kellcc1

Is there a reason why all of the kenya safari itinerarys with a mombasa extensions that i've seen have you driving from masai mara to nairobi for a flight to mombasa. instead of flying straight from masai mara to mombasa??

Nyamera

Hi Kellcc1,

Most safari itineraries start and end in Nairobi, but there are Mara safaris out of Mombasa as well. Mombasa Air flies to the Mara, but is a bit expensive. http://www.mombasaairsafari.com/

kellcc1

Thank you so much for your quick reply. But I'm still confused. The safari itinerary would still end up in Nairobi after Mombasa. Just seems like it would make more sense than to drive the 4 hours back to nairobi. Hard to believe its not common practice with the mombasa extentions.

Pumbavu

I guess MOST international flights leave from Nairobi. I know a few package holiday flights go to Mombassa, but most of the big airlines fly initially into NBO.

Pumbavu

And for the price of flights I wouldn't drive.... I'd fly.

Is 4 hours optomistic? I've never actually driven the whole way. Took the train once but that's another story.

Patty

As Nyamera mentioned, there are flights between the Masai Mara and Mombasa. Ask your tour operator to change the itinerary so that you can fly directly to Mombasa instead of driving back to Nairobi (which is more like a 6 hour drive than a 4 hour drive).

kellcc1

Thanks for the input. This entire site is such a great resource!

sandi

If as you say "all the safari itineraries with Mombasa extension have you driving from the Masai Mara to NBO for flight to NBO" - are you considering a group safari or an independent one?

If a group safari, there isn't much you can do to change this, but to pay a supplement.

However, you can definitely return fly from the Mara (saves a good 6-hrs drive) to NBO which lands at Wilson domestic airport. You'll then have to be transferred to the international JKIA airport for flight to Mombasa.

Though Mombasa is an international airport, it's mostly European charter packages that arrive/depart from here. The reason, after a Mombasa extension the return to NBO for other international flights to Europe or the States.

There are no direct flights from the Mara to Mombasa other than private charters at very steep prices.

Patty

I don't think it's only private charters that operate between the Mara and the coast as I've seen flying packages offered by Mombasa tour operators at reasonable prices. I believe these flights also operate into Ukunda airstrip near Diani beach and take about 2 hours of flying time.

We tend to think of Kenya as primarily a safari destination, but there's actually a sizable European charter market that treats Kenya as mainly a beach destination with a short safari added on as a side trip from the coastal resorts.

mzeetembo

Sandi

there are two company's that fly scheduled daily ex mara. To Mombassa even Malindi and occasionally onto Lamu. Blue Sky and the better one is Mombassa air services.