An Eid Al Etihad safari in Kenya is a five-day private journey from Dubai for the UAE National Day long weekend, 2 to 6 December 2026. Oloi Shorua offers a Premium safari by road and two Luxury fly-in safaris, each with one night in Nairobi, one in the Rift Valley and two in the Masai Mara, from USD 2,046 (AED 7,514) per person for two travelling. Nairobi is about five hours from Dubai.
- Holiday: Eid Al Etihad, the UAE National Day, expected on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026
- Long weekend: take Friday 4 December as leave and you have five days, 2 to 6 December
- Length: 5 days, 4 nights, Nairobi to Nairobi
- Routes: by road with a private vehicle, or by light aircraft into the Masai Mara
- From: USD 2,046 per person (two travelling); less per person for groups of up to seven
- Travel window: rates valid 1 November to 15 December 2026
When is Eid Al Etihad 2026?
Eid Al Etihad marks the founding of the United Arab Emirates on 2 December 1971, and is celebrated each year as UAE National Day. In 2026 the public holiday is expected on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December. The government confirms the dates closer to the time, so we hold your safari against the expected dates and adjust if the announcement differs.
With one day of leave on Friday 4 December, the holiday becomes a five-day break running into the weekend. That is exactly the length of the journeys below: fly out on the morning of 2 December, fly home on the evening of 6 December.
Why Kenya for the National Day weekend
Early December is one of the quieter moments of the Kenyan year. The short rains are easing, the plains are green, and the Masai Mara’s resident lion, cheetah and elephant are in fine form, without the vehicle numbers of the migration months. Afternoon showers are possible and pass quickly.
Kenya is also the easiest safari country to reach from the UAE. Direct flights from Dubai to Nairobi take about five hours, which means a long weekend becomes a real safari rather than a hurried one. For longer journeys, see our Kenya safaris from Dubai or the full range of African safaris from Dubai. Prefer the beach? See our Eid Al Etihad Zanzibar holiday.
Three ways to spend the long weekend
| Premium | Luxury: Governors’ Camp | Luxury: Karen Blixen Camp | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting to the Mara | By road, five to six hours each way | Light aircraft from Lake Naivasha | Light aircraft from Lake Naivasha |
| Nairobi | Tamarind Tree Hotel | Radisson Blu | Radisson Blu |
| Rift Valley | Sarova Lion Hills, Lake Nakuru | Loldia House, Lake Naivasha | Loldia House, Lake Naivasha |
| Masai Mara | Zebra Plains Mara Camp | Governors’ Camp | Karen Blixen Camp, Mara North Conservancy |
| Game drives | Private vehicle throughout | Shared with camp guests | Shared with camp guests |
| From, per person | USD 2,046 | USD 3,580 | USD 3,171 |
Premium Safari: By Road, at an Easy Pace
Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and two nights in the Masai Mara, travelling privately throughout in your own safari vehicle with an English-speaking driver guide.
- Day 1, Nairobi. Met at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and driven to the Tamarind Tree Hotel. Dinner is included: the celebrated Carnivore restaurant next door, or the buffet at Tamambo, the hotel’s own restaurant.
- Day 2, Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru. A boat ride among the hippo on Lake Naivasha, then on to Lake Nakuru National Park, home to black and white rhino. Lunch and an afternoon game drive; overnight at Sarova Lion Hills Game Lodge, full board.
- Day 3, Masai Mara. Drive across the Rift Valley to Zebra Plains Mara Camp in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Lunch, then an afternoon game drive.
- Day 4, Masai Mara. Morning and afternoon game drives, or a full day on the plains with a picnic lunch.
- Day 5, Nairobi. Drive back to Nairobi for lunch and a visit to the Giraffe Centre, then to the airport for an evening flight home.
Price, Premium Safari
| Guests travelling | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD per person | 2,046 | 1,821 | 1,714 | 1,654 | 1,601 | 1,582 |
| AED per person | 7,514 | 6,688 | 6,295 | 6,075 | 5,880 | 5,810 |
Per person sharing a double or twin room. Single supplement USD 205 (AED 753). Valid for travel from 1 November to 15 December 2026, subject to availability.
Luxury Safari: Governors’ Camp on the Mara River
A night at Loldia House on Lake Naivasha, then a flight into the Masai Mara for two nights at Governors’ Camp on the Mara River.
- Day 1, Nairobi. Met on arrival and driven to the Radisson Blu, with dinner included.
- Day 2, Lake Naivasha. Private drive into the Rift Valley to Loldia House, a 1920s ranch house on the western shore of the lake. Lunch, then an afternoon boat ride. Full board.
- Day 3, Masai Mara. Late-morning flight from the Loldia airstrip to the Mara (about an hour). Governors’ Camp sits in the riverine forest on the Mara River inside the reserve. Lunch and an afternoon game drive.
- Day 4, Masai Mara. Morning and afternoon game drives, or a full day out with a picnic lunch.
- Day 5, Nairobi. Late-morning flight to Wilson Airport, lunch, the Giraffe Centre, and a transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Price, Luxury Safari at Governors’ Camp
| Guests travelling | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD per person | 3,580 | 3,446 | 3,378 | 3,341 | 3,317 | 3,293 |
| AED per person | 13,148 | 12,656 | 12,406 | 12,270 | 12,182 | 12,094 |
Per person sharing a double or twin room. Single supplement USD 137 (AED 504). Valid for travel from 1 November to 15 December 2026, subject to availability.
Luxury Safari: Karen Blixen Camp in a Private Conservancy
Loldia House on Lake Naivasha, then two nights at Karen Blixen Camp on the Mara River in the Mara North Conservancy, which is closed to day visitors and keeps vehicle numbers low.
- Day 1, Nairobi. Met on arrival and driven to the Radisson Blu, with dinner included.
- Day 2, Lake Naivasha. Private drive into the Rift Valley to Loldia House, a 1920s ranch house on the western shore of the lake. Lunch, then an afternoon boat ride. Full board.
- Day 3, Mara North Conservancy. Late-morning flight from Loldia into the Mara. Karen Blixen Camp’s tents line a bend of the Mara River. Lunch and an afternoon game drive.
- Day 4, Mara North Conservancy. Morning and afternoon game drives, or a full day with a picnic lunch. Conservancy rules let the afternoon drive return a little after sundown.
- Day 5, Nairobi. Late-morning flight to Wilson Airport, lunch, the Giraffe Centre, and a transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Price, Luxury Safari at Karen Blixen Camp
| Guests travelling | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD per person | 3,171 | 3,036 | 2,969 | 2,932 | 2,908 | 2,889 |
| AED per person | 11,646 | 11,150 | 10,904 | 10,768 | 10,680 | 10,610 |
Per person sharing a double or twin room. Single supplement USD 393 (AED 1,444). Valid for travel from 1 November to 15 December 2026, subject to availability.
What is included
- Meet and greet on arrival and all airport transfers in Nairobi
- Accommodation as listed, with dinner on the first night and full board on safari
- Park and conservancy fees, and game drives as described
- Premium: your own private safari vehicle and English-speaking driver guide throughout
- Luxury: private vehicle to Lake Naivasha, light aircraft flights into the Mara and back to Nairobi including taxes, and shared game drives with the camp’s guides
- Lake Naivasha boat ride and the Giraffe Centre visit
Not included: international flights, Kenya’s electronic travel authorisation (eTA), drinks, laundry, tips and travel insurance.
Travellers who value privacy can ask us for a private vehicle in the Mara on the Luxury safaris. On the light aircraft, luggage is limited to 15 kg per person in soft-sided bags.
Health and entry from the UAE
- Yellow fever: Kenya asks for a certificate only from travellers arriving from, or transiting more than 12 hours through, a country with yellow fever risk. Flying direct from the UAE, it is not required on entry, but vaccination is recommended for the Rift Valley and the Masai Mara.
- Onward travel: India and several other countries require a yellow fever certificate from travellers arriving from Kenya.
- Timing: the certificate is valid from 10 days after the first dose, so book your vaccination early. See our guides to yellow fever entry requirements and yellow fever vaccination.
- Malaria: there is a risk in the Masai Mara and a lower one at the Rift Valley lakes. Anti-malarial tablets are recommended; see a travel clinic four to six weeks before you travel.
- eTA: most nationalities apply online for Kenya’s electronic travel authorisation before departure. See our Kenya visa and eTA guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is UAE National Day 2026?
Eid Al Etihad, the UAE National Day holiday, is expected on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026. Taking Friday 4 December as leave gives a five-day break from 2 to 6 December.
Can I do a Kenya safari over the Eid Al Etihad long weekend?
Yes. Nairobi is about five hours from Dubai, and Oloi Shorua’s five-day, four-night itineraries fit the 2 to 6 December long weekend, with one night in Nairobi, one in the Rift Valley and two in the Masai Mara.
How much does a National Day safari in Kenya cost?
From USD 2,046 (AED 7,514) per person for two travelling on the Premium safari by road, and from USD 3,171 per person for the Luxury fly-in safaris. Prices fall per person for groups of up to seven.
Is December a good time for a safari in the Masai Mara?
Early December is quiet and green. The short rains are easing, resident wildlife is excellent, and there are fewer vehicles than in the migration months.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination for Kenya from Dubai?
A certificate is not required on entry when flying direct from the UAE, but vaccination is recommended for the Mara and Rift Valley, and some countries, including India, require it from travellers arriving from Kenya. It is valid 10 days after the first dose.
Can the safari be private?
The Premium safari is private throughout. On the Luxury safaris, game drives in the Mara are shared, and we can arrange a private vehicle on request.
Do I need to take Friday off for the five-day trip?
Yes. The Eid Al Etihad holiday is expected on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026. Take Friday 4 December as annual leave and, with the weekend, you have the full five days, 2 to 6 December, that these itineraries need.
Can I add an extra night in the Masai Mara?
Yes, if you fly from Dubai on the evening of Tuesday 1 December. You spend that night in Nairobi and set off on safari on Wednesday morning, which frees a third night in the Masai Mara before you fly home on Sunday 6 December. Ask us for the price of the extra night.
Book your Eid Al Etihad safari
The National Day weekend is one of the busiest times for Gulf travellers, and Mara camps fill early. A 60% deposit secures your safari. Contact us and we will confirm availability for your dates and adjust any journey to suit you: an extra night, a private vehicle or a different camp.
Prices quoted in US dollars, with dirhams shown at 3.6725. Holiday dates are expected dates until confirmed by the UAE government. Last updated October 2026.