7 Day Kenya Great Migration Safari
Spend 6 nights in the Mara ecosystem, combining Mara North wildlife, migration-focused game drives and a sunrise balloon safari.
Plan This Safari7 Days / 6 Nights / Return Safari Flights / Nairobi Return
Stay in the Mara. Give the wildlife time.
Fly from Nairobi, split your stay between 2 camps and keep several days for flexible wildlife viewing.
Mara North
3 nights at Elephant Pepper Camp, conservancy game drives and your scheduled balloon experience.
Masai Mara
3 nights at Fig Tree Camp, with full days for reserve wildlife and migration searches.
Nairobi Return
Transfer to the airstrip and fly to Wilson Airport for your onward arrangements.
Follow the herds, with time to wait and watch.
Wildebeest can gather near a river, hesitate and turn back. Elsewhere, a predator sighting may hold your attention for an entire morning. Spend 6 nights in the Mara ecosystem so each day can respond to the wildlife rather than another long transfer.
Begin in Mara North Conservancy at Elephant Pepper Camp. Explore the conservancy's wildlife areas before moving to Fig Tree Camp for the second half of your stay. The Masai Mara National Reserve and neighbouring conservancies have separate access arrangements, which we include in your confirmed driving plan.
The main Kenya migration period is broadly July to October. Rainfall and grazing can shift the timing and position of the herds. Our Great Wildebeest Migration guide explains how the wider cycle moves through Kenya and Tanzania.
Your guide follows current conditions when planning game drives. A river visit is worthwhile when herds are within reach, while resident predators, elephants and plains wildlife remain part of the experience. Crossing sites can be busy, even when your first camp is in a conservancy.
Return flights from Nairobi reduce the road travel at either end. A sunrise balloon safari adds a different view, subject to weather and operating arrangements. For other routes and durations, explore our Kenya safari packages .
Safari Highlights
Spend all 6 nights in the wider Mara ecosystem.
Combine Mara North Conservancy with national reserve game viewing.
Keep several days for migration herds and river searches.
Watch resident wildlife alongside the seasonal migration activity.
Experience the plains from a sunrise hot-air balloon.
Fly between Nairobi and the airstrips serving your camps.
The Mara, day by day.
3 nights at Elephant Pepper Camp and 3 nights at Fig Tree Camp, subject to availability. Game-drive routes follow wildlife conditions and the access included in your booking.
Fly from Nairobi to Mara North
Meet your transfer driver at the agreed Nairobi pickup point and travel to Wilson Airport. Check in for your scheduled safari flight to the Mara. Flying time is around 1 hour, with variation for the route and intermediate airstrip stops.
Meet your guide on arrival and continue towards Elephant Pepper Camp in Mara North. Wildlife viewing may begin during the transfer, depending on the route and arrival time.
Settle into camp and review the programme with your guide. An afternoon drive provides your first chance to explore the surrounding wildlife areas if the flight schedule allows.
Full Wildlife Day in Mara North
Leave early with your guide to explore Mara North Conservancy. Search open plains, wooded areas and riverine habitats, pausing when animal behaviour offers a reason to stay.
Watch the movements of grazing herds and scan shaded ground for resting predators. Your guide will explain tracks, calls and interactions that help reveal the wider scene.
Return to camp for lunch and a rest, or arrange a picnic if it suits the route. Continue wildlife viewing in the afternoon. Migration animals may be present, but today's conservancy drive does not depend on finding the main migrating herds.
Sunrise Balloon Safari and Wildlife Viewing
Depart before dawn for your booked balloon launch site. Meet the pilot and crew for the briefing before the flight takes place. Carry a warm layer for the early transfer.
Rise above the landscape as daylight spreads across the plains. The flight path follows the wind, so the scenery and wildlife below vary with conditions.
After landing, enjoy the arranged breakfast and reconnect with your safari guide. Continue game viewing in the area covered by your confirmed activity plan. A reserve excursion is coordinated with its entry fees and driving time.
Return to Elephant Pepper Camp for the evening. Prepare your luggage for tomorrow's move to Fig Tree Camp.
Mara North to Fig Tree Camp
Have breakfast and leave Mara North Conservancy for the second part of your safari. Transfer to Fig Tree Camp, with the route planned around access points, road conditions and wildlife stops.
Check in and have lunch as arranged. Your afternoon game drive explores the Masai Mara National Reserve , with your guide considering current herd locations and the distance available.
A river visit is included when it fits the day's conditions and driving plan. Otherwise, concentrate on nearby plains wildlife and leave the longer search for the following full days.
Full Day Migration and Mara River Search
Set out early with packed meals for a longer game-drive circuit. Your guide plans the route using current wildlife information and the location of accessible herds.
If wildebeest are gathering near the Mara River, spend time watching their movements from permitted viewing positions. A herd may approach the water, wait for hours or leave again. Keep the day flexible.
When no river activity is developing, explore the surrounding plains and wildlife areas. Predators, hippos, birds and grazing animals all form part of the day's safari.
Follow your guide's directions at busy sightings and keep space for wildlife to move. Return to camp within the permitted driving and reserve hours.
Another Wildlife Day and Optional Maasai Visit
Use another full day to revisit productive wildlife areas or explore a different part of the reserve. Your guide will adjust the route to what is happening that morning.
Spend time with the herds if they are within reach, or focus on resident wildlife. Keep your camera ready, but allow time to observe without photographing every moment.
An optional Maasai community visit can be arranged at an additional cost. Meet your hosts and learn about local life, with time allowed within the afternoon programme. You may instead keep the day for wildlife viewing.
Final Wildlife Viewing and Flight to Nairobi
Enjoy a final game drive if your flight time allows. Breakfast, check-out and the airstrip transfer are arranged around your confirmed departure.
Fly to Nairobi Wilson Airport and meet your transfer driver. Continue to your agreed hotel or airport drop-off.
For an international flight from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, allow time for the road transfer, traffic and check-in. An extra Nairobi night can be quoted if the connection leaves little room for delays.
Safari Inclusions and Exclusions
What's Included
- Return scheduled safari flights between Nairobi Wilson and the booked Mara airstrips.
- 6 nights of accommodation in the confirmed room or tent categories.
- 3 nights at Elephant Pepper Camp and 3 nights at Fig Tree Camp, subject to availability.
- Full-board meals during the camp stays.
- Private safari vehicle for the scheduled game drives.
- Professional English-speaking safari guides.
- Scheduled Mara North Conservancy game drives and applicable access fees.
- National reserve entry fees for the visits listed in your confirmed programme.
- 1 scheduled balloon safari per traveller, subject to operator requirements and operating conditions.
- Balloon launch transfers and the arranged post-flight breakfast.
- Camp-to-camp transfer on Day 4.
- Airport and airstrip transfers listed in the quotation.
- Bottled drinking water during safari activities.
- 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 Maasai community visit.
- Additional activities outside the confirmed programme.
- Alcoholic and premium drinks unless included in the camp booking.
- Meals outside the confirmed arrangements.
- Tips for guides, camp staff and balloon crew.
- Laundry and other personal expenses unless quoted.
- Excess baggage charges.
- Nairobi accommodation before or after the safari.
Frequently Asked Questions
Match your dates and expectations to the migration season before confirming your safari.
When should I book this Kenya migration safari?
Broadly July to October is the main planning period for migration viewing in the Mara. The exact timing changes with rainfall and grazing. Our Great Wildebeest Migration guide explains the annual cycle. Book well ahead if your dates are fixed.
Are Mara River crossings guaranteed?
No. Herds can gather near the water without crossing, move to another area or cross outside your viewing time. Several safari days allow more flexibility, but no itinerary can promise a crossing.
Why split the stay between Mara North and Fig Tree Camp?
The split combines conservancy wildlife viewing with time exploring the national reserve. Each location offers a different starting point for game drives. Access rules and fees differ, so the booked programme specifies which areas are included.
Is the balloon safari included?
Yes, 1 balloon safari is included in this programme, with the arranged transfers and post-flight breakfast. Operation depends on weather, availability and the operator's passenger requirements. Cancellation and rescheduling terms are confirmed when booking.
Are the safari flights and game drives private?
The flights are scheduled services shared with other passengers. Your scheduled game drives use a private vehicle and guide. The balloon flight normally carries other guests unless an exclusive arrangement is specifically quoted.
What luggage should I bring?
Pack in a soft-sided bag and follow the allowance on your confirmed safari tickets. A 15 kg total allowance, including hand luggage, is common on these services. Ask about larger camera kits or additional baggage before travel.
What happens if the migration herds are elsewhere?
Your guide will plan drives around accessible wildlife rather than promise distant herds. The Mara also supports resident predators, elephants and grazing animals. Read our Masai Mara guide for more about the wider wildlife experience.
Can I connect to an international flight on Day 7?
A suitably late departure can work, subject to the confirmed safari flight. Wilson and Jomo Kenyatta are separate airports, so allow for the road transfer and check-in. Add a Nairobi overnight if the connection is too close.
Related Safaris and Migration Guides
Wildlife Guide
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Send your preferred dates and number of travellers. BLS Safaris will coordinate your camps, return flights, private game drives and balloon experience.