3-day Maasai Mara private tour from Nairobi: Big Five safari

Three days hunting the Big Five across Maasai Mara's patchy grasslands and acacia groves

This 3-day private safari tour departs Nairobi and takes you into Maasai Mara National Reserve to track the Big Five and resident wildlife across grassland savanna and riverine forest. The itinerary includes pickup from your hotel or airport, three nights at Zebra Plains Camp, multiple game drives timed to animal activity, and the option to visit a traditional Masai community to learn about their culture. A live guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language travels with you throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Maasai Mara Safari

• Pick up from Nairobi at 7:00 AM
• Stop at Great Rift Valley viewpoint
• Arrive Maasai Mara for lunch
• Afternoon game drive 4:00-6:30 PM
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 2: Full Day Maasai Mara Exploration

• Morning game drive or balloon safari
• Visit traditional Masai communities
• Afternoon game drive options
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 3: Maasai Mara to Nairobi Return

• Sunrise morning game drive
• Breakfast at safari lodge
• Pack and check out by 10:00 AM
• Travel back to Nairobi
• Transfer to hotel or airport

The experience

The tour starts with a 7am pickup from your Nairobi hotel or airport. You drive south toward the Great Rift Valley, stopping at the Escarpment viewpoint before heading deeper into the Maasai Mara. Lunch happens at the camp, then you're out on your first game drive from 4pm to 6:30pm, scanning the grassland and acacia-dotted terrain for the Big Five (rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant) along with zebra, hippo, wildebeest and hyenas. Overnight at Zebra Plains Camp.

Day two is entirely yours to shape. The guide adjusts the schedule based on where the wildlife is moving and the weather: you might do a full-day game drive, split it into morning and afternoon sessions, or add an early-morning hot air balloon safari over the plains (arranged separately at extra cost). If you want to step outside the reserve, a visit to a nearby Masai community offers a direct look at their daily life and traditions. You stay another night at the camp.

On the final morning, you're out before sunrise for a game drive, returning to the lodge by 9am for breakfast. After packing, you leave by 10am at the latest and drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the late afternoon. The tour ends with a transfer to your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward flight.

What’s included

• Hotel or airport pickup in Nairobi.
• three nights at Zebra Plains Camp.
• game drives on days one, two and three.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• return transfer to your Nairobi hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for back problems

Operated by Native Afrika Voyages

Is this one for you?This tour picks you up from your Nairobi hotel or airport, so you don't need to arrange a car or navigate to the reserve on your own. The three-day length gives you a full day in the Mara to follow the wildlife and adjust your schedule based on where the animals are moving, rather than rushing through set stops.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals will I actually see on a Maasai Mara safari?

The Big Five (rhino, lion, leopard, buffalo and elephant) live in the reserve year-round, so you have a genuine chance to spot all of them. Zebra, hippo, wildebeest and hyenas are also common. What you see depends on the season, the migration patterns and where the guide locates active herds on each drive.

How much time do I spend on game drives each day?

Day one includes an afternoon drive from 4pm to 6:30pm. Day two is flexible: you can do a full-day drive, split it into morning and afternoon sessions, or mix in other activities like a balloon safari or a community visit. Day three starts before sunrise and returns by 9am.

What is the Great Rift Valley Escarpment stop like?

The Escarpment is a viewpoint you visit on the drive south from Nairobi, before entering the Maasai Mara. It gives you a first look at the landscape and a break before the longer stretch into the reserve.

Can I visit a Masai community, and what does that involve?

Yes, a visit to a nearby traditional Masai community is available on day two. The guide can arrange it as part of your flexible schedule that day, giving you a direct glimpse into their culture and daily life.

Where do I stay, and what is the accommodation like?

You stay at Zebra Plains Camp for all three nights. The camp is your base for game drives and your overnight rest between days in the reserve.

Do I need my own car or driver to do this tour?

No. Pickup is included from your Nairobi hotel or airport at 7am on day one, and the guide drives you throughout the three days. A transfer back to Nairobi or the airport is included on day three.