3-Day Masai Mara Safari from Nairobi: Big 5 Wildlife Tour

Three days hunting the Big Five across Kenya's finest savannah

A 3-day group safari from Nairobi to Masai Mara National Park in a 4x4 jeep with a professional guide and driver, two nights' accommodation and daily game drives. You depart Nairobi at 8am on day one, stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint en route, and arrive in time for an afternoon game drive. Day two is a full day in the park searching for the Big Five, cheetah, hyena, jackals, hippo, crocodile and dozens of other species across the savannah. On day three you return to Nairobi by mid-afternoon, with an optional Masai village visit before departure. The guide speaks English and leads all drives.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve

• Meet at Nairobi city center
• Drive to Great Rift Valley viewpoint
• Continue drive to Masai Mara
• Arrive and check in at accommodation
• Rest and have lunch
• Afternoon game drive
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 2: Full day game drive in Masai Mara

• Breakfast at 6:00 am
• Depart for full day game drive
• Explore Mara savannah and wildlife
• Return to camp for dinner
• Overnight at camp

Day 3: Masai Mara to Nairobi

• Early breakfast
• Optional Masai village visit
• Check out and drive to Nairobi
• Lunch in Narok town
• Arrive and drop off at Nairobi hotel

The experience

The drive from Nairobi to Masai Mara takes most of the first day, but the route itself is part of the safari. You stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint to see the effects of volcanic activity that shaped the landscape, then continue into the park in time for lunch and a 4pm game drive before dark. Overnight stays are at Lenchada Camp, a budget accommodation inside or near the reserve.

Day two is the full-day game drive: breakfast at 6am, then eight hours crossing the Mara savannah in search of wildlife. The park is known for sightings of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino) along with cheetah, serval, hyena, bat-eared foxes, jackals, hippo, crocodile, baboons, warthog, topi, eland, Thompson's and Grant's gazelle, impalas, water bucks and reed-buck. The rolling plains and famous acacia trees frame the scenery. What you see depends on the season and the day's movements, but Masai Mara is considered Kenya's and Africa's finest wildlife destination.

The return journey on day three leaves after an early breakfast. An optional Masai village visit is available before you depart the park, then the drive back passes through Narok town for lunch. You arrive in Nairobi around 3:30pm and are dropped at your hotel. The guide and driver handle all logistics. You bring binoculars and patience.

What’s included

• Professional guide and driver fluent in English.
• transport in a 4x4 jeep.
• two nights' accommodation at Lenchada Camp.
• all game drives on days one and two.
• stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint en route to the park.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00Last departure this season: 31 Dec

Book up to1d before

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

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go 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.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by JungleRoam Safaris (Kenya)

Is this one for you?Book this 3-day tour if you want to see the Big Five and Africa's finest wildlife without arranging transport or accommodation yourself. The group format and budget pricing suit travelers who are flexible on comfort and happy to share the jeep with other visitors.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

What animals am I most likely to see on a Masai Mara safari?

Masai Mara is known for sightings of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino) plus cheetah, hyena, jackals, hippo, crocodile, zebra, giraffes, gazelles and dozens of other species. What you encounter depends on the season and where the herds are on the day of your drive.

How much time do I spend actually game driving each day?

Day one includes a 4pm game drive lasting until 6pm after you arrive and check in. Day two is a full day of game driving: breakfast at 6am, then eight hours in the jeep crossing the savannah. Day three has no game drive. You depart after breakfast and drive back to Nairobi.

What is included in the 3-day safari price?

The tour includes transport in a 4x4 jeep, a professional guide and driver, two nights' accommodation at Lenchada Camp, and all game drives. Meals, drinks and the optional Masai village visit are separate.

Is the Masai village visit included, or do I pay extra?

The Masai village visit is optional and arranged on the morning of day three before you leave the park. It is not included in the base price and costs extra if you choose it.

When does the safari depart Nairobi, and what time do I arrive back?

You are picked up in Nairobi city center at 8am on day one. On day three you arrive back in Nairobi around 3:30pm and are dropped at your hotel.