3-day Maasai Mara safari from Mombasa: Big Five game drive

Step into dawn’s wild call with flights and guides ready at your side

A 3-day safari from Mombasa to Maasai Mara National Reserve with professional guides, private jeep transport, return flights, lodge stays and all meals. You fly from Mombasa to the reserve on day one, spend a full day on game drives searching for the Big Five and the great migration, then fly back to Mombasa on day three. Complimentary airport pickup in Mombasa is included. Departures run morning or afternoon depending on availability.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Maasai Mara and game drive

• Pick up from Mombasa hotel or airport
• Fly from Mombasa to Maasai Mara
• Game drive to lodge in Maasai Mara
• Evening game drive in Maasai Mara
• Overnight at AA lodge

Day 2: Full day game drive in Maasai Mara

• Breakfast at lodge
• Full day game drive in Maasai Mara
• Picnic lunch in the reserve
• Optional Maasai village visit
• Optional balloon safari early morning
• Dinner and overnight at AA lodge

Day 3: Return from Maasai Mara to Mombasa

• Early breakfast and check out
• Transfer to Maasai Mara airport
• Fly back to Mombasa airport
• Transfer to hotel or port in Mombasa

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Mombasa hotel, airport or cruise port at 6am, then heads to Mombasa airport for a direct flight to Maasai Mara. A jeep meets you on arrival for an evening game drive en route to AA Lodge, where you spend the first night. Day two is the full reserve: you leave early for game drives in search of the Big Five (lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants and rhinos) with a picnic lunch served inside the reserve at the banks of the Mara river. The landscape itself is the draw here. The Mara sits on some of the most open savanna in East Africa, and the migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra from Tanzania's Serengeti passes through each year, followed by the predators that hunt them. You return to AA Lodge for the second night.

On day three, breakfast comes early. After checkout, you're driven to Maasai Mara airport to catch the return flight to Mombasa, where a car waits to drop you at your hotel or back to the cruise port. Professional guides lead all game drives and handle the commentary in English throughout. Two optional add-ons are available: a Maasai village cultural visit for USD 20 per person, or a hot air balloon safari at sunrise for USD 380 per person, which can be arranged on day two before the regular program resumes.

What’s included

• Accommodation at AA Lodge for two nights.
• private jeep transport throughout.
• return flights from Mombasa to Maasai Mara.
• all meals during the safari.
• complimentary airport pickup from Mombasa airport or hotel.
• all park fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (15 to 85 years) · Child (3 to 14 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Perfect Safaris

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you follow the commentary on wildlife and landscape directly. The full day two dedicated to game drives is what packs the Big Five search into three calendar days: shorter trips to the Mara often spend less time in the reserve itself.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 14 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What wildlife will I see on the game drives in Maasai Mara?

The reserve is home to the Big Five (lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants and rhinos) plus zebra, wildebeest, giraffes, hyenas, jackals and numerous bird species. During the great migration season, millions of wildebeest and zebra move through the reserve from Tanzania in search of water and pasture, drawing predators like cheetahs and vultures in their wake.

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

Day one includes an evening game drive after arrival. Day two is a full day of game drives with a picnic lunch served in the reserve at the Mara river banks. Day three is checkout and transfer to the airport, so the core safari experience spans one and a half days of driving.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

The package includes all accommodation at AA Lodge, private jeep transport, flights between Mombasa and Maasai Mara, all meals, airport transfers and complimentary pickup from Mombasa airport or hotel. A Maasai village cultural tour costs USD 20 per person, and a hot air balloon safari costs USD 380 per person. Both are optional and arranged separately.

Do I need to arrange my own flights to Mombasa, or are international flights included?

International flights to Mombasa are not included. The package covers the domestic flights between Mombasa and Maasai Mara only. Complimentary airport pickup is provided when you arrive in Mombasa on day one.