Mara.

What is included in this 3-day Maasai Mara fly-in safari?

The safari typically includes Nairobi transfers, return scheduled flights from Wilson Airport to the Maasai Mara, airstrip transfers, accommodation, meals, private game drives, park fees and a Maasai village visit. Optional extras such as hot-air ballooning, premium drinks, tips and travel insurance are normally charged separately.

Is 3 days enough for a Maasai Mara safari?

Yes, a 3-day fly-in safari is enough for a rewarding Maasai Mara experience because flying reduces travel time and gives you an afternoon game drive, a full-day game drive and a final cultural visit. Travellers wanting a slower pace or more photography time may prefer 4 or 5 days.

When is the best time to take a fly-in safari to the Maasai Mara?

The Maasai Mara offers excellent wildlife viewing year-round, with the driest months from June to October and January to March often best for game drives. The Great Migration river crossings usually occur between July and October, although exact timing depends on rainfall and herd movement.

What wildlife can I see on a 3-day Maasai Mara safari?

The Maasai Mara is known for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, wildebeests and abundant birdlife. Rhino sightings are possible but less common, so the Big Five cannot be guaranteed on a short itinerary.

Is this fly-in Maasai Mara safari suitable for families and first-time safari travellers?

Yes, the short flights, private guide and reduced road travel make this safari well suited to families, honeymooners, older travellers and first-time safari guests. Camps can advise on child policies, family rooms and age limits for activities such as balloon safaris.

Is it safe to fly to the Maasai Mara and go on game drives?

Scheduled safari flights from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Maasai Mara airstrips are widely used by travellers and operate with licensed local airlines. Game drives are conducted by professional safari guides, and guests should follow camp safety rules, especially around wildlife and after dark.

What is the luggage limit on Maasai Mara fly-in safaris?

Scheduled flights between Nairobi's Wilson Airport and the Mara airstrips limit luggage to about 15 kg (33 lb) per person, packed in soft-sided bags, including hand luggage. Excess luggage can usually be stored securely in Nairobi or carried as paid freight subject to space.

Are Masai Mara park fees included, and how much are they?

Yes — all park entry fees are included in this package. For reference, Masai Mara entry for non-resident adults is currently about US$100 per day in low season (January–June) and US$200 per day in high season (July–December), subject to change by the reserve authority.

Is this a private or group safari?

This is a private safari. You have your own guide and vehicle in the Mara, so game-drive timing, pace and focus — big cats, photography or the Great Migration — are adjusted to your preferences rather than a fixed group schedule.

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Safari

SafariluxuryFrom $1,554/ppKenya3 days

3-Day Fly-in Maasai Mara Safari from Nairobi

Name: Imara Africa Safaris — Company & Catalog Statistics
Creator: Imara Africa Safaris
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This 3-day fly-in Maasai Mara safari from Nairobi suits travellers short on time: return scheduled flights from Wilson Airport, two nights in the reserve, private Big Five game drives, a full-day drive with picnic lunch and a Maasai village visit. It runs year-round, with Great Migration viewing from July to October.

Masai Mara National Reserve Nairobi CityAll year round5 Photos

Explore Details

Safari

Kenya

Duration

3 days

Country

Kenya

Type

Safari

Pricing & Seasons

Important to Know

Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
This tour is designed for adults — young children cannot be accommodated.
Prices are shown in USD and are confirmed at the time of booking.

Choose your travel season

USD · per person

Season	2 people 1 roomper person	3 people 2 roomsper person	4 people 2 roomsper person	5 people 3 roomsper person	6 people 3 roomsper person	7+ peopleGet quote
MID SEASON 1 Nov 2026 – 19 Dec 2026	$2,136/pp	$1,976/pp	$1,833/pp	$1,889/pp	$1,824/pp	Quote
PEAK SEASONNow 1 Jul 2026 – 30 Oct 2026	$2,504/pp	$2,463/pp	$2,192/pp	$2,321/pp	$2,180/pp	Quote
HIGH SEASON 20 Dec 2026 – 3 Jan 2027	$2,478/pp	$2,428/pp	$2,166/pp	$2,290/pp	$2,154/pp	Quote
LOW SEASON 4 Jan 2027 – 31 May 2027	$1,908/pp	$1,752/pp	$1,605/pp	$1,663/pp	$1,596/pp	Quote
GREEN SEASON 1 Apr 2027 – 30 Jun 2027	$1,866/pp	$1,660/pp	$1,563/pp	$1,591/pp	$1,554/pp	Quote

MID SEASON

1 Nov 2026 – 19 Dec 2026

from$1,824/pp

2 people 1 room

$2,136/pp

3 people 2 rooms

$1,976/pp

4 people 2 rooms

$1,833/pp

5 people 3 rooms

$1,889/pp

6 people 3 rooms

$1,824/pp

7+ people — Get a quote

PEAK SEASONNow

1 Jul 2026 – 30 Oct 2026

from$2,180/pp

2 people 1 room

$2,504/pp

3 people 2 rooms

$2,463/pp

4 people 2 rooms

$2,192/pp

5 people 3 rooms

$2,321/pp

6 people 3 rooms

$2,180/pp

7+ people — Get a quote

HIGH SEASON

20 Dec 2026 – 3 Jan 2027

from$2,154/pp

2 people 1 room

$2,478/pp

3 people 2 rooms

$2,428/pp

4 people 2 rooms

$2,166/pp

5 people 3 rooms

$2,290/pp

6 people 3 rooms

$2,154/pp

7+ people — Get a quote

LOW SEASON

4 Jan 2027 – 31 May 2027

from$1,596/pp

2 people 1 room

$1,908/pp

3 people 2 rooms

$1,752/pp

4 people 2 rooms

$1,605/pp

5 people 3 rooms

$1,663/pp

6 people 3 rooms

$1,596/pp

7+ people — Get a quote

GREEN SEASON

1 Apr 2027 – 30 Jun 2027

from$1,554/pp

2 people 1 room

$1,866/pp

3 people 2 rooms

$1,660/pp

4 people 2 rooms

$1,563/pp

5 people 3 rooms

$1,591/pp

6 people 3 rooms

$1,554/pp

7+ people — Get a quote

Per person sharing in USD.

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What's Included & Excluded

17 included

5 not included

Safari Overview

The 3-Day Fly-in Maasai Mara Safari from Nairobi is a three-day luxury itinerary using scheduled flights between Nairobi's Wilson Airport and the Maasai Mara, priced from US$1,554 per person. With two nights in the reserve and private game drives, it suits travellers who want maximum wildlife time with minimal road travel.

Which Destinations Does This Safari Visit?

The safari begins at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or your preferred Nairobi location, with a scheduled flight to the Maasai Mara National Reserve offering scenic aerial views on the way. Day 1 ends with an afternoon game drive after your camp transfer; Day 2 is a full-day game drive with picnic lunch across the vast savannah plains; Day 3 includes an authentic Maasai village visit before the flight back to Nairobi. The Mara is known for lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, hyenas, antelopes and rich birdlife.

Who Is This Safari For?

This private safari is ideal for couples, families, honeymooners, luxury travellers, business travellers with limited time and first-time safari guests, as well as travel agents seeking a compact Kenya package with reliable logistics. Because guiding is private, the daily schedule can be adjusted to your pace, interests, photography needs and wildlife movement. An optional sunrise hot-air balloon safari with champagne bush breakfast can be added at extra cost, and the safari departs year-round.

What Is Included?

The price covers the scheduled flights, private game drives with a professional English-speaking guide, all national park entry fees and full-board meals, plus in-vehicle extras and emergency evacuation insurance. A complete list of inclusions appears further down this page.

How Does It Compare with Other Kenya Itineraries?

Other fly-in options include the 4-day luxury Kenya safari with Masai Mara flights, the 8-day Kenya fly-in safari and the 10-day luxury Kenya safari with flights. Road-based alternatives range from the 3-day Maasai Mara safari adventure and 3-day Amboseli safari to the 3-day Amboseli luxury safari, the 4-day ultra-luxury Kenya safari, the 5-day luxury Kenya safari, the 6-day luxury Kenya safari, the 6-day ultra-luxury Kenya safari, the 8-day Kenya road safari and the 10-day mid-range Kenya safari.

Day by Day

Itinerary at a Glance

3 days2 stops1 stay2 flights

Masai Mara National ReserveNairobi City

Day	Destination	Travel	Key Sightings	Overnight	Meals
1	Masai Mara National ReserveDay 1: Arrival in Nairobi and Flight to Maasai Mara National Reserve	Fly	African ElephantAfrican LeopardAfrican Lion+13	Sarova Mara Game Camp	BL

Day1
Masai Mara National Reserve
Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi and Flight to Maasai Mara National Reserve
BLD
FlyAfrican ElephantAfrican Leopard+14Sarova Mara Game Camp
Day

Day-by-Day Itinerary

3 days · 3 of 3 expanded

Day

Day 1: Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi and Flight to Maasai Mara National Reserve

Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by an Imara Africa Safaris representative and transferred to Wilson Airport for your scheduled domestic flight to the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve. The flight takes approximately one hour and offers beautiful aerial views of Kenya’s landscapes, including sections of the Great Rift Valley and open countryside.

Upon landing at the Maasai Mara airstrip, your safari guide will be waiting to welcome you and transfer you to your safari camp. After check-in and time to relax, you will head out for your first afternoon game drive across the Mara plains.

The Maasai Mara is renowned for its abundant wildlife and excellent safari opportunities. During your first game drive, you may see elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and many bird species depending on wildlife movement and timing. This is a perfect introduction to your Kenya safari adventure.

After the game drive, return to camp for dinner and overnight in the Maasai Mara area.

Related: Kenya safari adventure.

Accommodation

PrimarySarova Mara Game Camp

Lodge · Best Location

View

Accommodation is subject to availability. We can suggest similar-level alternatives or tailor options to suit your budget.

L, DMasai Mara National Reserve Kenya

Kenya

By flightGame Reserve

Day

Day 2: Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Maasai Mara National Reserve

After breakfast, set out for a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch, giving you more time to explore the vast plains of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Your experienced guide will help you follow wildlife movement and explore different areas of the reserve depending on the season, weather, and animal activity.

The Maasai Mara is known for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, hyenas, antelopes, hippos in selected areas, crocodiles near river sections, and an impressive variety of birdlife. You will have a chance to search for the Big Five, although wildlife sightings depend on natural movement and cannot be guaranteed.

A picnic lunch inside the reserve allows you to remain in the wilderness and maximize your safari time. For travelers seeking a once-in-a-lifetime experience, an optional sunrise hot-air balloon safari can be arranged at an additional cost, followed by a champagne bush breakfast. This optional activity must be booked in advance and is subject to weather and availability.

Since your safari is fully private, you have the flexibility to adjust the day’s schedule according to your preferences. You can discuss your preferred timing with your guide to focus on photography, big cats, relaxed game viewing, or longer exploration.

Return to camp in the evening for dinner and overnight in the Maasai Mara area.

Accommodation

PrimarySarova Mara Game Camp

Lodge · Best Location

View

Accommodation is subject to availability. We can suggest similar-level alternatives or tailor options to suit your budget.

B, L, DMasai Mara National Reserve Kenya

Kenya

By driveGame Reserve

Day

Day 3: Day 3: Maasai Mara Village Visit and Flight Back to Nairobi

After breakfast, check out and visit a traditional Maasai village for an authentic cultural experience. This visit gives you the opportunity to meet local Maasai community members, learn about their traditions, understand their way of life, and appreciate the cultural heritage connected to the Mara landscape.

During the visit, you may learn about Maasai homestead life, dress, songs, dances, beadwork, family structure, and traditional practices. It is a meaningful way to add cultural understanding to your wildlife safari before departing the reserve.

Later, transfer to the Maasai Mara airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport. Upon arrival in Nairobi, an Imara Africa Safaris representative will meet you and transfer you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or your preferred location in Nairobi.

This marks the end of your unforgettable 3-day fly-in Maasai Mara safari with Imara Africa Safaris.

End Point: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi hotel, residence, or preferred Nairobi location

B, LNairobi City Kenya

Kenya

By flightCity

Verified Guest Reviews

What our travellers say

Verified reviews from travellers across our East African safaris

5.0· 186 reviews

TripAdvisor5.0 Google4.9

Trip was fantastic and memorable, whole crew very supportive

vipin das

September 2026

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Anna/September 2026

Thank you for a great safari experience! The organisation process was excellent and professional. Vehicle safari is our huge recommendation. It’s an opportunity to see all the local animals and to hear their stories from the driver! Massai Mara and Nakuru are the top parks here. P. S. The only note is that walking safari doesn’t make any sense when you’re living in the hotel with the animals walking through the territory freely.

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Dana Siciliano di Rende/September 2026

The safari fulfilled every safari dream. We loved our guide and driver. We cannot praise IMARA Africa Safari enough!! We highly recommend this wonderful safari to everyone

Read Review

Jeff Bauer/September 2026

We had a blast and were well taken care of. Multiple days and locations with the great Patrick of Imara Safari Tours!

Read Review

Craig McClelland/September 2026

We had a fantastic safari with Imara. Right from the start the team was easy and straight-forward to deal with. Our guide/driver was excellent (thanks so much Tony!), managed to find every animal on our wishlist, and made sure we enjoyed the whole trip. We were a group of 3 and did a private safari. This gave us a lot more flexibility about where to go, which animals to search for etc, and our guide (Tony) was always adjusting the plan make sure we had the best experience. Covering our 'spotting wishlist' was fantastic, but Tony was always working to ensure we got better views and up-close experience with our favourites. That made all the difference to how much we enjoyed the safari. I'd definitely recommend Imara, and we would happily book our next safari through them.

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Rotsen Alitao/September 2026

This trip is really one for the books! We started planning for a Safari Tour a year ago so that we will have an ample time to look for a good itinerary and tour provider that will our needs. We have inquired to several local travel agencies from our country, the Philippines and as well as thru online to Kenyan agencies. Most Kenyan agencies either disregarded our inquiries, too presistent that we book instantly or presented unreasonably priced agencies. We came across IMARA AFRICA SAFARIES thru Instagram and Wendy was very accommodating to our request. She patiently presented to us different options for our safari tours. And most welcomingly answered our never ending queries. She also gave us tips as to securing our travel documents down to our safari outfits. From then on, we knew IMARA is the right choice for us. So here we go! We booked and we eagerly anticipated for our much awaited safari experience! But I guess as the time came and no matter how prepared you were, there were some bumps along the way such as flight delays and missing our connecting flights. Yet, it never deterred our excitement. Good thing, Wendy was always in contact since day 1. And she was flexible as always readjusting our itinerary. We were met and greeted by the whole staff and even gave us souvenirs already. We met Wendy in person and of course Lewis who eagerly explained our itinerary. We also gotten to know Simon, our guide/driver in Kenya. He was very enthusiastic in touring us to different national parks in Kenya and made us witness the amazing wildlife it has to offer. We even driven into the deep areas of Maasai Mara just to find a whole pride of 20 lions! Next stop was Tanzania and there we met Dallas, our guide and driver and Mr Plan B guy. Without him, we could have never witnessed the Great Migration and completed the Big 5 of Africa. All in all, our safari experience was more than what we expected and way too amazing! It was way too difficult to part ways with our two big guides who made this experience memorable! Thank you Imara Africa Safaries! We would definitely recommend you to everyone for their safari experience! Five stars!!!

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Gianpiero Siciliano di Rende/August 2026

Exceptional people, fantastic service, the best. Don't book anywhere else. Edward, our guide and driver was the best. I will request him again at the next adventure. Edward, you are the best!

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Anna/September 2026

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Dana Siciliano di Rende/September 2026

The safari fulfilled every safari dream. We loved our guide and driver. We cannot praise IMARA Africa Safari enough!! We highly recommend this wonderful safari to everyone

Read Review

Jeff Bauer/September 2026

We had a blast and were well taken care of. Multiple days and locations with the great Patrick of Imara Safari Tours!

Read Review

Craig McClelland/September 2026

Read Review

Rotsen Alitao/September 2026

Read Review

Gianpiero Siciliano di Rende/August 2026

Exceptional people, fantastic service, the best. Don't book anywhere else. Edward, our guide and driver was the best. I will request him again at the next adventure. Edward, you are the best!

Read Review

Maren/August 2026

Thank you so much Imara Team for our unforgetable Safari Tour (5 days)! We (2 adults, 12 + 9 year old children from Germany) spent an incredible time in Masai Mara, at Lake Naivasha and Amboseli Parc. Only 3 weeks in advance we booked our trip and faced a very professional and prompt communication. At that point a big THANK YOU to Susan! We were picked up at our hotel, where we were given a detailed overview of our itinerary and route. The team surprised us with a few very useful gifts. The 4x4 was in a good condition and the frige was filled with enough cold drinks. Wifi worked well. There were small binoculars on board, but we didn't need to use them because we were so close to the animals. Our very experienced guide, Patrick, gave us some incredibly beautiful experiences. Without his knowledge and intuition, we wouldn't have seen so many amazing animals up close. He had a good network of contacts among other drivers and park attendants A very, very big THANK YOU to Patrick! We will unconditionally recommend Imara Tours to our families, friends, and everyone else.

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S I/August 2026

We had a wonderful experience with Imara Safaris. They made everything easy, arranging all transport, accommodation, and meals during the trip. Our guide Patrick was brilliant and expertly drove us around Masai Mara, getting a great view of lots of animals. We would definitely recommend Imara!

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3-Day Fly-in Maasai Mara Safari from Nairobi

Pricing & Seasons

Important to Know

Choose your travel season

What's Included & Excluded

Safari Overview

Which Destinations Does This Safari Visit?

Who Is This Safari For?

What Is Included?

How Does It Compare with Other Kenya Itineraries?

Trip Highlights

Safari Vehicles

Itinerary at a Glance

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi and Flight to Maasai Mara National Reserve

Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Maasai Mara National Reserve

Day 3: Maasai Mara Village Visit and Flight Back to Nairobi

What's Included

What's Not Included

Destinations You'll Visit

Masai Mara National Reserve

Nairobi City

Where You'll Stay

What our travellers say

Live from Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions

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