5 Day Amboseli and Masai Mara Fly-In Safari
Watch Amboseli's elephants, look towards Kilimanjaro on clear mornings and fly to the Mara for big cats and wide grassland game drives.
Plan This Safari5 Days / 4 Nights / 2 Parks / Nairobi Return
Amboseli's wetlands. The Mara's open plains.
Begin at Nairobi's Wilson Airport, spend 2 nights in each destination and return to Nairobi by air.
Amboseli
2 nights at Kibo Safari Camp, with guided wildlife drives.
Masai Mara
2 nights at Mara Intrepids Camp, with time for a full safari day.
Nairobi Return
Fly to Wilson Airport and continue to your agreed Nairobi drop-off.
Elephants, big cats and more time in the bush.
Elephant families moving towards green wetlands set the scene in Amboseli. In the Mara, the view opens into grasslands where your guide searches for predators and grazing herds. Spend 2 nights in each destination, using scheduled flights to connect the different safari landscapes.
Your first stop is Amboseli National Park . Follow wildlife drives through its plains and wetland habitats, with time to watch elephant behaviour rather than simply take a photograph. Kilimanjaro may appear beyond the park when cloud cover clears.
Continue by air to the Masai Mara National Reserve . Keep a full day for game viewing, carrying a picnic lunch or returning to camp for a midday break. Your private guide can shape the route around your interests and the conditions that day.
The Mara remains a wildlife destination outside the migration season. If the Great Wildebeest Migration is a priority, we can discuss dates and camp location before booking. Herd movements and river crossings cannot be guaranteed.
The safari starts and finishes in Nairobi. A city overnight before the first flight can be added, along with extra nights in either park. Our Kenya safari collection includes more options for a longer stay.
Safari Highlights
Fly from Nairobi to Amboseli for the first 2 safari nights.
Watch elephant families around Amboseli's plains and wetlands.
Look for Kilimanjaro when weather and cloud cover allow.
Continue to the Mara by scheduled light-aircraft services.
Spend a full day searching the Mara with your safari guide.
Return to Nairobi by air after your final camp night.
Amboseli and the Mara, day by day.
Stay 2 nights at Kibo Safari Camp and 2 nights at Mara Intrepids Camp, subject to availability. Meals follow your confirmed quotation.
Fly from Nairobi to Amboseli
Meet your transfer driver at the agreed Nairobi pickup point and travel to Wilson Airport. Check in for your scheduled flight to Amboseli. The flying time is usually around 35 to 45 minutes, depending on the operating service.
Meet your safari guide on landing and continue to Kibo Safari Camp near Kimana Gate. Settle into your tent and have lunch before heading into Amboseli National Park for an afternoon game drive.
Watch for elephants feeding and moving between habitats. Scan the plains for other wildlife while your guide explains the landscape. Return to camp for dinner and your first night.
Full Safari Day in Amboseli
Leave early for the cooler morning hours. If the mountain is clear, pause for views before continuing your wildlife drive. Kilimanjaro can disappear behind cloud, so enjoy the opportunity when it appears.
Explore different habitats with your guide, taking time around the wetlands and open plains. Watch how animals feed and interact rather than moving immediately to the next sighting. Bring binoculars for birds and distant wildlife.
Include Observation Hill where access and conditions allow. The viewpoint involves a walk with steps, so tell your guide if you prefer to remain with the vehicle.
Break for lunch and rest, then continue game viewing later in the day. A Maasai community visit can be arranged at an additional cost, with time allowed within the programme.
Fly to Masai Mara and Enjoy an Afternoon Game Drive
Have breakfast and transfer to the airstrip for the next flight. A short morning wildlife drive is possible only when the departure time allows.
Travel to the Masai Mara on the confirmed scheduled service. The routing may connect through Nairobi's Wilson Airport or include intermediate airstrip stops. Your travel documents will show the booked arrangements.
Meet your Mara guide and transfer to Mara Intrepids Camp. Settle in, have lunch as arranged and head out for an afternoon game drive if arrival time allows.
Keep your camera ready as your guide searches the plains and wooded areas. Spend time at sightings before returning to camp for the evening.
Full Day Masai Mara Safari
Begin early with your private guide. Take a picnic lunch for a longer wildlife circuit or return to camp for a midday meal and rest. Agree on the plan before departure.
Follow a route shaped by recent wildlife activity and your interests. Search patiently around grazing herds, shaded ground and riverine cover. Your guide will help identify the animals and explain their behaviour.
During the migration period, accessible herd locations may influence the day's route. A river crossing is never guaranteed, and the reserve's resident wildlife remains part of the safari throughout the year.
A sunrise balloon safari can be quoted in advance. Launch location, transfers and the return to your game drive are coordinated with the operator.
Final Game Viewing and Flight to Nairobi
Enjoy a final morning game drive if your flight schedule allows. Breakfast, check-out and the airstrip transfer are arranged around the confirmed departure.
Board your scheduled flight to Nairobi Wilson Airport. Meet your transfer driver and continue to your agreed hotel or airport drop-off.
For an international departure from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, allow time for the road transfer, traffic and check-in. Add a Nairobi overnight if the flight connection is too close.
Safari Inclusions and Exclusions
What's Included
- 4 nights of safari accommodation as confirmed.
- 2 nights in Amboseli and 2 nights in the Mara.
- Meals listed in your final quotation.
- Scheduled flight from Nairobi Wilson to Amboseli.
- Scheduled flights from Amboseli to the Mara on the confirmed routing.
- Scheduled return flight from the Mara to Nairobi Wilson.
- Airport and airstrip transfers listed in the itinerary.
- Private 4x4 vehicle for the scheduled game drives.
- Professional English-speaking safari guides.
- Applicable park and reserve entry fees for the scheduled visits.
- Bottled drinking water during safari activities.
- Agreed Nairobi pickup and final drop-off.
- In-country safari coordination.
What's Not Included
- International flights to and from Kenya.
- Entry authorisation or visa charges where applicable.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Optional balloon safari.
- Optional Maasai community visits.
- Alcoholic, soft and premium drinks unless quoted.
- Meals not listed in the confirmed quotation.
- Tips for guides, camp staff and transfer teams.
- Laundry, shopping and personal expenses.
- Excess baggage charges.
- Accommodation before or after the safari.
- Additional activities not included in the agreed programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan the safari flights, luggage and Nairobi connections before confirming your international travel.
Where does the safari start and finish?
Start and finish in Nairobi, using Wilson Airport for the scheduled safari flights. Transfers from your agreed Nairobi pickup point and to your final drop-off are included as listed in your quotation.
Is the flight from Amboseli to the Mara direct?
It depends on the operating service. Your journey may connect through Wilson Airport or include other airstrip stops. We confirm the routing and timings before booking and plan the arrival-day activities around them.
Are the flights and game drives private?
The flights are scheduled services shared with other passengers. The package includes a private vehicle and guide for the scheduled game drives. A private aircraft charter can be quoted separately if requested.
How much luggage can I bring?
Use a soft-sided bag and follow the allowance on your confirmed tickets. A 15 kg total allowance, including hand luggage, is common on safari flights. Ask us to check your camera equipment and any extra luggage before travel.
Will we see Mount Kilimanjaro from Amboseli?
The mountain is visible when weather and cloud cover allow. It may be clear during part of a morning and hidden later. Wildlife viewing continues even when the summit is covered. Our Amboseli National Park guide introduces the wider park experience.
Can we see the Great Migration on this safari?
Migration viewing depends on your dates and the herds' location. River crossings cannot be guaranteed. Read our Great Wildebeest Migration guide and tell us if the migration is your main reason for travelling.
Can we add a balloon safari or community visit?
Yes, subject to availability. Both are optional extras and need time within the programme. A balloon safari is best booked in advance so its transfers and timing fit your Mara stay. Community visits are arranged with the participating hosts.
Can I fly home from Nairobi on Day 5?
A suitably late international flight can work, subject to the confirmed safari schedule. Wilson and Jomo Kenyatta are separate airports, so allow for the road transfer, traffic and international check-in. Add a Nairobi night if the connection leaves little room for delays.
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