3-day Maasai Mara safari from Nairobi: Big Five game drives

Spend two full days hunting the Big Five across Maasai Mara's western escarpment

A 3-day, 2-night group safari from Nairobi to Maasai Mara National Reserve with game drives in a 4WD pop-roof vehicle, professional driver, accommodation at Rhino Tourist Camp, and all transport included. The operator picks from Nairobi city center and Westlands hotels, and offers complimentary airport pickup on arrival morning. Park entrance fees are included in some options. A private vehicle option and midrange accommodation upgrade are available at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel Nairobi to Maasai Mara

• Pick up from Nairobi hotel
• Drive to Maasai Mara via Rift Valley viewpoint
• Arrive Maasai Mara and check in
• Lunch at camp
• Sunset game drive in Maasai Mara
• Dinner and rest at camp

Day 2: Full day game drive in Maasai Mara

• Start game drive at 7 AM
• Explore Maasai Mara for Big Five
• Lunch at picnic site
• Visit Mara River to see hippos and crocodiles
• Continue game drive until 4 PM
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 3: Return to Nairobi

• Early breakfast and check out
• Optional Maasai village cultural tour
• Drive back to Nairobi
• Lunch at Travellers motel
• Drop off at Nairobi city centre hotel

The experience

The drive from Nairobi takes you through the Great Rift Valley, where you stop to look down at the valley floor before arriving at Maasai Mara in time for lunch and camp check-in. At 4 pm the same day you head out on a sunset game drive, so you're watching animals move across the reserve within hours of leaving the city. The 4WD has a pop roof that opens for photography and unobstructed viewing: the driver uses radio contact with other guides to track where wildlife is concentrated and moves between zones to find the Big Five.

Day two is a full game drive from 7 am until 4 pm, with the driver choosing picnic sites along the way and stopping at the Mara River to watch hippos and crocodiles on the banks. The reserve holds over 1.5 million wildebeest during the July-to-November migration, though resident animals graze year-round. Your driver explains animal behavior and traits as you move through different parts of the reserve, and the radio network between guides means you're not searching alone.

On day three you have an early breakfast, then the drive back to Nairobi with a complimentary lunch stop at Travellers Motel on the way. Drop-off is at your Nairobi CBD hotel between 3 and 4 pm. A Maasai village cultural visit is available as an optional add-on for $20 if you want to spend time with the local community before leaving the reserve.

What’s included

• All transport in a safari 4WD with a pop roof for game viewing.
• two nights accommodation at Rhino Tourist Camp or similar with bathroom and hot water.
• complimentary airport pickup on arrival morning and hotel pickup in Nairobi CBD.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• complimentary lunch on the return drive to Nairobi.
• professional driver with experience on Maasai Mara terrain and radio contact with other guides.

Options for this experience

4 options

Budget option: 3 days, 2 nightsGuide in English · 08:00Rhino Tourist Camp or Giraffe: Our tents are large and include a toilet and bathroom inside, plus a bed and linen. Hot water and electricity at night. Maasai Village visit: The visit to the Maasai Village is usually made on the 2nd or 3rd day, at an extra cost of USD 20 per person, paid locally. 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser jeep: The safari is conducted in a 4x4 safari jeep with a pop-up roof for easy game viewing and photography. Maasai Mara Park: Maasai Mara Park entrance fees are not included and are paid locally. Pickup is included.

Private OptionGuide in English · 8 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00Rhino Camp or similar private safari: This is a private tour for this option, for your party only. Note: Maasai Mara Park fees are not included. 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep. Pickup is included.

Admission to the park is covered in the priceGuide in English · 07:00 and 08:00Rhino Tourist Camp or similar, 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser jeep, entrance fees included: With this option, at this price, the government park entrance fees for Maasai Mara are included. Pickup is included.

Midrange accommodation and feesGuide in English · 08:00Jambo Mara Lodge: With this option you join other travellers in a small group, and accommodation is in an upgraded lodge. A holiday supplement applies. 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep: For this option the vehicle is a 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep with a pop-up roof for easy game viewing. Maasai Mara Park fees: With this option, Maasai Mara Park entrance fees are included. 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 day8 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Youth (9 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 8 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 30

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 20

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Perfect Safaris

Is this one for you?Book the shared group option if you're comfortable traveling with other safari-goers and want the standard price. Choose the private vehicle if your group wants to set its own pace and stop where you choose without coordinating with other travelers. Park entrance fees are included in some options and available as an add-on in others. Confirm which applies to your choice at checkout.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 17 years); Child (3 to 8 years); Infant (under 3).

What animals will I actually see on a Maasai Mara game drive?

The Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros) are the target, along with resident wildebeest, zebra, hippo, crocodile and cheetah. During the July-to-November migration, over 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra move through the reserve from Tanzania's Serengeti, followed by predators including jackals, hyenas and vultures. Your driver uses radio contact with other guides to locate concentrations of animals and moves between zones to find them.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Nairobi airport?

No. Complimentary airport pickup is included for guests arriving by flight on the morning of day one, with collection at 6 am. If you're staying in a Nairobi CBD or Westlands hotel, the driver picks you up from there at 8 am for the drive to Maasai Mara. Drop-off on day three is back at your Nairobi hotel.

How much time do I actually spend on game drives?

Day one includes a sunset drive at 4 pm after you arrive and settle in. Day two is a full game drive from 7 am to 4 pm, with lunch at a picnic site the driver selects. That's roughly two hours on day one and nine hours on day two of active wildlife viewing.

What's included in the accommodation at Rhino Tourist Camp?

Rhino Tourist Camp or a similar property provides big tents with toilet, bathroom, bed linen and hot water for the two nights. Midrange accommodation with upgraded facilities is available as an option at checkout.

Can I visit a Maasai village during the tour?

Yes, a Maasai cultural visit is optional on the morning of day three before you drive back to Nairobi. It costs $20 per person and lets you learn about the Maasai community and interact with local people.

What's the difference between the budget and private options?

The budget option is a shared group safari with other travelers in a 4WD vehicle. The private option uses a dedicated vehicle for your group only, giving you flexibility on timing and stops. Both include the same accommodation, transport and game drives. The private version removes the shared-vehicle constraint.