Masai Mara 3-Day Safari from Nairobi: Private 4WD Game Drives
Two full days hunting the Mara River and the animals that gather there.
A 3-day private safari from Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve with hotel pickup, all game drives, accommodation in a tented camp, and an English-speaking guide. Day one includes the Great Rift Valley viewpoint and a late-afternoon drive after arrival; day two is a full day exploring the park and the Mara River; day three returns you to Nairobi with an optional Maasai village visit. A walking safari to a Maasai village costs USD $10–$20 extra, paid directly at the village.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Masai Mara and game drive
- Pick up from hotel early morning
- Drive to Great Rift Valley viewpoint
- Stopover for photos at viewpoint
- Continue to Masai Mara via Narok Town
- Arrive and check into camp
- Have lunch and refreshments
- Late afternoon game drive in Masai Mara
- Dinner and overnight at camp
Day 2: Full day game drive in Masai Mara
- Early breakfast at camp
- Full day exploring Masai Mara National Reserve
- Visit Mara River and wildlife viewing
- Picnic lunch by the river
- Optional walking safari to Maasai village
- Dinner and overnight at camp
Day 3: Return to Nairobi with optional visit
- Breakfast at camp
- Optional cultural visit to Maasai village
- Check out and drive back to Nairobi
- Arrive Nairobi and drop off at hotel
What’s included
- Hotel pickup from Nairobi.
- all game drives inside Masai Mara National Reserve in a private 4WD Landcruiser.
- two nights in a tented camp with private bathroom.
- all meals at camp (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
- an English-speaking guide for the full three days.
- and the Great Rift Valley viewpoint stop on day one.
- Every day 08:00
Information
Three-day private safari from Nairobi to Masai Mara with game drives, camp stays and a Maasai village visit option.
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The experience
The tour starts with a 7:00–7:30 am pickup from your Nairobi hotel. You'll drive toward Masai Mara with a stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint to photograph the escarpment, then continue through Narok Town and arrive at the reserve around 1:30 pm. After checking in, lunch and a rest, you head out for a late-afternoon game drive until the park closes at 6:30 pm. Nights are spent in a budget tented camp with private bathroom and self-contained tents.
Day two is the full-day push into the park. You'll leave after an early breakfast with a packed lunch and spend the entire day exploring Masai Mara, which forms the northern edge of the Serengeti. The route takes you to the Mara River at the park boundary, where large concentrations of wildlife gather. This is where you'll eat lunch under a tree by the water. Your guide navigates the reserve in the private 4WD Landcruiser, and in the evening back at camp you have the option to do a walking safari to a nearby Maasai village (USD $10–$20, arranged directly with the village).
On day three, after breakfast, you can choose to visit a Maasai village before checking out and driving back to Nairobi via Narok Town. You'll arrive at your hotel around 3:30 pm. All game drives, accommodation, meals at camp, and the English-speaking guide are included. The vehicle is yours alone for the three days.
Top questions
Can I be picked up at my hotel?
You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 30 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. Pickup is about 30 minutes before departure.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 14 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 animals will I see on the Masai Mara safari?
Masai Mara National Reserve holds large concentrations of wildlife including lions, elephants, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, buffalo and countless bird species. The Mara River, which you visit on day two, is where many animals gather, especially during migration season.
Do I need to arrange my own transport from Nairobi?
No. Hotel pickup in Nairobi is included, starting between 7:00–7:30 am on day one. The private 4WD Landcruiser is yours for all three days of game drives inside the reserve.
What's included in the camp accommodation?
The tented camp includes a private bathroom and self-contained tent. Meals at camp (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included in the tour price. You'll stay two nights in the reserve.
Is the Maasai village visit included?
A walking safari to a Maasai village is optional and costs USD $10–$20 per person, paid directly to the village on day two evening or day three morning. It is not part of the base tour price.
How much driving is there each day?
Day one involves a morning drive from Nairobi to Masai Mara (arriving around 1:30 pm) plus a late-afternoon game drive from around 3:00–6:30 pm. Day two is a full day of game drives with lunch by the Mara River. Day three is a morning drive back to Nairobi, arriving around 3:30 pm.
What language does the guide speak?
Your guide speaks English and is experienced in wildlife, culture and the history of the region.
Operated by AXIS AFRICA SAFARIS. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 9 days ago
Masai Mara 3-Day Safari from Nairobi: Private 4WD Game Drives
3d · EN
from US$ 1,950 per person
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