3-Day Masai Mara Safari from Nairobi: Private Game Drive

A driver-guide who knows where the big cats hunt changes what you actually see.

A 3-day private safari from Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve with a 4x4 Land Cruiser, experienced driver-guide, park entry and two nights at Mara Simba Lodge. You drive through the Great Rift Valley on day one, spend a full day on game drives searching for lions, leopards, elephants and the Big Five, then return to Nairobi on day three. The guide's expertise in spotting wildlife is what turns a reserve into a hunt you can actually follow.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Masai Mara and afternoon game drive

• Pick up at 7:00 AM
• Drive through Great Rift Valley
• Stop at Great Rift Valley viewpoint
• Bathroom stop in Narok town
• Arrive at Masai Mara for lunch
• Afternoon game drive for lions
• Dinner and overnight at Mara Simba Lodge

Day 2: Full day game drive in Masai Mara

• Breakfast at lodge
• Full-day game drive with packed lunch
• Spot Big Five and other wildlife
• Dinner and overnight at Mara Simba Lodge

Day 3: Return to Nairobi

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive back to Nairobi
• Drop off at hotel or airport

The experience

Pickup happens at 7:00 AM in Nairobi. The drive to Masai Mara takes you through the Great Rift Valley, a landscape of dramatic escarpments and plains where Maasai herds still graze. You'll stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint to see the sheer drop of the escarpment and the ranges beyond it (Mount Longonot and Suswa) before pushing on through Narok town and arriving at the reserve in time for lunch. That afternoon, the first game drive begins.

Day two is the full-day game drive: you leave at dawn with a packed lunch and stay out until late afternoon, moving through the reserve wherever the guide reads the landscape and the animal movement. Lions are what Masai Mara is famous for, but the reserve holds all five of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo) plus zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and dozens of other species. The driver-guide's experience in spotting them is the difference between seeing animals and understanding where they are and why they are there. Nights are at Mara Simba Lodge.

On day three, breakfast at the lodge, then the drive back to Nairobi with a late-afternoon drop-off at your hotel or the airport. All park entrance fees and bottled water are included. The guide speaks English and the vehicle is a 4x4 Land Cruiser built for the terrain and the sightlines. Balloon safari and visits to a Maasai village are available as add-ons at checkout.

What’s included

• All park entrance fees to Masai Mara National Reserve.
• two nights accommodation at Mara Simba Lodge.
• bottled water throughout the safari.
• services of an experienced English-speaking driver-guide.
• private 4x4 Land Cruiser transport.
• pickup from your Nairobi hotel or airport on day one and drop-off on day three.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00Last departure this season: 4 Jan 2027

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Explorer Kenya Tours and Travel Limited

Is this one for you?This is a private safari, so you travel with your own guide and vehicle rather than joining a shared group: what that means is the guide's attention stays on your interests and the pace holds to what you want to see rather than what a larger group needs. Choose it if you want the flexibility of a private vehicle and the expertise of someone who knows where the big cats hunt. The full-day game drive on day two is what makes spotting the Big Five possible inside a three-day window.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

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

Masai Mara holds all five of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) along with zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and many other species. The full-day drive on day two gives you the longest window to encounter them, and the guide's expertise in reading the landscape and animal movement is what turns sightings into actual wildlife viewing rather than luck.

How much time do I spend on game drives?

You have an afternoon game drive on day one after arriving from Nairobi, then a full-day game drive on day two from dawn until late afternoon with a packed lunch. That's roughly two game-drive sessions across the three days, with the second one covering the most ground and the most daylight hours.

What's included in the 3-day safari price?

All park entrance fees to Masai Mara National Reserve, two nights at Mara Simba Lodge, bottled water throughout, and the services of an experienced driver-guide. Transport is by private 4x4 Land Cruiser, and pickup is included from your Nairobi hotel or airport on day one, with drop-off back there on day three.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Nairobi?

No. Pickup at 7:00 AM from your Nairobi hotel or airport is included, and the drive to Masai Mara takes you through the Great Rift Valley with a stop at the viewpoint. Return transport on day three is also included, with late-afternoon drop-off at your Nairobi hotel or airport.

Can I add activities like a balloon safari or Maasai village visit?

Yes. Balloon safari and Maasai village visits are available as optional add-ons that you can select at checkout. They are not part of the standard 3-day itinerary but can be arranged during your time in the reserve.