Nairobi: 3-Day Masai Mara Safari & Big Five Game Drive

Three Days in Masai Mara: Lion, Leopard & the Long Game Drive from Nairobi

You depart Nairobi in the morning and drive six hours to Masai Mara, arriving for an afternoon game drive. Day two is a full day in the reserve with flexible timing and picnic lunch options, hunting the Big Five across savannahs and valleys. Day three includes a final morning game drive or optional Maasai village visit before the six-hour return to Nairobi by late afternoon. All transport, accommodation, meals, and a professional guide are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Drive to Maasai Mara and game drive

• Depart Nairobi in the morning
• Drive to Rift Valley floor
• Lunch in Narok town
• Proceed to Maasai Mara
• Afternoon game drive
• Dinner and overnight in tented camp

Day 2: Full day game drives in Maasai Mara

• Breakfast at camp
• Full day game drives
• Option for picnic lunch in park
• Optional visit to local Maasai village
• Dinner and overnight at camp

Day 3: Return to Nairobi after breakfast

• Breakfast at camp
• Optional visit to Maasai village
• Drive back to Nairobi
• Arrive Nairobi and drop at accommodation

The experience

Our driver picked us up at the hotel before dawn, and on the six-hour drive south toward Narok, the biggest Maasai town, he pointed out the Rift Valley floor opening up ahead. We stopped for lunch in Narok itself, which meant eating where the Maasai eat, not in some tourist setup, and then the landscape changed again: the reserve appeared gradually, not all at once. By afternoon we were in the 4x4 van with the pop-up roof open, already scanning the grass for movement. That first game drive sets the pace for everything that follows. You're not rushing through a checklist, you're just watching, and the guide knows when to stop and when to keep moving.

Day two is the full day in Masai Mara, which is when you actually have time to sit with what you're seeing. The Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, elephant) are what everyone comes for, and yes, you can spend the whole day hunting them with a picnic lunch box in the van, or you can take the morning drive and come back to camp for a proper meal. The guide reads the landscape in a way that takes practice. He knows which waterhole the elephants use at dusk, where the leopards hunt at dawn. You're not guaranteed to see everything, but the reserve is dense enough that most days you'll see most of it. If you want to visit a local Maasai village on day two, that's an add-on, and it breaks up the rhythm of the drives without eating into them.

The return to Nairobi happens on day three after breakfast, a six-hour drive that lands you back at your hotel around five in the afternoon. You get the option to squeeze in another Maasai village visit that morning if you didn't do it the day before, though by then you're usually ready to sit still. The whole thing (transport in the safari van, the professional driver-guide, all meals and accommodation on full board, mineral water) is included, which means you're not negotiating stops or hunting for lunch. You just show up, and the logistics are already solved.

What’s included

• Your three days include transport in a 4x4 safari van with pop-up roof viewing, a professional driver-guide, full board accommodation at a tented camp, all meals (lunch and dinner on day one.
• breakfast, lunch, and dinner on day two.
• breakfast on day three), and mineral water throughout. Game drives are included on days one, two, and three. The Maasai village visit is optional and available at an additional cost.

Options for this experience

4 options

3-day tour with guaranteed departureGuide in English · 07:00 and 08:30Group budget safari at Mara Olodare Camp lasting 3 days, full board, on a 4x4 Land Cruiser tour from the Ololaimutiek Gate, and pickup is included

4x4 safari through Masai Mara over 3 daysGuide in English · 07:00 and 08:30Stay at Mara Olodare Safari Camp, where luxury camping blends with nature's raw beauty and invites adventurers. On the last morning, visit a Masai village to experience their cultural heritage. Mid-range option with mid-luxury camping at Mara Olodare Camp, combining untamed wilderness with refined comfort. Lasts 3 days, meals included. Ololaimutiek Gate 4x4 safari in a land cruiser, a modified Toyota Land Cruiser built for the rough terrain of wildlife game parks and reserves. Pickup is included.

Mid-luxury 3-day tourGuide in English · 07:00 and 08:30Mid-luxury safari at Enkorok Mara Camp lasting 3 days, full board, with a 4x4 Land Cruiser safari from the Ololaimutiek Gate, and pickup is included

Kenya's famous luxury tour, lasting 3 daysGuide in English · 07:00Luxury stay at Enkorok Safari Camp: a 3-day safari with full board, a 4x4 Land Cruiser safari from the Ololaimutiek Gate, and pickup is included

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (21 to 45 years) · Senior (50 to 90 years) · Youth (14 to 20 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupUp to 8

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$ 200

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by simba paka safaris

Is this one for you?This works well if you want the main Masai Mara experience without arranging your own transport, accommodation, or meals: the fixed itinerary and included guide mean you land in Nairobi and everything else is handled, leaving you to focus on the wildlife and the landscape.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 20 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

How long is the drive from Nairobi to Masai Mara?

Approximately six hours each way, with a lunch stop in Narok town on the first day.

What animals can I expect to see?

The Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, elephant) plus zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, crocodiles, and other wildlife. Sightings depend on season and location within the reserve.

Is the Maasai village visit included?

No, it's an optional add-on available on day two or day three morning.

What meals are provided?

Full board accommodation includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. Day one includes lunch and dinner; day two includes all three meals; day three includes breakfast only.

Can I do game drives at my own pace?

Yes, day two offers flexible timing. You can take morning and afternoon drives, or spend the entire day in the park with a picnic lunch box.

What type of vehicle is used?

A 4x4 safari van with a pop-up roof for game viewing.

What time do I return to Nairobi on day three?

Approximately 5 p.m., depending on traffic and stops.