4-Day Masai Mara Fly-In Safari | Kichwa Tembo

Why This Safari

The fastest way into the Mara’s heart

Most Kenya safaris begin with a long road transfer. This one doesn’t. From Nairobi’s Wilson Airport you board a light aircraft and 45 minutes later you’re touching down at Kichwa Tembo’s private airstrip, deep inside the northern Mara. No dust, no hours of driving — just immediate immersion in one of Africa’s most iconic landscapes.

Three nights at Kichwa Tembo puts you at the heart of the action. Twice-daily game drives with your private guide, optional night drives on the camp’s wilderness concession, guided walks with a Maasai naturalist, and sundowners at a viewpoint with sweeping plains views. One morning — the morning — you rise before dawn for an hour above the Mara in a hot air balloon, watching Africa come alive below you, ending with champagne on the plains as the sun rises.

“The balloon at dawn is unlike anything else in Africa. You float over the Mara River, the forests, the plains — and when you land, there’s champagne waiting.”
— Safari Travel Plus team

Day by Day

Your 4-day itinerary

Nairobi to the Mara

Wilson Airport · 45-Min Scenic Flight · Arrival · Afternoon Game Drive

Your safari begins at Wilson Airport — Kenya’s domestic hub, just minutes from the city centre. Board your scheduled light aircraft and watch Nairobi’s skyline give way to the Great Rift Valley escarpment, then the golden grasslands of the northern Mara rolling out below you. Forty-five minutes after take-off you touch down at Kichwa Tembo’s private airstrip.

Your guide meets you at the strip for the short transfer to camp — and the Mara begins immediately. Lunch on the veranda, high tea at dusk, and then your first afternoon game drive into a reserve that regularly delivers lion, cheetah, elephant and the vast herds of wildebeest and zebra that move through the ecosystem year-round.

Fly-In Afternoon Game Drive Wilson Airport Kichwa Tembo Arrival High Tea

Tonight: Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, Masai Mara

Deep in the Mara

Dawn Game Drive · Afternoon Drive · Bush Sundowners · Optional Night Drive

The Mara rewards early risers. You’re out before sunrise — when lions are still on the move, cheetahs hunt the open plains in the first pale light, and the reserve is alive with birdsong. Return to camp for a full cooked breakfast as the day warms, then rest through the midday heat before heading out again for the afternoon drive, tracking whatever the morning left unresolved.

Sundowners tonight at a private viewpoint on the concession — your guide pours drinks as the Mara sky turns from gold to deep crimson over the escarpment. Optional night drives depart after dinner for an entirely different cast: leopards, genets, civets, and the haunting calls of hyena and lion in the dark.

Dawn Drive Afternoon Drive Bush Sundowners Night Drive (optional) Big Five

Tonight: Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, Masai Mara

Above the Mara

Pre-Dawn Balloon Flight · Champagne Breakfast · Maasai Nature Walk · Afternoon Drive

You rise before first light for the centrepiece of this safari. Your hot air balloon lifts off just before dawn and drifts silently over the Mara — the river below you, the acacia forests, the vast plains lit by the first gold of sunrise. An hour above Africa with no engine noise, no road, nothing between you and the landscape. Herds move in the early light below you; the silence is absolute.

You land in the bush to a white-tablecloth champagne breakfast, laid out in the grass wherever the balloon comes down — one of the defining moments of any Kenya safari. The morning continues with a guided walk with a Maasai naturalist: tracking, plant medicine, reading the land at ground level. A completely different perspective on the same landscape you flew over an hour earlier. A final afternoon game drive rounds out the day.

Hot Air Balloon Champagne Bush Breakfast Maasai Nature Walk Afternoon Drive

Tonight: Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, Masai Mara

Farewell to the Mara

Final Breakfast · Airstrip Transfer · Return Flight · Nairobi

One last breakfast on the veranda as the morning light lifts off the plains. Your guide transfers you to Kichwa Tembo airstrip in time for your scheduled flight back to Wilson Airport — 45 minutes over the Rift Valley again, Nairobi appearing almost as a surprise after four days in the wild. A ground transfer to JKIA or your Nairobi hotel completes the journey.

Final Breakfast Kichwa Airstrip Transfer Return Flight to Nairobi Transfer to JKIA

What’s Covered

Price includes & excludes

Included

Private arrival and departure airport transfers in Nairobi
Return scheduled flights Wilson Airport ↔ Kichwa Tembo airstrip
3 nights at Kichwa Tembo Masai Mara Tented Camp (full-board)
All meals throughout the safari
Hot air balloon safari (one morning)
Champagne breakfast on the plains after the balloon
Twice-daily game drives in a private 4×4 Land Cruiser
Optional night drives on the camp’s wilderness concession
Guided nature walk with a Maasai naturalist
Masai Mara National Reserve park fees
Driver-guide fees, vehicle, fuel and local accident cover
Mineral water throughout
All local taxes

Not Included

International flights and airport taxes
Kenya eTA / visa fees
Festive season supplements (December / New Year)
Tips and gratuities to guides and camp staff
Alcoholic and soft drinks (beyond mineral water)
Laundry, telephone and personal extras
Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary
International travel and medical insurance

Where You Stay

Kichwa Tembo Masai Mara Tented Camp

Luxury Tented Camp

Northern Masai Mara, Kenya

Kichwa Tembo Masai Mara Tented Camp

Kichwa Tembo — meaning ‘head of the elephant’ in Swahili — sits in the northern reaches of the Masai Mara, bordering the Oloololo Escarpment. The camp’s 40 tents are set in a riverine forest fringe, each with views across the open plains. It’s one of the Mara’s most established luxury camps, known for excellent guiding and a position that gives access to some of the reserve’s least crowded game-viewing areas. A private airstrip means you arrive directly — no road transfer from the main gate.

Luxury tented accommodation
Private airstrip access
Expert resident guides
Wilderness concession for night drives

Your Safari Vehicle

Built for the African bush.

Every game drive on this fly-in safari takes place in a custom-fitted Toyota Land Cruiser — Kenya’s most trusted safari vehicle. Fitted for serious game viewing and all-day comfort: a full pop-up roof, USB charging throughout, and every practical detail in place before you leave the airstrip. Custom 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser

Our custom Toyota Land Cruiser safari vehicle

Exterior — Custom Toyota Land Cruiser

Inside our safari Land Cruiser — leather seats and on-board cool box

Interior — Leather seats & cool box

Our custom Toyota Land Cruiser on safari in Kenya

On safari — Masai Mara

3-Step Fold-Down Entry

Purpose-built folding step system with a sturdy grab handle at door height. Safe entry and exit at every vehicle stop — no stepping up from the ground.

Elevated Captain Seats

Firm, upright seating positioned higher than standard passenger vehicles. Individual armrests and adjustable lumbar support for all-day comfort on extended drives.

Full Pop-Up Roof

The entire roof lifts open for unobstructed 360° wildlife viewing and photography. Closes in seconds when it rains. The Mara is experienced standing, not craning through a window.

USB & 12V Charging

Multiple USB-A, USB-C, and 12V socket charging points throughout the vehicle — keep cameras, spare batteries, phones and devices charged across every full-day drive.

Cool Box & Water Supply

Chilled drinking water available throughout every drive — not just at stops. The on-board cool box holds water, snacks, and cold towels for midday comfort.

Full First Aid Kit On Board

Every vehicle carries a comprehensive first aid kit and your guide holds a current first aid certificate. AMREF Flying Doctors emergency numbers are pre-saved in every guide’s phone.

100% Private — Always

This vehicle is never shared. No strangers, no compromises on timing, no waiting for others. You set the pace of every drive, every stop, and every return to camp.

4-Wheel Drive Throughout

Genuine 4×4 traction is essential in the Mara — especially after rain. The Land Cruiser handles rutted tracks, river crossings and off-road terrain that no minivan or road vehicle could navigate.

Maximum 6 Passengers

The Land Cruiser seats up to 6 comfortably, with full pop-roof access for everyone. For couples or small groups, you’ll have significantly more space per person — ideal for extended game drive comfort.

Pre-Departure Safety Check

Every vehicle undergoes a full mechanical inspection before each safari departs. We carry a spare tyre, tow rope, and basic repair kit as standard. In 15 years we have never abandoned a client on the road.

Investment

Safari costs

This is a premium fly-in safari — pricing varies by travel dates, group size, and seasonal rates at Kichwa Tembo. We’ll provide a detailed, no-obligation quote tailored to your exact requirements.

Prices are per person. Solo travellers, couples and groups all accommodated.
Balloon safari is included in the package price.

Questions

4-Day Masai Mara Fly-In Safari — FAQs

A fly-in safari means you travel to the Masai Mara by light aircraft rather than road. The flight takes 45 minutes from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, compared to 5–6 hours by road. You arrive fresher, earlier, and deeper in the reserve. For a short safari, fly-in makes the most of every day.

Kichwa Tembo Masai Mara Tented Camp, in the northern Mara near the Oloololo Escarpment. It has its own private airstrip, experienced resident guides, and access to a wilderness concession where night drives are permitted.

Yes. One balloon flight is included in the package price — no extra charge. The flight lasts approximately one hour and ends with a champagne breakfast on the plains.

The Masai Mara offers excellent game viewing year-round. July to October is peak season — the wildebeest migration is in the Mara and river crossings are possible. January to March is a quieter, greener alternative with strong predator activity and far fewer vehicles.

Approximately 45 minutes on a scheduled light aircraft from Wilson Airport (not JKIA). We include transfers to and from Wilson Airport in Nairobi as part of the package.

Yes. Your game drives are in a private vehicle — just your group and your guide. You set the pace of every drive. The camp itself is shared with other guests, as is the balloon flight (typically 8–12 guests per balloon).

Absolutely. Fly-in safaris are one of the best first safari experiences — no long road transfers, immediate immersion in the Mara, and Kichwa Tembo’s guides are experienced at hosting first-time guests.

Yes. We can extend the stay at Kichwa Tembo, add a night in Nairobi before or after, combine with Amboseli or a coastal extension. Use the Get a Custom Safari Quote button to discuss options.

Light neutral-coloured layers (khaki, olive, beige), a warm fleece for early morning drives, sun hat, sunscreen, camera and binoculars. The camp provides a laundry service.

International flights, visa fees, personal drinks, tips and gratuities, travel insurance, and festive supplements. See the full inclusions/exclusions section above.

The Mara, from above and below.

The fastest way into the Mara’s heart

Your 4-day itinerary

Nairobi to the Mara

Deep in the Mara

Above the Mara

Farewell to the Mara

Price includes & excludes

Kichwa Tembo Masai Mara Tented Camp

Built for the African bush.

4-Wheel Drive Throughout

Maximum 6 Passengers

Pre-Departure Safety Check

Safari costs

4-Day Masai Mara Fly-In Safari — FAQs

Start planning your Masai Mara fly-in safari