Exclusive Safaris · Kenya

8-Day Kenya Sky Safari: Meru, Loisaba & Masai Mara

8 daysScheduled group safari

About this journey

This 8-day luxury Kenya fly-in safari connects three very different wildernesses by light aircraft: Meru National Park, the Loisaba Conservancy in Laikipia and the Maasai Mara. Flying between them means no long drives, and every stay is at an Elewana camp, beginning with a night at Hemingways in Nairobi.

Meru is the remote, river-laced park where Joy Adamson raised Elsa the lioness, and you stay at Elewana Elsa's Kopje on the hill above. Days here include a bush breakfast, a visit to the rhino sanctuary, sundowners and an escorted hike up Mughwango Hill.

Loisaba, on the Laikipia plateau, adds a wide choice of activities: game drives, guided bush walks, horse and camel safaris, lion tracking, mountain biking, a Samburu village visit and the conservancy's anti-poaching sniffer dogs. The safari ends with two nights at Elewana Sand River in the Maasai Mara, including a full day with a picnic hamper, a Maasai village visit and dinner under the stars.

Good to know: light aircraft have a soft-bag luggage limit, usually 15 kg per person. On your last day you have the use of a day room at an airport-area hotel before your international flight.

Who it suits: honeymooners, travellers celebrating a special occasion, and anyone who wants a luxury safari with variety and no long drives. The three areas could hardly be more different: Meru's rivers and doum palms, Laikipia's high plateau, and the Mara's grasslands.

Because you fly between parks, you arrive at each camp in time for lunch and an afternoon activity, so no day is lost to travel. Meru is one of Kenya's least-visited parks, which means you often have sightings to yourself, while Loisaba's range of activities gives you a break from vehicles.

Highlights

  • Fly between Meru, Loisaba and the Maasai Mara
  • Elewana camps throughout, from Elsa's Kopje to Sand River
  • Rhino sanctuary, Mughwango Hill hike and bush breakfasts
  • Horse and camel safaris, lion tracking and bush walks at Loisaba
  • Day room in Nairobi before your flight home

What's included

Included

  • Scheduled light-aircraft flights from Nairobi Wilson Airport
  • Shared game drives in the camp's safari vehicles
  • Park and conservancy fees
  • Accommodation and meals at your chosen camp or lodge
  • Nairobi airport meet-and-assist and transfers
  • Sundowners and bush meals as per itinerary
  • Day room at an airport-area hotel on the final day

Not included

  • International flights
  • Transfers and hotel nights in Nairobi before or after the safari
  • Kenya eTA and visa fees
  • Travel insurance
  • Drinks, tips and personal expenses
  • Lunch on the final day

Day by day

  • Met inside the arrivals hall at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and assisted through formalities
  • Transfer to your hotel
  • Meals: Dinner
  • Accommodation: Hemingways Nairobi

Where you stay

LocationAccommodation
NairobiHemingways Nairobi
Meru (2 nights)Elewana Elsa's Kopje
Loisaba (2 nights)Elewana Loisaba Tented Camp
Masai Mara (2 nights)Elewana Sand River Masai Mara

Questions about this safari

How long is the 8-Day Kenya Sky Safari?

8 days and 7 nights. It starts in Nairobi and returns to Nairobi.

Is this a private or a shared safari?

It runs as a scheduled safari: you share the vehicle and game drives with other travellers on the same departure, which keeps the price down. We can also run it as a private safari on your own dates.

How do you travel between parks?

By scheduled light aircraft from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, with game drives from the airstrip on arrival. Soft-sided bags are required and the luggage allowance is usually 15 kg per person.

Where will I stay?

Nairobi: Hemingways Nairobi. Meru (2 nights): Elewana Elsa's Kopje. Loisaba (2 nights): Elewana Loisaba Tented Camp. Masai Mara (2 nights): Elewana Sand River Masai Mara.

What is included in the price?

Scheduled light-aircraft flights from Nairobi Wilson Airport, Shared game drives in the camp's safari vehicles, Park and conservancy fees, Accommodation and meals at your chosen camp or lodge, Nairobi airport meet-and-assist and transfers, Sundowners and bush meals as per itinerary and Day room at an airport-area hotel on the final day.

Are park fees included?

Yes. Park, reserve and conservancy entry fees for every day of the itinerary are included in the price.

How far is the Maasai Mara from Nairobi?

The Maasai Mara is about 270 km west of Nairobi: five to six hours by road through the Great Rift Valley, or about 45 minutes by scheduled flight from Wilson Airport.

Can I see the Big Five on this safari?

Lion, elephant, buffalo and leopard are seen regularly in the Maasai Mara. Black rhino are few and shy, so all five are possible but never guaranteed.

When is the best time for this safari?

The Mara is good all year. July to October brings the Great Migration and Mara River crossings; January to March is quieter with excellent resident wildlife; April and May are green and the best value.

Can I customise this itinerary or upgrade the accommodation?

Yes. We can change lodges, add nights or extra parks, and arrange a private version on your own dates.

What should I pack for this safari?

Pack neutral-coloured layers, a warm fleece or jacket for early-morning drives, a sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars and your camera with spare batteries. A soft-sided bag is best, and required on light-aircraft flights.

Do I need a visa for Kenya?

Most visitors need a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), applied for online before travel. Check the requirements for your passport well before you fly.

What is a fly-in safari in Kenya?

A fly-in safari replaces road transfers with scheduled light-aircraft flights from Nairobi's Wilson Airport to airstrips inside or beside each park. You are met by the camp's vehicle and are usually game viewing within minutes of landing.

Destinations on this safari

Kenya’s crown jewelMaasai Mara

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