Kenya has one of Africa’s most developed networks of safari airstrips, centred on Wilson Airport in Nairobi, Kenya’s dedicated hub for light-aircraft safari flights. Flying is a standard part of Kenyan safari planning, particularly for the Maasai Mara, where it can replace a substantially longer road transfer with a flight that can substantially reduce road travel time.
Main airstrips
- Wilson Airport: Nairobi’s dedicated domestic and charter airport, the starting point for most Kenyan fly-in safaris.
- Maasai Mara airstrips: several airstrips serve different parts of the reserve and surrounding conservancies, including Keekorok, Musiara, Ol Kiombo, and Mara Serena, chosen based on which camp or conservancy a visitor is staying in.
- Amboseli Airstrip: serves Amboseli National Park, beneath Mount Kilimanjaro.
- Samburu / Buffalo Springs airstrips: serve the Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba reserves in Kenya’s arid north.
- Lewa Downs Airstrip: serves the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a major rhino sanctuary in Laikipia county.
- Nanyuki Airstrip: serves the wider Laikipia plateau and Mount Kenya region.
Planning a fly-in route
Scheduled light-aircraft services connect Wilson Airport to the Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, and Laikipia multiple times daily in high season, making it straightforward to combine two or three parks in a single week without long road transfers. Baggage allowances vary by operator, aircraft and route. Confirm the current soft-bag size and weight limit directly with the operating carrier before packing.
Flying into Kenya
Fly-in safaris cut hours of driving into a short scheduled or chartered flight between parks. Talk to us about adding fly-in connections to your route, or browse our safari packages for itineraries built around them.
