Quick Facts
| Duration | 2 days / 1 night |
|---|---|
| Style | Private fly-in safari — your own vehicle and guide |
| Vehicle | 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep |
| Flight Time | Direct (migration season, roughly July–October): 2–2.5 hours. Via Nairobi (rest of year): 3–3.5 hours total |
| Departure Points | Ukunda Airstrip (Diani) or Moi International Airport (Mombasa) |
| Reserve | Masai Mara National Reserve |
| Price From | USD 780–2,150 pp (season-dependent, 2–6 people sharing, including flights) |
| Best For | Coast-based travellers short on time who want a genuine taste of the Mara without adding a Nairobi leg to their trip |
This 2-day, 1-night Masai Mara fly-in safari is built specifically for travellers already based on the Kenya coast. Rather than routing through Nairobi first, you fly directly from Ukunda Airstrip (Diani) or Moi International Airport (Mombasa) toward the Mara.
During the Great Migration season, roughly July to October, demand is high enough that airlines run scheduled direct flights on this route, cutting total travel time to around 2–2.5 hours. Outside that window, the standard connection still runs via Nairobi's Wilson Airport with a short layover, bringing total journey time to roughly 3–3.5 hours. Either way, this remains faster and simpler than a road transfer, which isn't a practical option on this route at all.
This is a private safari, not a shared van tour. Your Land Cruiser jeep, driver-guide, and pace are yours alone for the full trip.
Safari Highlights
- Fly directly from the coast, no Nairobi stopover required for most of the year
- Direct seasonal flight option during the Great Migration (July–October)
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep and driver-guide throughout
- 2 game drives: afternoon on Day 1, morning on Day 2
- Genuine shot at the Big Five in a compact trip
- Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover included
- Optional hot-air balloon safari
- Works well as a short add-on to a Diani or Mombasa beach holiday
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Diani/Mombasa – Masai Mara
Pickup from your Diani or Mombasa hotel and transfer to Ukunda Airstrip or Moi International Airport, whichever your flight departs from. Check-in is 60 minutes before departure. Flight time to your lodge's airstrip is roughly 2–2.5 hours on a direct seasonal route, or 3–3.5 hours via Nairobi outside the migration window.
Your driver-guide meets you at the airstrip with the Land Cruiser jeep. You check in, have lunch, then head straight into an afternoon game drive from roughly 4:00 PM to sunset. Dinner and overnight at your chosen lodge or camp.
Day 2: Masai Mara – Diani/Mombasa
Early breakfast, then a full morning game drive covering more ground while the reserve is coolest and most active, the best window for predator sightings.
Return to camp for a late breakfast or brunch, pack up, and transfer to the airstrip for your afternoon flight back to Ukunda or Mombasa. We drop you at your coastal hotel to continue your holiday.
Tour Cost & Pricing
Rates are per person sharing, in a private Land Cruiser jeep with a dedicated driver-guide. Pricing varies by camp category, group size, season, and whether a direct or via-Nairobi flight routing applies.
Season Guide
- Low SeasonApril–June, November
- High SeasonJanuary–March, December
- Peak SeasonJuly–October, Great Migration (direct flights typically available)
Private Fly-In Safari Rates (Per Person Sharing)
| Season | 2 People | 4 People | 6 People |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Season | $980–$1,250 | $860–$1,100 | $780–$1,000 |
| High Season | $1,250–$1,600 | $1,100–$1,400 | $1,000–$1,280 |
| Peak Season | $1,650–$2,150 | $1,450–$1,900 | $1,300–$1,700 |
What's Included & Excluded
| ✓ | Return scheduled flights, Ukunda/Mombasa – Masai Mara – Ukunda/Mombasa (direct where seasonally available, otherwise via Nairobi) |
| ✓ | Airport/hotel transfers in Diani or Mombasa |
| ✓ | All ground transfers in the Mara by private 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep |
| ✓ | 1 night full-board accommodation (breakfast, lunch, dinner) |
| ✓ | 2 game drives (afternoon Day 1, morning Day 2) |
| ✓ | Masai Mara National Reserve entry/conservation fees |
| ✓ | Dedicated English-speaking driver-guide |
| ✓ | Bottled drinking water during game drives |
| ✓ | Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover |
| ✗ | International flights and visa/eTA fees |
| ✗ | Tips and gratuities |
| ✗ | Alcoholic and premium drinks |
| ✗ | Optional hot air balloon safari (from $460 pp) |
| ✗ | Optional Maasai village visit (from $25 pp) |
| ✗ | Laundry, phone calls, and other personal expenses |
| ✗ | Travel insurance |
| ✗ | Credit card surcharge (5–7%) if paying by card |
Getting There
Two departure points serve this route: Ukunda Airstrip, the small strip serving Diani Beach directly, and Moi International Airport (MBA) in Mombasa. Both are viable, so we build the itinerary around whichever is closer to your hotel or has better flight availability for your dates.
Direct Flights vs. Via Nairobi
Direct (migration season, roughly July–October): Scheduled carriers add direct Ukunda/Mombasa–Mara flights during peak migration demand, cutting total travel time to around 2–2.5 hours. These seats sell out faster than the standard routing, so book early if travelling in this window.
Via Nairobi (the rest of the year): Outside migration season, the standard connection routes through Nairobi's Wilson Airport with a short layover, bringing total journey time to roughly 3–3.5 hours. This is still faster and more comfortable than attempting a road transfer, which isn't practical from the coast to the Mara.
Baggage
Baggage is strictly limited to 15kg per person in soft-sided bags only; hard suitcases can't be loaded onto the aircraft. We can store excess luggage at your Diani or Mombasa hotel for the duration of the safari.
During peak migration season, airlines add extra flights to handle demand on both the direct and via-Nairobi routings. Book early if you're travelling in this window, since seats sell out weeks in advance.
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