Travelling Guide to Reach Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Kruger National Parks
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Reaching Nairobi from India
Reaching Maasai Mara National Reserve from India includes a journey through flight. Mostly, flights are available from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). Flights are available daily from Mumbai, as well as from other important metro cities of India. The approximate duration to reach Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya from Mumbai ranges from 6 hours to 11 hours, depending on the number of halts of the booked flights.
Reaching Maasai Mara from Nairobi
BY ROAD: Reaching Nairobi, covering the rest of the distance to reach Masai Mara by road is a viable option. There are 5 gates of the Maasai Mara National Reserve - Sekenani, Talek, Oloolaimutia, Musiara and Oloololo.
Distance from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) to the various gates -
1. NBO to Sekenani Gate - 247 km 2. NBO to Talek Gate - 268 km 3. NBO to Oloolaimutia Gate - 262 km 4. NBO to Musiara Gate - 269 km 5. NBO to Oloololo Gate - 27 3 km
Reaching all the aforementioned gates of Maasai Mara from Nairobi encompasses a drive of about 5-6 hours.
BY FLIGHT: For a Masai Mara fly-in safari, the preferred route often starts with a flight from Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL). Numerous airlines operate flights from Nairobi to various airstrips in Masai Mara, offering twice-daily round-trip flights to the reserve, with each flight taking approximately 1 hour. Masai Mara National Reserve and surrounding game ranges and conservancies boast nearly a dozen airstrips strategically located across different parts of the reserve to minimise transfer time from the airstrip to nearby lodges and camps.
Here are some of the frequently utilised airstrips in Masai Mara:
1. Keekorok 2. Ol Kiombo 3. Siana 4. Ngerende 5. Serena 6. Ol Seki 7. Musiara 8. Olare Orok 9. Kichwa Tembo 10. Angama
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Reaching Kilimanjaro International Airport from India: To reach Serengeti National Park from India, the nearest international airport option is the Kilimanjaro International Airport (Kia). Flights from major Indian cities like Delhi, Bombay, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, etc are available to reach Kilimanjaro International Airport and the flight duration ranges from 16 hours to 38 hours depending upon the number of halts and the opted route. This international airport acts as a convenient gateway to tourism in Tanzania.
Reaching Serengeti National Park from Kilimanjaro
BY ROAD: Serengeti National Park is approximately 295 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport and might take up to 6-7 hours to reach by road. However, there is an alternate mode of transporting to Serengeti National Park. Tourists can opt to reach Arusha Airport from Kilimanjaro International Airport by road. The distance between the said locations is about 70 km and can be easily covered within a 2-hour drive. From Arusha Airport, take a flight to one of the airstrips near Serengeti National Park.
BY AIR: For a Serengeti fly-in safari, the recommended route typically involves flying from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK). Flights from these airports to one of the seven airstrips within Serengeti National Park generally take between 1 to 5 hours, operated by local airlines like Grumeti Air or Coastal Aviation. Upon arrival at the chosen airstrip, lodge staff will greet you and facilitate your transfer to the lodge, where a refreshing drink awaits (allow an additional 45 minutes to 2 hours for road transfer, depending on the lodge's location). Alternatively, flights from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO) or Wilson Airport (WIL) to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) are available. From the Lake Victoria area, Mwanza Airport (MWZ) is the preferred departure point. Direct flights from the Serengeti to destinations like Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, and other Tanzanian national parks, such as Lake Manyara and Tarangire, are also accessible.
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Reaching Johannesburg from India: Flying to O. R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg from India takes between 12 hours to 49 hours, due to one or more halts in between. Tourists can conduct flight bookings from major metro cities of India like Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, etc. Booking for flights to Cape Town is also the next best alternative as the flying durations almost remain the same. Taking a flight to Cape Town is a good option if the starting point of the trip to Kruger is from the southern region of the national park.
Reaching Kruger National Park from Johannesburg or Cape Town
BY ROAD: The estimated distance between Kruger National Park to Johannesburg International Airport and Cape Town International Airport is approximately 392 km and 1808 km respectively. Therefore, opting for reaching the national park by road is more feasible from Johannesburg Airport, from where the drive will only take around 5 hours.
BY AIR: Kruger National Park boasts nine entrance gates, accessible from various villages in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg serves as the primary gateway to the park, with closer proximity to gates at Phalaborwa and Hoedspruit. Numerous daily flights from Johannesburg connect to -
• Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) • Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) • Skukuza Airport (SZK)
Additionally, direct flights from Cape Town to Kruger National Park are available. From these airports, travellers can opt for escorted road transfers (2-3 hours each way) or charter flights (approximately 25 minutes) to reach their destinations within the park.
