3-Day Maasai Mara Safari from Nairobi: Big Five Game Drives

Sunrise hunts for big cats, a Maasai village visit, and the Mara River's hippos and crocodiles in one three-day loop

This 3-day Maasai Mara safari departs Nairobi and takes you through the Great Rift Valley to the reserve's core wildlife zones, where you join sunrise and afternoon game drives hunting lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and vast herds of zebra and wildebeest. You stay at a camp in the reserve, eat freshly prepared meals, visit an authentic Maasai village on day two, and spend day three tracking hippos and crocodiles at the Mara River before returning to Nairobi. An experienced guide leads all drives. The itinerary includes a sunset sundowner experience in the bush and a campfire storytelling evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Maasai Mara Safari Start

• Depart early from Nairobi
• Drive through Great Rift Valley
• Photo stop en route
• Arrive at Mara camp for lunch
• Afternoon game drive spotting wildlife
• Sunset sundowner experience
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 2: Big Cats and Maasai Culture

• Sunrise game drive for big cats
• Bush breakfast in savannah
• Visit authentic Maasai village
• Lunch and relax at camp
• Afternoon unlimited game drive
• Evening campfire storytelling

Day 3: Mara River and Return to Nairobi

• Early morning game drive to Mara River
• Spot hippos, crocodiles, wildebeest
• Return for breakfast and check-out
• Drive back to Nairobi with lunch stop
• Drop-off at hotel or airport

The experience

Maasai Mara National Reserve sits at the heart of this three-day loop. You leave Nairobi in the early morning, cross the scenic Great Rift Valley with a photo stop, and arrive at your camp by lunch. The afternoon brings your first game drive, where you spot elephants, giraffes and antelopes across the open plains. That evening you watch the sunset from the bush with a sundowner drink before returning to camp for dinner.

Day two splits between wildlife and culture. A sunrise game drive focuses on big cats (lions, cheetahs and leopards) followed by bush breakfast in the savannah. Mid-morning you visit an authentic Maasai village to connect with the people who have lived alongside this landscape for centuries. After lunch and rest at camp, an unlimited afternoon game drive takes you back into prime wildlife areas. The day ends with campfire storytelling under the stars.

Day three heads toward the Mara River, where hippos, crocodiles and, during migration season, wildebeest crossings dominate the water. You return for breakfast and checkout, then drive back to Nairobi with a lunch stop along the way. Your guide speaks English, French or German depending on your option choice, and pickup from your Nairobi hotel is included.

What’s included

• All three days include experienced guide services.
• accommodation at a camp or lodge in the reserve.
• freshly prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• sunrise and afternoon game drives in prime wildlife areas.
• a sunset sundowner experience on day one.
• bush breakfast on day two.
• campfire storytelling on day two.
• a visit to an authentic Maasai village.
• transport from your Nairobi hotel on day one and return transport to Nairobi on day three with a lunch stop.

Options for this experience

2 options

Big Five Game Drive Safari of 3 Days in the Maasai Mara, Departing from NairobiGuide in English, French or German · Available from 30 Jan 2027Three-day camp stay with breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a jeep. Pickup is included.

Peak Season SafariGuide in English, French or German · 46 departure times: the first at 00:00, the last at 22:30Group joining camp lasting 3 days, with breakfast, lunch and dinner, a scenic Rift Valley route and a jeep. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 16 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Duma Tours

Is this one for you?Book the standard option for a shared-group experience with other travelers, or choose Peak Season Safari if you want to travel during the migration months when wildebeest crossings at the Mara River are most active. The three-day structure fits the reserve's best game-viewing windows into a single trip without the time commitment of longer safaris.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): 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?

Maasai Mara is home to lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest. The reserve's prime game-viewing areas concentrate these herds, and your sunrise and afternoon drives target the big cats specifically. During migration season, you may witness wildebeest crossings at the Mara River.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Nairobi to the reserve?

No. Pickup from your Nairobi hotel is included, and the drive takes you through the Great Rift Valley with a photo stop before you reach the camp. The return journey on day three also includes transport back to Nairobi with a lunch stop.

What happens at the Maasai village visit?

On day two, you visit an authentic Maasai village to connect with local culture and traditions. This stop is built into the mid-morning schedule after your sunrise game drive and bush breakfast.

Where do I sleep during the safari?

You stay at a camp or lodge inside Maasai Mara National Reserve for two nights. Meals are freshly prepared at the camp, and you have time to rest between game drives.