Nairobi National Park vs Maasai Mara
The Maasai Mara is Kenya's big multi-day safari. Nairobi National Park is the safari you can do in a morning, minutes from your hotel. Most visitors to Kenya should do both: Nairobi on the arrival or departure day, the Mara for two or three nights.
| Nairobi National Park | Maasai Mara National Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from Nairobi CBD | About 8 km to Main Gate | About 270 km, 5 to 6 hours by road, or a short flight from Wilson |
| Time you need | Half-day, 4 to 6 hours | 2 to 3 nights is typical |
| Managed by | Kenya Wildlife Service | Narok County Government |
| Entry fee, non-resident adult | $80 per day | $100 per day January to June, $200 July to December (2026) |
| Big cats | Lion, leopard, cheetah | Lion, leopard, cheetah, in larger numbers |
| Rhino | Black rhino sanctuary, a key reason to visit | Present but rarely seen |
| Elephants | None wild. Orphans at Sheldrick nearby | Yes |
| Wildebeest migration | No | Usually July to October |
| Unique to it | Wildlife with a city skyline | Vast plains and the migration river crossings |
| Tour cost with us | From KSh 4,500 or $55 per person, or $300 per private group (your group only, park fees paid separately) | Private Mara safari, quoted for your dates |
Which to choose
Only have a day or a layover in Nairobi? Nairobi National Park. It is the only way to see lions and rhinos without leaving the city. Have three days or more and want the migration and elephants? Add the Mara, and still use a free morning in Nairobi for the park, Sheldrick and the Giraffe Centre on our weekday 3-in-1 tour.
Flying in through JKIA? A layover safari through East Gate turns a long connection into a game drive.
Quick answers
Is Nairobi National Park worth it if I am going to the Maasai Mara?
Yes. It is a different experience: rhinos, giraffes and lions with a city skyline, a few minutes from your hotel, on a half-day. It fits an arrival or departure day that the Mara cannot.
How much is the Maasai Mara entry fee compared with Nairobi National Park?
A non-resident adult pays 80 US dollars a day for Nairobi National Park. The Maasai Mara charges non-resident adults 100 US dollars a day from January to June and 200 US dollars from July to December in 2026.
Can I see elephants in Nairobi National Park?
Not wild ones. The Mara has wild elephants. In Nairobi, see orphaned elephants at the Sheldrick nursery.
Related pages
Book this safari
Send the date, the group, and the pickup. We confirm availability on WhatsApp or email, with the tour price and the park fees to budget. See our deposit and cancellation policy.