For clients travelling from Canada to visit Maasai Mara, the journey begins way before they spot the first lion or experience the Great Migration. The safari involves a series of flights, immigration procedures at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, transfers to Wilson Airport, flight to Maasai Mara, and transfers to the camp/lodge.

The good news is that the safari can be organized into a single seamless sequence, making the whole planning process easier, especially for first-time visitors.

1. Begin with an International Flight from Canada to Nairobi

The visitors start their journey from any of the major international airports in Canada, such as Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, and Calgary, depending on their place of stay, connections, or schedules.

Some of the major airlines for this journey include Air Canada, which flies mainly from Toronto and other cities such as Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver to Nairobi.

Kenya Airways is another option for travelers flying between Toronto and Nairobi, although its partnership with WestJet brings in other international networks.

Still, visitors can also reach Nairobi through airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, KLM and Turkish Airlines.

Do not be misguided to think that the best flight option is based on the prices posted, since many other factors such as luggage allowance, arrival time, your safari itinerary, and connection time dictate which option best fits your journey.

2. Arrival in Nairobi

From Canada, the travelers land in Nairobi at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Here, the travelers go through immigration procedures, collect their baggage, and clear customs before proceeding to a domestic Kenyan travel experience.

3. Transfers to Wilson Airport

This is a critical point to note, especially for first-time visitors. JKIA and Wilson Airport are different Airports and a distance away. An international traveler will land in JKIA, but the Maasai Mara flights depart from Wilson Airport. For this reason, you need a well-planned road transfer to connect between the two airports.

Most clients choose to spend their first night in Nairobi to avoid the travel pressures, while others can proceed to a Maasai Mara flight the same day depending on their arrival time. The key point is: do not assume the two flights are a conventional airport connection.

4. Boarding a Fly-in Safari to Maasai Mara

At Wilson Airport, clients board a small local aircraft operated by Safarilink or AirKenya Express to one of the airstrips in Maasai Mara.

Another important thing to note here is that Maasai Mara has no common airport; it has several bush airstrips distributed across the Maasai Mara ecosystem. For this reason, visitors need to be careful when booking their flights to land at an airstrip near their booked lodge/camp.

5. Landing at the Right Airstrip in Maasai Mara.

As stated earlier Maasai Mara is served by several airstrips such as Keekorok, Musiara, Ol Kiombo, Kichwa Tembo, Mara Serena, Mara North and Olare. Your landing place is dictated by the location of your accommodation. Be sure to book a flight that will drop you near your camp/lodge.

6. Meeting your Safari guide/Hotel Vehicle

The experience is a bit unique at the bush camps; unlike the case at international airports, you are directly received by your safari guide or a hotel vehicle. The procedures are that short, which makes it necessary to book your transfer details to the camp before the flight. Depending on your arrival time and the distance to your camp, you may start your wildlife viewing immediately after landing.

7. Starting your Safari at Maasai Mara

At the camp, the safari feels worthwhile. After checking in, refreshing, and having your lunch, you can choose to begin your safari with an afternoon game drive or the next day. Over the following day, you will enjoy the beautiful landscapes at the Maasai Mara ecosystem and view various wildlife species across the savannah, including lions, cheetahs, elephants, leopards, among many others.

Generally the safari from Canada to Maasai Mara can sequentially be visualized as

Canada → international connection/direct service → Nairobi JKIA → immigration and baggage → transfer to Wilson Airport → safari flight → Maasai Mara airstrip → safari camp → game drives.