the short answer
Masai Mara packages from Hyderabad start at ₹2,95,000 per person (twin sharing) for a private 10-day, 9-night Kenya safari, land arrangements only. Add roughly ₹75,000–₹1,00,000 for return economy flights to Nairobi, plus your eTA, insurance and the new 2% TCS, and most couples land between ₹3.8 and ₹4.1 lakh each. Travel is one connection through the Gulf, about 12–16 hours door to door.
Most of the people who write to us from Hyderabad have already watched the wildebeest videos. What they don't have is the boring, useful stuff: which flight, how many days, what the paperwork looks like, and what the final number really is. This guide is that stuff, written the way we'd explain it across a table.
the journey
Getting from Hyderabad to the Masai Mara
There is no need to fly via Delhi or Mumbai first. From Rajiv Gandhi International Airport you fly to Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta airport with one stop in the Gulf. Emirates via Dubai, for instance, lists a total journey of roughly twelve and a quarter hours, and Qatar Airways, Etihad and Oman Air offer similar connections. Schedules shift with the season, so treat any timing here as a guide and check it when you buy.
Two Hyderabad-specific tips. First, prefer a Gulf connection over an African one: it keeps your paperwork simple (more on yellow fever below). Second, remember that Kenya runs two and a half hours behind IST, so a very early departure from Shamshabad puts you in Nairobi by mid-afternoon, with time for the Giraffe Centre or just a long sleep.
From Nairobi to the Mara you have a choice: a 5–6 hour drive, or a short bush flight of around 45 minutes. On our 10-day route the road takes you down the Rift Valley through Naivasha and Nakuru, and the flight is saved for the trip back, so no day is wasted on the road.
packages & prices
Masai Mara tour packages from Hyderabad, compared
Every option below is private: your own 4x4, your own naturalist, and camps of twenty tents or fewer. Prices are in INR, per person on twin sharing unless stated, and cover everything on the ground.
| Package | From | What changes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Classic Ten | ₹2,95,000 | Nairobi, Naivasha, Nakuru and 4 nights in the Mara | First safari, couples, families |
| The Grand Ten | ₹4,45,000 | Adds dawn balloon, 2 conservancy nights, star-bed night | Anniversaries, honeymoons |
| The Villa Ten | ₹11,25,000 for a family of four | Exclusive villa, private chef, nanny, own vehicle | Multi-generation families |
| Shorter Mara stay | On request | 6–7 days, Mara-focused, fly-in and fly-out | Tight leave, repeat visitors |
Included
- Private 4x4 and naturalist on the whole route
- All meals, park and conservancy fees
- Mara to Nairobi flight and all Nairobi transfers
- One travel designer, reachable in IST hours
Not included
- Hyderabad to Nairobi flights (we help you choose)
- Kenya eTA fee and travel insurance
- Tips for camp staff and guides
- Spa treatments and premium cellar drinks
the real number
A realistic total budget, per person
Here is how a Classic Ten works out for one traveller flying from Hyderabad. The flight figure is a recent economy fare range, so it will move with your dates.
The Grand Ten follows the same maths from a higher base. Keep a little aside for tips and souvenirs; Kenya deals in shillings and US dollars, not rupees, so plan your forex before you leave.
timing
The best time to visit the Mara from Hyderabad
Kenya's seasons are not Hyderabad's, and that matters. The classic summer school break here falls in April and May, which is exactly when Kenya's long rains arrive. Families who can move to late June or later trade mud for green grass and quiet roads.
paperwork
Kenya eTA, TCS and everything else
- Kenya eTA. Indian passport holders need an approved eTA before flying, for every traveller including infants. Apply at etakenya.go.ke about two weeks ahead; the fee is roughly US$30–35. Your passport must be valid six months beyond arrival.
- TCS at 2%. Since 1 April 2026, tax collected at source on overseas tour packages is a flat 2%, replacing the old 5% and 20% slabs. It is adjusted against your income tax when you file, so keep your PAN handy at booking.
- Yellow fever. Needed only if you arrive from, or transit through, a risk country. India and the Gulf hubs are not; an Ethiopian connection can be. Ask your doctor about malaria precautions too.
- Insurance. Medical cover with evacuation is essential for the bush. We tell you exactly what it should include.
Rules change, so verify them on the official portals close to departure. Our documents pack walks you through each step in plain English.
on the ground
Food, health and what to pack
Hyderabad travellers often worry about food first, and it is easier than expected. Camp kitchens routinely cook vegetarian, Jain and halal meals when told in advance, and Nairobi has excellent Indian restaurants for the first and last evenings. Say so at booking and we pass it to every kitchen on the route.
Pack neutral colours (khaki, olive, sand), a warm layer for dawn drives, a wide-brimmed hat, binoculars and a soft duffel bag, since bush flights have tight weight limits. Kenya uses UK-style three-pin plugs, so bring an adaptor, and skip single-use plastic bags, which Kenya restricts.
the route
The 10-day Kenya route, at a glance
This is the itinerary behind the Classic Ten. Every stop flexes around your family, and the full day-by-day story lives on our 10-day Masai Mara tour guide.
how to book
Booking your Masai Mara trip in four steps
Pick your dates
Choose a season from the guide above. We hold provisional space for 72 hours at no cost.
Shape the itinerary
Your designer drafts the route, camps and inclusions in INR, then edits it with you until it feels like yours.
Book flights and eTA
Once land dates are firm, buy your Hyderabad–Nairobi tickets and apply for the eTA. We review the application before you submit.
Fly with a full pack
Vouchers, packing list, insurance guidance and transfer details arrive before you leave. You can reschedule up to 45 days before travel.
before you ask