Safari Packages | Booking | Entice Business InsightsA Laikipia and Masai Mara safari fits into 7 days and works best at 9 to 12: fly from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to Laikipia in about 45 to 75 minutes, spend three or four nights in the conservancies, then fly on to the Mara (about 1 hour 15 minutes from Nanyuki). The road is possible, but Nanyuki to the Mara is roughly 375 km and a full day of driving, so most travellers fly. Below you will find the travel time for every leg and three day-by-day outlines, while our Laikipia conservancies guide and Masai Mara safari guide cover each destination in depth.
Entice Africa Safaris plans both halves of the trip and the flights between them. A ready-made option is the 8-day Ol Pejeta, Masai Mara and Amboseli luxury safari, from USD 10,270 per person. Prices depend on season, group size and lodge choice, and every outline on this page is a suggestion that can be reshaped around your dates.
Planning this trip? Get a free quote in 6 hours →
Laikipia and Masai Mara safari at a glance
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Suggested length | 7 days at the least; 9 to 12 days is more relaxed |
| Typical split | 3 to 4 nights in Laikipia and 3 to 4 nights in the Mara |
| Nairobi to Nanyuki by road | About 190 km, 3 to 3.5 hours |
| Wilson Airport to Nanyuki by air | About 45 to 75 minutes |
| Nanyuki to the Mara by air | About 1 hour 15 minutes on a direct flight |
| Nanyuki to the Mara by road | About 375 km, 7 to 8 hours before any stops |
| Bag limit on bush flights | 15 kg per person in a soft bag, hand baggage included |
| Mara peak season | June to October, the Great Migration months (AirKenya) |
How to get from Laikipia to the Masai Mara
By air: the usual choice
Scheduled safari flights leave from Wilson Airport, about 8 km from Nairobi city centre and 18 km from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Safarilink puts the transfer at about 25 minutes but advises at least an hour in the morning and evening rush. AirKenya and Safarilink both fly from Wilson to Nanyuki, Lewa Downs, Loisaba, Samburu and the Mara.
The direct Nanyuki to Mara flight takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, and one route planner lists it once a day. Safarilink’s direct Laikipia-to-Mara services are suspended from 1 April to 15 June and from 1 November to 15 December, when passengers route through Wilson instead. Charter flights can link Laikipia airstrips with the Mara directly, and your planner will confirm what runs on your dates.
Scheduled flights often call at several airstrips, and Safarilink says timings can vary by up to 40 minutes depending on routing. An operator also warns that landing at the wrong Mara airstrip can mean a transfer of about two hours on unpaved roads, so confirm which strip your camp uses.
By road: possible, but slow
There are two road routes. The first goes back through Nairobi: Nanyuki to Nairobi takes 3 to 3.5 hours, then Nairobi to Sekenani Gate is about 225 km and 5.5 to 6 hours, so it needs a night in Nairobi to be comfortable. The second runs via Nyahururu to Nakuru town (about 158 km from Nanyuki) and on to the Mara, with Sekenani Gate about 207 km from Nakuru by route planner. Lake Nakuru National Park, a 188 km² fenced park set up as a rhino sanctuary, lies near this route and makes a natural overnight.
Road conditions matter. The Narok to Sekenani road was rebuilt in 2021 but is in poor repair in places, and in July 2026 residents blocked it for more than six hours over its state. One operator advises adding about an hour for mud in April, May and November, and another says there is no entry to the reserve after 6:30 pm, so a late start can leave you stuck outside the gate.
Travel times between stops
These figures are rounded. Air times come from the airlines, and most road distances are route-planner estimates that leave out Nairobi traffic and roadworks, so treat them as a guide and add a margin.
| Leg | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nairobi to Nanyuki (road) | About 190 km | 3 to 3.5 hours |
| Nairobi to Ol Pejeta (road) | About 220 km | 4 to 4.5 hours, per Ol Pejeta |
| Nairobi to Lewa (road) | About 240 km | About 4 hours |
| Nanyuki to Lewa (road) | About 51 km | About 1.5 hours |
| Nanyuki to Loisaba (road) | 78 to 80 km | 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on the road |
| Nanyuki to Samburu (road) | About 118 km | About 2.5 hours |
| Wilson to Lewa Downs (air) | – | 45 minutes to 1 hour |
| Wilson to Loisaba (air) | – | About 1 hour |
| Nanyuki to Samburu (air) | – | 30 to 40 minutes |
| Wilson to the Mara (air) | – | 45 to 60 minutes, longer with stops |
| Nanyuki to the Mara (road) | About 375 km | 7 to 8 hours |
Suggested itineraries for 7, 9 and 12 days
All three follow the same logic: Laikipia first, when you are fresh and the pace is slower, then the Mara. The 9-day version below doubles as an Ol Pejeta and Masai Mara itinerary and the 12-day version adds Samburu.
7 days: three nights in Laikipia, three in the Mara
- Day 1. Fly Wilson to a Laikipia airstrip (45 to 75 minutes), transfer to camp and take an afternoon game drive.
- Days 2 and 3. Full days on the conservancy. Activities beyond game drives depend on the camp.
- Day 4. Fly Laikipia to the Mara, directly or through Wilson, and settle in for an afternoon drive.
- Days 5 and 6. Full days in the Mara. A hot-air balloon flight is optional at USD 550 per person.
- Day 7. Morning flight Mara to Wilson (45 to 60 minutes) and your onward flight.
9 days: an Ol Pejeta and Masai Mara itinerary with a road start
- Day 1. Drive Nairobi to Ol Pejeta, about 220 km and 4 to 4.5 hours, and take an afternoon game drive.
- Days 2 and 3. Full days at Ol Pejeta.
- Day 4. Move to a second Laikipia property such as Lewa or Loisaba, by road or a short flight.
- Day 5. Fly to the Mara and take an afternoon drive.
- Days 6 to 8. Three full days in the Mara.
- Day 9. Fly Mara to Wilson and connect onward.
Driving in saves a flight and shows you the Thika Superhighway, Karatina, Nyeri and Naro Moru on the way to Nanyuki. For a trip that stays in the north, see our guide to northern Kenya in 7 to 9 days.
12 days: Laikipia, Samburu and the Mara
- Day 1. Arrive in Nairobi and rest.
- Day 2. Fly to Laikipia for an afternoon drive.
- Days 3 to 5. Two Laikipia properties, four nights in all.
- Day 6. Laikipia to Samburu, about 2.5 hours by road or 30 to 40 minutes by air.
- Day 7. A full day in Samburu.
- Day 8. Fly Samburu to the Mara through Wilson, about 1 hour to Wilson then 45 to 60 minutes on.
- Days 9 to 11. Three full days in the Mara.
- Day 12. Fly Mara to Wilson and fly home.
| Length | Laikipia | Other stops | Mara |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | 3 nights | None | 3 nights |
| 9 days | 4 nights | None | 4 nights |
| 12 days | 4 nights | 1 night in Nairobi, 2 nights in Samburu | 4 nights |
Still weighing the two? Our comparison, Laikipia vs Masai Mara, explains what each does best.
Two ways to start
8 Days Ol Pejeta, Masai Mara and Amboseli Luxury Kenya Safari: for travellers who want Laikipia, the Mara and a third park in one luxury trip. From USD 10,270 per person.
10-Day Kenya Safari: Samburu to the Maasai Mara: for travellers who want the north and the Mara in 10 days. From USD 5,100 per person.
Entice trips that combine the north and the Mara
Two of Entice’s trips already pair the north with the Mara. The 8-day luxury trip adds Amboseli, which is about 35 minutes by air from Wilson. The 10-day trip pairs Samburu with the Maasai Mara, includes a Maasai village visit and has a full write-up in 10 Days in Kenya: Samburu to the Mara. It is a good model for the 12-day outline above.
If you would rather stay north of Nairobi, the 9-day Untamed Safari to the Hidden Northern Kenya Circuit is from USD 7,840 per person. For a Laikipia and Masai Mara safari built to your own dates, ask for a tailor-made quote.
When to go
| Period | Safarilink season | Direct Laikipia-to-Mara flights |
|---|---|---|
| 16 December to 31 March | High | Running |
| 1 April to 30 June | Low | Suspended 1 April to 15 June |
| 1 July to 31 October | High | Running |
| 1 November to 15 December | Low | Suspended |
AirKenya sets its peak at June to October, the Great Migration months, and December to February, with March to May and November off-peak. The Mara’s migration season therefore usually drives the cost and the booking window, and the two airlines define their seasons differently, so ask which dates your quote uses.
Flying with bags and checking in
Both airlines allow 15 kg per person in a soft-sided bag, and Safarilink counts hand baggage inside that. AirKenya charges USD 5 per kg for excess at check-in, subject to space, and sells advance bundles of 5 kg for USD 30 or 10 kg for USD 50 if booked 48 hours ahead. Both airlines store spare luggage at Wilson free, so leave your city clothes there.
At Wilson, Safarilink wants you checked in 60 minutes before departure, and AirKenya asks for 60 to 90 minutes. Fees last verified: October 2026. Airline rules change, so confirm before you fly.
Get your free safari quote in 6 hours
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. A planner in our Nairobi office replies within 6 hours with a day-by-day itinerary, the camps we suggest and a fully itemised price. No payment is needed to enquire.
Prefer to talk? WhatsApp or call +254 799 871 255.
Frequently asked questions
Can I combine Laikipia and the Masai Mara in 7 days?
Yes, with flights: three nights in Laikipia and three in the Mara. A shorter trip leaves too little time in either place once the transfer days are counted.
How do I get from Laikipia to the Masai Mara?
Fly. A direct Nanyuki to Mara flight takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, or you can route through Wilson, which adds a connection. By road it is about 375 km and 7 to 8 hours before stops.
How far is Ol Pejeta from Nairobi?
Ol Pejeta quotes about 220 km and roughly 4 to 4.5 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. Nanyuki itself is about 190 km away, 3 to 3.5 hours.
Can I add Samburu or Lake Nakuru?
Yes. Samburu is about 2.5 hours by road from Nanyuki or 30 to 40 minutes by air, and Lake Nakuru National Park is about 161 km from Nanyuki and sits near the road route to the Mara.
What is the luggage limit on the bush flights?
15 kg per person in a soft bag on both AirKenya and Safarilink, with hand baggage counted in the weight. Pack light and use the free luggage stores at Wilson.
How much does a Laikipia and Masai Mara safari cost?
Entice’s 10-day Samburu to Maasai Mara trip is from USD 5,100 per person, and the 8-day Ol Pejeta, Masai Mara and Amboseli luxury trip is from USD 10,270. Prices depend on season, group size and lodge choice, so ask for a quote on your dates.
Photo: Impala, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya (32921970948) by Ray in Manila, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
.jpg){kind=link}
Comments are closed