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3-Day Masai Mara Safari

3-Day Masai Mara Safari

3 daysPrivate tourMid-range4.8(312 reviews)

Perfect for travellers short on time, this private safari takes you from Nairobi to the Masai Mara for two full days of game drives. Search for lions, leopards and cheetahs, and from July to October watch the wildebeest herds cross the Mara River.

3-Day Masai Mara Safari photo 1
3-Day Masai Mara Safari photo 2
3-Day Masai Mara Safari photo 3
3-Day Masai Mara Safari photo 4
From, per person sharing
$1,070
Route
Nairobi → Masai Mara National Reserve → Nairobi
Duration
3 days / 2 nights
Accommodation
Choose budget, mid-range or luxury lodges
Meals
Meals as listed in the itinerary
Customise & book

Day-by-day itinerary

What happens each day: travel times, morning, afternoon and evening plans, meals and where you sleep. Lodges shown are our recommended choice; you can switch to budget, mid-range or luxury at every stop when you book.

  1. Day1

    Nairobi to the Masai Mara

    Nairobi → Masai Mara · approx. 270 km, 5–6 hrs by road

    Morning

    Your driver-guide meets you at your Nairobi hotel or Jomo Kenyatta Airport at around 7:00am and briefs you over the day ahead. You leave the city and climb to the edge of the Great Rift Valley, stopping at a viewpoint over the valley floor and Mount Longonot, then descend through Maasai farmland via Narok, the last town before the reserve.

    Afternoon

    Arrive at your camp in time for a hot lunch and a short rest. At about 4:00pm you head out on your first game drive in the pop-up-roof Land Cruiser. Late afternoon is prime time for lions waking up and elephants moving to water, and your guide will explain how to read the bush.

    Evening

    Return to camp at sunset (park rules require vehicles off the roads by 6:30pm). Freshen up, then enjoy dinner and drinks around the campfire while the sounds of the Mara night begin.

    Activities
    Rift Valley viewpointAfternoon game drive
    Meals included
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    Ashnil Mara Camp
    Overnight
    Ashnil Mara Camp
    Mid-range Tented Camp
    Masai Mara National Reserve · Full board
    Recommended · change when booking
  2. Day2

    Full day in the Masai Mara

    Full day in the reserve · approx. 8–9 hrs of game viewing

    Morning

    An early start at 6:30am with coffee and a packed breakfast, so you are in the reserve during the golden first hours when predators are most active. Your guide searches the plains and riverine forest for lion prides, cheetahs and leopards, and from July to October heads towards the herds of the Great Migration.

    Afternoon

    A picnic lunch under an acacia tree, often with herds of zebra, topi and wildebeest in view. In the migration season you spend time at the Mara River crossing points, waiting patiently for the dramatic river crossings, with hippos and huge Nile crocodiles in the water below. Optional: a Maasai village visit on the way back.

    Evening

    Return to camp at dusk for a hot shower, sundowner drinks and dinner. Your guide will go through the day's sightings with you and plan tomorrow's early drive.

    Activities
    Full-day game driveMara River
    Meals included
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    Ashnil Mara Camp
    Overnight
    Ashnil Mara Camp
    Mid-range Tented Camp
    Masai Mara National Reserve · Full board
    Recommended · change when booking
  3. Day3

    Morning game drive & return

    Masai Mara → Nairobi · approx. 270 km, 5–6 hrs by road

    Morning

    Optional sunrise hot-air balloon flight (book as an add-on), followed by a champagne bush breakfast. Otherwise, set out for a last early game drive at 6:30am to catch any predators that were active overnight, then return to camp for a full breakfast and check out.

    Afternoon

    Drive back to Nairobi with a lunch stop en route, arriving in the city around 4:00–5:00pm. You are dropped at your hotel or at the airport for an evening flight (we recommend flights departing after 8:00pm).

    Evening

    End of services. Ask us about an extra night in Nairobi, including Giraffe Manor or the elephant orphanage the following morning.

    Activities
    Morning game drive
    Meals included
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    No overnight: end of safari

Included

  • Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
  • Professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • All park and conservancy entry fees
  • Airport arrival and departure transfers
  • Unlimited bottled drinking water in the vehicle
  • Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover
  • Morning and afternoon game drives
  • Full-day game drive with picnic lunch
  • Accommodation and meals as per itinerary

Not included

  • International flights and visas
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Alcoholic drinks unless stated
  • Optional activities

Make it yours

Customise & book this safari

Pick your lodges, add destinations and experiences, and see your total price instantly.

When & who

Adults (18+)
2
Children (0–17)
0

Reduced child rates apply

Meal plan

Applies to every lodge on this trip. All-inclusive lodges keep all meals and drinks included.

Choose where you sleep

Rates are per person per night, sharing a room. Solo travellers pay a 50% single supplement.

Nights 1–2 · Masai Mara National Reserve (2 nights)

Add more places to visit

Extend your safari with another park or a beach stay. Each added stop includes vehicle, guide, park fees and transfers, plus your choice of lodge.

Activities & experiences

Optional extras. Prices are per person unless marked per booking.

Adventure

Culture

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Experience

Special requests

Dietary needs, celebrations, room configuration, children's ages, flight details. Anything we should know.

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