Masai Mara to Serengeti: Route, Flights and Border Crossing Guide

The animals ignore the border, but people do not. Customs, immigration and park regulations differ between Kenya and Tanzania, which shapes how you move between the Mara and the Serengeti.

This guide explains the realistic options. It belongs to a set that starts with the combination guide. Do not rely on any single description for schedules: check current services with your operator.

This guide is part of our Uganda road routes and driving guide. When you are ready to plan, see our Uganda safari packages or the Ameera Africa Safaris Uganda tours homepage.

Flying Between the Parks

Flying is the usual solution. Depending on the season and what is operating, a traveller leaves a Mara airstrip, lands at a gateway airport where immigration is completed, and then continues on a scheduled or charter flight to a Serengeti airstrip. Schedules change by season, and some connections require an overnight stay. Check current schedules with your operator and allow generous buffers. The flying safaris guide explains how light aircraft work.

Road and Border Options

It is possible to cross by road at an official border post. This is a long journey on roads of variable quality, usually involving a change of vehicle and guide at the border, and it takes much of a day. Few travellers choose it unless budget or a love of road travel drives the decision. Road trips pass through settlements and farmland rather than the ecosystem itself. Your operator can advise which crossings are in good order and which require extra time. See Kenya and Tanzania route and border guide for the general picture.

Documents You Will Need

Prepare the following before travel:

• A passport valid for the period required by each country and with enough blank pages.
• The East Africa Tourist Visa, if you will use it for Kenya (it does not cover Tanzania), and a separate Tanzanian visa.
• Proof of yellow fever vaccination where required; check official health advice.
• Copies of bookings and insurance.

Read the East Africa visa guide and the Tanzania visa guide. Fees change, so check the official sites before travel.

Transfers and Handovers

When you change country, your guide and vehicle usually change too, because safari vehicles are registered for one country. A good operator arranges a handover so that you are met on arrival with a name board. Keep contact numbers handy and reconfirm the pick-up details the day before. If your flight is delayed, your operator should reschedule the transfer. Smaller aircraft may carry limited baggage, so check your allowance against the Kenya rules and Tanzania rules.

Choosing Your Direction

Many travellers start in Kenya and end in Tanzania, since the Mara is easy to reach from Nairobi and the Serengeti connects well to Arusha for departure. Others reverse the order depending on the herds or the flight pattern. Ask your operator which direction offers better connections for your dates. The best time page explains how the herds' positions influence the choice.

Keeping the Transfer Day Comfortable

Treat the border day as part of the journey rather than a chore. Eat a proper breakfast, carry water and snacks, keep your passport and printed visa approvals in an accessible pocket, and wear comfortable clothes for hours of sitting. Aircraft seats are small and cabins can be warm, so wear layers you can remove. Plan your photography for the flight itself: the Mara River, the Rift Valley and the open plains look remarkable from above, and window seats are worth requesting. If you are travelling with a large group, ask whether a single aircraft or several will be used.

Planning Tips

Build slack into the transfer day, avoid tight international connections on the same day and do not schedule a balloon flight for the morning after a border-crossing day. Carry some small notes of local currency for tips and incidentals, as described in the money guide. See also the practical guide and FAQs.

Planning a Uganda safari? Send us your dates and we will build the route, permits and transport around what you want to see.

Related Tours, Guides and Resources

• Ameera Africa Safaris homepage: Uganda safaris, tours and holidays
• Uganda safari packages
• Uganda travel guide
• How to book a Uganda safari
• Plan your safari with our team