Two-day Masai Mara safari with an overnight stay at Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge

2 days + 1 night
All meals included
Light intensity
Lodge

Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge sits on the edge of the Oloololo Escarpment, with views that stretch right across the Mara plains below. This two-day flying safari gets you there from Mombasa without a long overland drive. You'll land at a bush airstrip, climb into a 4x4 or 6x6 all-terrain vehicle, and spend the next 48 hours tracking lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and buffalo across one of Africa's most famous wildlife reserves.

Your route

What makes the night special

The lodge perches on the Oloololo Escarpment, high above the open plains where you've been watching predators and herds all afternoon. After dinner, the sounds of the African wilderness carry up from below. The elevated position means you'll look out over the landscape rather than sitting inside it, and the Mara plains stretch to the horizon in every direction. By morning, the golden light flooding those same plains draws wildlife into the open, and you're already heading out for your early game drive.

Your day starts early with a pickup from your Mombasa hotel at around 6 am. A short transfer takes you to the airport for a scenic flight over Kenya's interior. On clear days, you'll catch the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro from the air. After landing at the Masai Mara airstrip, your driver-guide meets you and the first game drive begins as you head towards Mara Engai Lodge. After checking in and sitting down for lunch, you head back out in a specialised 4x4 or 6x6 all-terrain vehicle for a dedicated afternoon game drive. The Mara's open plains are home to lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and buffalo alongside countless other species. As the light fades, you return to the lodge for dinner and settle in for the night on the escarpment.

Before the sun fully rises, you're back in the vehicle for an early-morning game drive. The golden light at this hour makes for ideal wildlife viewing and photography, and the reserve is at its most active. Your driver-guide knows where to find the Big Five when they're on the move. After the drive, you'll return to the lodge to eat breakfast, check out and transfer to the airstrip for a mid-morning flight back to Mombasa. From there, a vehicle takes you to your beach hotel, arriving around 2 to 3 pm depending on your hotel location.

Why you’ll love this…

You’ll explore the iconic Maasai Mara National Reserve and encounter Africa’s legendary Big Five on this 2-day flying safari
There’s a chance to stay at Mara Engai Lodge, set in a stunning location overlooking the vast Mara plains
You’ll travel in a specialised 4x4/6x6 all-terrain vehicle for exceptional wildlife viewing across the reserve
Early morning and afternoon game drives give you the best chance to witness the Mara’s breathtaking wildlife in action
A scenic flight with views of Mount Kilimanjaro adds an unforgettable start and end to your safari experience

Important to know

Extra fees to be paid on site:

Extra transport supplement payable directly at the resort for the Kilifi, Watamu and Malindi pick-ups: Kilifi hotels USD 35 per person (minimum 2 people); Watamu and Malindi hotels USD 50 per person (minimum 2 people)

Know in advance:

Please make sure to fill in all the requests at check-out and carefully read the voucher after booking
Please contact the local partner 48 hours before the tour to confirm your pick-up location and time. You will find the contacts in the voucher after booking
Please ensure to fill in at check-out under the "Additional Comments" section, the "Name, Last Name and Date of Birth" for all participants (adults and children)
Maximum occupancy in the room: 3 people
Meals included: lunch and dinner on day 1; breakfast on day 2. Selected drinks are provided, premium drinks to be purchased on site
The duration of the tour may vary due to weather, traffic conditions, the location of your hotel, and the flight operation
Your safari starts at approximately 6 am on day 1 and ends on day 2 at approximately 2-3 pm, depending on the location of your hotel

Cancellation policy

Receive a 50% refund if you cancel up to 7 days before the experience begins., Receive a 25% refund if you cancel up to 48 hours before the experience begins.

What’s included

Flights: Mombasa - Masai Mara vice versa
Entrance fees
Drinks
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
1-night accommodation
All meals

Booking fee

Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.

Location

Meeting point:

Pickup from hotels in Mombasa. You will share your pickup location at checkout and confirm the exact pickup place and time directly with the local operator after booking.

Provider

Pollmans Tours & Safaris Ltd

What people say about this experience

At the moment there are no reviews for this experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. This safari is operated by Pollmans Tours and Safaris Ltd, an established Kenyan tour operator. You travel in a specialised 4x4 or 6x6 all-terrain vehicle with an experienced driver-guide throughout. Game drives follow routes within the Maasai Mara National Reserve, and Mara Engai Lodge is a well-known wilderness lodge on the Oloololo Escarpment. You're accompanied by professionals at every stage.

You'll skip one night at your beach hotel. Let your hotel reception know in advance that you'll be away for one night. There's no need to cancel your booking. Just inform them so your room is held. You'll be back at your hotel by mid-afternoon on day 2.

The price covers return flights between Mombasa and the Masai Mara, entrance fees, hotel pick-up and drop-off, one night at Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge, and all meals. Selected drinks are included with meals. Premium drinks can be purchased on site. Guests in Kilifi, Watamu or Malindi pay an additional transport supplement directly at the resort.

The Masai Mara offers year-round wildlife viewing. July to October brings the Great Migration, when huge herds cross the Mara River from the Serengeti. January to February brings green landscapes and newborn animals. The reserve is quieter from November to March.

No particular fitness level is needed. You spend most of the time seated in a comfortable all-terrain vehicle, and transfers are vehicle-based throughout. The only walking is within the lodge itself. Maximum room occupancy is 3 people. This safari suits all ages and activity levels.