3-Day Masai Mara Safari from Nairobi: Big Five and Migration
Two full days hunting the Big Five across the Mara's open plains
A 3-day safari from Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve with hotel pickup, lodge stay and expert-guided game drives in search of the Big Five. After traveling through the Great Rift Valley, you spend two days on game drives across the reserve, with picnic lunch on the second day and the chance to witness the Great Migration during peak months. All accommodation and meals are included.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Nairobi to Maasai Mara
- Pick up from Nairobi hotel or airport
- Travel to Great Rift Valley viewpoint
- Arrive at Chui Lodge for lunch
- Relax after lunch
- Afternoon game drive in Maasai Mara
- Return to camp for overnight
Day 2: Full day game drive
- Breakfast at camp
- Full day exploring Maasai Mara
- Picnic lunch in the park
- Return to camp for dinner and overnight
Day 3: Return to Nairobi
- Early breakfast at Chui Lodge
- Depart Maasai Mara for Nairobi
- Lunch en route
- Arrive Nairobi in late afternoon
- Transfer to airport or hotel
What’s included
- Hotel or airport pickup from Nairobi.
- all accommodation at Chui Lodge.
- all meals including picnic lunch in the park on day two.
- expert-guided game drives on days one and two.
- park fees of USD 200 per person.
- return transfer to Nairobi airport or hotel.
Times
- Every day 07:00
Before you book
Operated by Great Wing Safaris Experience
Prices and times updated 8 days ago
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The experience
The day starts with pickup from your Nairobi hotel or airport at 7 am, heading south through the Great Rift Valley viewpoint before arriving at Chui Lodge in time for lunch. An afternoon game drive follows the same day, so you're scanning for lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalo and elephants by evening. The lodge sits inside the reserve itself, cutting out the commute that eats up time on shorter trips.
Day two is the full-day hunt: sunrise to sunset across the Mara in search of the Big Five, plus zebra, wildebeest, hippo, warthog, jackals, giraffes and over 450 bird species. A picnic lunch is served in the park. July through September brings the Great Migration from the Serengeti, when the reserve fills with migrating wildebeest and zebra: the timing of your dates decides whether you see it. The guide speaks English, Spanish, French or Chinese depending on your group.
The return journey on day three leaves after early breakfast, with lunch en route back to Nairobi. You arrive in the late afternoon and can be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or your hotel. Park fees of USD 200 per person are included in the price.
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Nairobi without a car or staying elsewhere in the city: pickup is included, and the lodge accommodation means you don't need to arrange transport between game drives. The 3-day length fits two full days of searching for the Big Five inside a single trip from the capital.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Chinese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (under 4): 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 are the Big Five I might see on the game drives?
The Big Five are lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant: all live in Masai Mara. The reserve also holds zebra, wildebeest, hippo, warthog, jackals and giraffes, plus over 450 recorded bird species including the Maasai ostrich, geese, storks and vultures.
When does the Great Migration happen in Masai Mara?
The Great Migration fills the reserve with wildebeest and zebra from the Serengeti during July, August and September. Your travel dates decide whether you witness it. Outside those months, you'll see resident wildlife instead.
Does the 3-day tour include accommodation and meals?
Yes. You stay at Chui Lodge, a mid-range tented camp inside the reserve, with all accommodation and meals included. A packed picnic lunch is served in the park on day two.
What time does pickup happen from Nairobi?
Pickup is at 7 am from your hotel in Nairobi or from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, heading south toward Masai Mara the same morning.
Is there a guide with the game drives?
Yes, an expert guide leads all game drives and is available in English, Spanish, French or Chinese depending on your group's preference.
3-Day Masai Mara Safari from Nairobi: Big Five and Migration
3d · EN · ES · FR +1
from US$ 550 per person
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