Day tour to Maasai Mara from Nairobi: Open-vehicle game drive

The big five are most concentrated on the western escarpment, where the game drive spends its afternoon.

A day tour from Nairobi to Maasai Mara National Reserve with game viewing in an open-roof safari vehicle, a local Maasai guide, picnic lunch under the acacia shade, and return transport to your hotel. The tour departs at 5am and runs 15 hours total. Entry fees are optional at checkout. A visit to a Maasai village can be added for an extra charge.

Step-by-step itinerary

Maasai Mara game drive and return

• Pick up from Nairobi hotel at 5:00am
• Stop for breakfast or have picnic breakfast
• Arrive at Maasai Mara at 9:00am
• Game drive from Sekenani Gate to Maasai Mara river
• Enjoy packed picnic lunch under tree shade
• Optional buffet lunch at Keekorok Lodge
• Early afternoon game drive exiting the park
• Depart Maasai Mara at 4:00pm
• Drive back to Nairobi
• Arrive Nairobi and transfer to hotel at 8:00pm

The experience

Hotel pickup in Nairobi starts at 5am, with a breakfast stop at 8am on the drive out or the option to bring your own. You arrive at Sekenani Gate by 9am and begin game drives that push all the way to the Maasai Mara river. The reserve sits in the Great Rift Valley and runs mostly open grassland. The annual wildebeest migration alone brings over 1.5 million animals between July and November. You ride in an open Landcruiser with a pop-up roof, which means unobstructed sightlines in every direction and the ability to stand for photographs.

At 1pm you stop for a picnic lunch under tree shade overlooking the park's vast landscape. The meal is included and accommodates all dietary needs. If you prefer a buffet lunch at Keekorok or Ashnil Lodge instead, that can be arranged for an extra charge with advance notice. The afternoon game drive leaves at 2:30pm and continues until you exit the park around 4pm. The drive back to Nairobi takes four hours, with arrival around 8pm.

Your guide is a local Maasai driver born in the reserve, which means knowledge of where wildlife concentrates and how the landscape changes through the seasons. An optional visit to a Maasai village to learn about their way of life and traditions can be added at checkout for a separate fee. Bottled mineral water is included throughout the day.

What’s included

• Game drive in an open-roof safari Landcruiser 4x4 with a local Maasai guide.
• hotel pickup and return transport in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• picnic lunch with all dietary provisions accommodated.
• bottled mineral water throughout the day.

Options for this experience

3 options

Group Option (Without Entry)Guide in English · 05:00The tour activity stays the same. You will join a group of other travellers (not a private tour). Entry fee is not included. Pickup is included.

Without Entry FeesGuide in English · 05:00You will travel to and from Nairobi in an air-conditioned car or minivan. You will have a picnic lunch, and special dietary requirements can be accommodated. The game drive is done in an open-sided Safari Land Cruiser 4x4 with a pop-up roof, giving you an easy view of the animals. Your driver/guide is a local Maasai who was born in the area. Pickup is included.

With Entry FeesGuide in English · 05:00The activity stays the same. Entry fees are included in this option. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (4 to 95 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 300

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by African Beast tours and safaris

Is this one for you?The 15-hour day suits travelers based in Nairobi with one day to spare for safari, since the early 5am start and late 8pm return pack the full Mara experience into a single departure. The open vehicle is what makes the sightlines work (you stand to photograph, not sit behind glass), so book this if unobstructed views matter more than a cushioned ride.

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Top questions

How much time do I actually spend on game drives in Maasai Mara?

Game drives run from 9am until 4pm, with a lunch break at 1pm. That gives you roughly six hours of viewing time across the morning and afternoon, split by the midday meal under the trees.

What is the big five, and will I see them?

The big five are lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo. The reserve's western escarpment is where wildlife concentrates most, so sightings are common, though no safari guarantees any particular animal on any given day.

Can I add a Maasai village visit to this tour?

Yes, a visit to a Maasai village to learn about their traditions and way of life is optional and can be added at checkout for an extra fee per person.

What happens if I want lunch at a lodge instead of a picnic?

Buffet lunch at Keekorok or Ashnil Lodge can be arranged instead of the picnic for an additional charge per person, but you must request it when you book.

Do I need to pay the Maasai Mara entrance fee separately?

Entry fees are optional at checkout. You can book with or without them depending on which option you select. If you choose without, you'll pay the entrance fee separately when you arrive at the gate.