Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater
This is leg 1 of 3, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Kenya & Tanzania Safari
Nairobi to Maasai Mara
Nairobi and Maasai Mara sit about 188 km (117 mi) apart in a straight line, with Maasai Mara to the west. It is leg 1 of 3 on our Kenya & Tanzania Safari itinerary, an 11-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 188 km · 117 mi
- Est. road distance
- 226–264 km
- Est. drive time
- 2 h 30 min – 4 h
- Direction
- Heading west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Kenya & Tanzania Safari itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 226–264 km (140–164 mi) of road and 2 h 30 min – 4 h behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Light aircraft link Nairobi's Wilson Airport with Mara airstrips and Arusha with Serengeti strips; there are no tourist crossings at the Mara–Serengeti border, so you fly between countries. Game drives are with your camp's guide or a licensed safari operator.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Maasai Mara
Kenya's top reserve, famous for big cats and the Great Migration's river crossings. Stay 3 to 4 nights.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Rolling grassland with lions, cheetahs, elephants and, from July to October, the wildebeest migration.
Governors' Balloon Safaris
Dawn hot-air balloon flight over the reserve, finished with a champagne bush breakfast.
Governors' Camp
Classic tented camp on the Mara River in Musiara, serving meals with hippos below the bank.
Mara Serena Safari Lodge
Hilltop lodge in the Mara Triangle whose terrace bar overlooks the Mara River plains.
Musiara Marsh
Northern marshland known for resident lion prides and big herds of buffalo and elephant.
Oloololo Escarpment
Steep western rim of the Mara Triangle with sweeping views over the plains below.
Before you leave Nairobi
Kenya's capital and the hub for safari flights, with wildlife sights on the city edge. Stay 1 to 2 days.
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Orphaned elephant nursery inside Nairobi National Park, open to visitors for a daily one-hour viewing.
Nairobi National Park
Savanna park with lions, rhinos and giraffes grazing against the city skyline.
Kazuri Beads
Workshop in Karen employing local women to hand-make ceramic beads and pottery; tours are free.
On this curated route
Where Nairobi → Maasai Mara sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Maasai Mara to Nairobi is the same 188 km in a straight line, heading east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in November, when Maasai Mara averages highs 2°C warmer than Nairobi. Over a year, Maasai Mara gets about 520 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi high | 27° | 29° | 28° | 26° | 25° | 25° | 25° | 26° | 28° | 28° | 26° | 26° |
| Maasai Mara high | 28° | 30° | 29° | 26° | 25° | 25° | 27° | 28° | 29° | 29° | 28° | 27° |
| Nairobi rain | 39 | 29 | 64 | 114 | 73 | 25 | 16 | 22 | 20 | 53 | 81 | 65 |
| Maasai Mara rain | 106 | 69 | 148 | 173 | 103 | 46 | 26 | 46 | 55 | 75 | 137 | 140 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Maasai Mara month guides.
Nairobi to Maasai Mara: questions travelers ask
How far is Nairobi from Maasai Mara?
Nairobi is about 188 km (117 mi) from Maasai Mara in a straight line, with Maasai Mara to the west. By road, we estimate 226–264 km (140–164 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Nairobi to Maasai Mara?
An estimated 2 h 30 min – 4 h, assuming 226–264 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Nairobi to Maasai Mara?
Our Kenya & Tanzania Safari itinerary includes this leg. Kenya & Tanzania Safari runs about 11 days across 4 stops, best in Jun – Oct.
Onward from Maasai Mara
- Maasai Mara to Serengeti 100 km
Guides for both ends
- Nairobi travel guide
- Nairobi weather best time to visit
- Maasai Mara travel guide
- Maasai Mara weather best time to visit
Maasai Mara by month
More to explore
Plan Nairobi → Maasai Mara with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.