Due to Masai Mara National Reserve being essentially a wilderness area, there is no Airport to fly to in the reserve or near Masai Mara. Instead Masai Mara is served by a network of all-weather gravel airstrips in the reserve and now converted to a high standard gravel runway, along with Serena Airstrip, are both among the primary and most well-known airfields in the reserve. There are scheduled twice daily flights from Nairobi to Masai Mara that stop at several airstrips per flight. Additionally there are several airlines that serve this route including Air Kenya, SafariLink and Governors Aviation. The nearest international Airport in Nairobi, a flying distance of one hour.
Travelers would need to know which airstrip in Masai Mara National Reserve to use when booking their domestic flights as there are close to a dozen airstrips in Masai Mara, including the community wildlife conservancies and game ranches surrounding the main reserve. It is crucial to fly to the airstrip nearest to your accommodation to avoid unnecessarily long transfer which also happen to be rather expensive. Some of the most common airstrips include Keekorok, Siana, Musiara, Ol Kiombo and Serena airstrip. Also, we have detailed below which lodges and camps are served by each airstrip.
Keekorok Airstrip, Masai Mara (Code KEU)
Keekorok Airstrip is located Southeast of Masai Mara National Reserve, giving easy access to Lonwalet Hill and Ol Tukai Hill. The geographical coordinates of this airstrip are 1° 35′ 9.00″S, +35° 15′ 6.00″E (Latitude:-1.585832; Longitude: 35.251667).
The airstrip mainly serves Keekorok Lodge, Mara Sarova Game Lodge, Sekenani Camp, Mara Sopa Lodge, Mara Topi Safari Lodge, Ashnil Camp and Cottars Camp.
Serena Airstrip , Masai Mara (Code MRE)
Mara Serena Airstrip is the Kenya’s largest civilian airport in Masai Mara National Reserve mainly serving Mara Serena Camp and other neighboring lodges and camps. The geographical coordinates of this airstrip: 1° 24′ 18.00″S, 35° 0′ 36.00″E (Latitude:-1.405000; Longitude: 35.010000).
Musiara Airstrip, Masai Mara (Code MDR)
Musiara Airstrip is one of the most famous airstrips in Masai Mara National Reserve, located on the northernmost region of the reserve serving Governor’s Camp, Moran Camp, Serian Camp, Little Governor’s Camp and Neptune Mara Rianta Camp.
The geographical coordinates of this airstrip are: latitude -1.299666 and longitude 35.058746 (Latitude DMS: 1°17’58.8″S, Longitude DMS: 35°3’31.49″E)
Kichwa Tembo Airstrip, Masai Mara (Code KTJ)
Kichwa Tembo Airstrip is located on the North Most region of Masai Mara National Reserve also known as by its IATA Code KTJ serving Kichwa Tembo Camp, Bateleur Camp, Kilima Camp, Mpata Lodge among others.
The geographical coordinates of this airstrip are Longitude: 2° 6′ 5” W, Latitude: 11° 6′ 19” N.
Siana Conservancy (Siana Springs Airstrip)
Siana Springs Airstrip is located in the Siana Group Ranch. The airstrip mainly serves Siana Springs Camp, Mara Bushtop, Porini Main Camp, Ol Seki Hemingways Mara and Leleshwa Camp.
The geographical coordinates of this airstrip are latitude -1.483(S) and longitude 35.417(E)
Ol Kiombo Airstrip, Masai Mara (Code OLX)
Ol Kiombo Airstrip is located just north of the Talek River serving clients stay at Mara Intrepids, Mara Explorer, Fig Tree Camp, Porini Lion Camp, Tipilikwani Mara Camp, Base Camp, Naibor Camp and Kicheche Bush Camp.
The geographical coordinates of this airstrip are (Longitude: 35° 6′ 36” E Latitude: 1° 24′ 30” S).
Ngerende Airstrip, Masai Mara (Code MSC)
Ngerende Airstrip serves clients staying at Ngerende Island Lodge, Kicheche Mara Camp, Mara Safari Camp, Saruni Camp, Lokoswan Camp and Richards Camp.
The geographical coordinates of this airstrip are latitude -1.084(S), longitude 35.186(E) and 5510.00ft elevation.
Olare Orok , Masai Mara (Code OLG)
Olare Orok airstrip is located within the popular Olare Motorogi Conservancy to the north of Keya’s famous Masai Mara National Reserve. The airstrips all lodges and camps with the Olare Orok Conservancy like Mahali Nzuri Safari Camp.
Mara North Airstrip, Masai Mara (Code HKR)
Mara North Airstrip is located inside Mara North Conservancy serving Kicheche Mara Camps, Saruni Mara Camp and Saruni Wild Camp.
The geographical coordinates of this airstrip are: S 01°08.73’, E 35°07.48’, Elevation 5,515ft.
Angama Airstrip, Masai Mara (Code ANA)
Also known as by its IATA Code ARA, Angama Mara Airstrip is a regional airstrip located in the Masai Mara Region in the Southwest part of Kenya. The airstrip accommodates regular flights traveling to and from this airstrip with air carriers such as Mombasa Air Safari, Air Kenya and Safarilink.
The geographical coordinates of this airstrip are 1° 16′ 19” S; 34° 57′38”E.
Angama Airstrip mainly serves Mara Angama Lodge, Mara West Camp and other neighbouring lodges/camps.
Ol Seki Airstrip, Masai Mara (Code OSJ)
Ole Seki Airstrip is located at the end of a ridge in the Naboisho Conservancy, northeast of the Masai Mara National Reserve. It is around 10 minutes’ drive to Hemingways Ol Seki Mara Camp.
The geographical coordinates of this airstrip are latitude -1.378(S), longitude 35.378(E) and it has a length of 2.17 kilometers.
Wilson Airport
Wilson Airport is the domestic airport of Nairobi, located along Langata Road, fairly close to Carnivore Restaurant and on the way to Karen and Nairobi National Park. The airport is small but fairly busy and efficient. Transfer time from city centre is 20 minutes traffic free but more like an 45 minutes in normal traffic and most flights require that you be at the airport at least an hour before the flight.
Schedule of Flights
Typically all the main airlines have morning and afternoon flights, with the same aircraft turning back to Wilson after every flights. The flight is approximately 1 hour though actual time depends on how many stops the flight will make, as they land to drop or pick up passengers from various airstrips. Most flights limit stops to the fewest possible so the timing of an hour to the Mara is practically fairly accurate.
See the schedule below.
| Daily Flights to Masai Mara ( Approximate Timings) | ||||
| Flights | From | To | Dep | Arr |
| Morning Flight | Wilson | Masai Mara | 10:00 | 11:00 |
| Masai Mara | Wilson | 11:00 | 12:15 | |
| Afternoon Flight | Wilson | Masai Mara | 14:45 | 15:45 |
| Masai Mara | Wilson | 15:45 | 17:00 | |
| High Season: 16 December – 31 March & 1 July – 31 October Low Season: 1 April – 30 June & 1 November – 15 December |
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Airlines operating flights to Masai Mara
These airlines include Air Kenya, Safarilink, Mombasa Air Safaris and Governors Aviation. The above listed airlines have an excellent safety record and operate to high standards with professional staff.