Maasai Mara
Three days covers the journey from Nairobi, a full day in the reserve and game drives in the early morning and late afternoon, when many animals are most active.
The trip in brief
A three-day road safari from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya's best-known wildlife area, which borders Tanzania's Serengeti.
You leave Nairobi in the morning and reach the Mara in time for an afternoon game drive. Day two is spent in the reserve. On day three you drive back to Nairobi. We arrange the vehicle, driver-guide, accommodation and reserve fees as one trip, with one person looking after it from quotation to return.
It suits first-time safari travellers, families, and anyone adding a short safari to a business trip or a beach stay. If you want more time near the Mara River, or a stay in one of the private conservancies, a four- or five-day version works better.
Itinerary
Day 01Nairobi → Maasai Mara
- Morning pick-up in Nairobi.
- Drive west via the Great Rift Valley escarpment and Narok town, with a short stop on the way.
- Arrive at your camp or lodge for lunch, or a late lunch depending on its location.
- Afternoon game drive in the reserve.
- Return for dinner and overnight.
Meals: lunch · dinner
Day 02Full day in the Maasai Mara
- Early-morning game drive.
- Breakfast back at camp, or a packed breakfast on the plains.
- Extended game viewing. In migration season a full day with a packed lunch, towards the Mara River area, is common.
- Lunch, at camp or packed depending on the plan for the day.
- Afternoon game drive.
- Optional extras where booked in advance: a Maasai community visit or a hot-air balloon flight.
- Dinner and overnight.
Meals: breakfast · lunch · dinner
Day 03Maasai Mara → Nairobi
- Short early-morning game drive, where timing and reserve ticket rules allow.
- Breakfast and check-out.
- Drive back to Nairobi, with a lunch stop on the way depending on the route.
- Drop-off at your hotel, home or the airport in the afternoon or evening.
Meals: breakfast · lunch (where included)
Want more time?
4 days / 3 nights: a second full day in the Mara, which gives more flexibility for the river area or a conservancy stay.
5 days / 4 nights: the Mara combined with Lake Naivasha or Lake Nakuru, breaking up the drive back to Nairobi.
Times vary with traffic, road conditions and where you stay. Please don't book a same-day international departure on day 3 without talking to us first.
Where you stay
Choose a level and we'll match camps or lodges with availability on your dates. The properties below are ones we regularly request. They are independently owned and are not included unless they appear on your quotation.
Value camps
Comfortable permanent tented camps and lodges, usually just outside the reserve gates. En-suite tents and full-board meals are typical.
- Basecamp AdventureTalek, simple eco tented camp
- Other value campsNear Sekenani and Talek gates
Established camps & lodges
Stronger locations, service and facilities. Some are inside the reserve, which cuts driving time to the game-viewing areas.
- Muthu Keekorok LodgeInside the reserve, eastern Mara
- Mara Serena Safari LodgeInside the reserve, Mara Triangle
- Mara Sopa LodgeOlolaimutiek, near the reserve
- Fig Tree CampTalek River, near Talek gate
- Basecamp Masai MaraTalek, eco tented camp
Premium tented camps
Smaller camps with more space and privacy, in the reserve or in the private conservancies around it.
- Ashnil Mara CampInside the reserve, near the Mara River
- Entim Mara CampInside the reserve, on the Mara River
- Sand River Masai MaraInside the reserve, near the Tanzanian border
- Elephant Pepper CampMara North Conservancy
Camps in the private conservancies charge their own conservancy fees, usually built into the nightly rate, and some offer activities not permitted in the main reserve, such as guided walks and night drives.
What you might see
Wildlife commonly seen in the Mara ecosystem includes:
- Lion
- Leopard · elusive, often in riverine trees
- Cheetah · open plains
- Elephant
- Buffalo
- Maasai giraffe
- Plains zebra
- Wildebeest
- Hippo · Mara and Talek rivers
- Nile crocodile · Mara River
- Spotted hyena
- Thomson's and Grant's gazelle
What you see depends on the season, where you drive and what the animals are doing that day. Your guide will work with what is moving, but no individual sighting can be guaranteed.
July to October
Each year, large herds of wildebeest, with zebra and gazelle, move between Tanzania's Serengeti and the Mara in search of grazing. July to October is generally associated with the main migration period in the Mara.
River crossings depend on animal movement and conditions, so they can't be scheduled. Outside these months the Mara keeps a large resident population of wildlife, and game viewing continues all year.
Experiences
Game drives
Early-morning and late-afternoon drives in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, led by your driver-guide.
Full-day safari
A longer day inside the reserve with a packed lunch where appropriate, giving time to reach areas further from camp.
Maasai cultural visit
A visit to a Maasai community, arranged only through an established community-run or approved experience provider. The fee is paid to the community.
Hot-air balloon safari
An early-morning flight of around an hour, usually followed by a bush breakfast. Subject to availability and weather; book well ahead for July to October.
When to go
Generally good wildlife viewing and warmer conditions. A popular time outside the migration months.
Seasonal rainfall, green landscapes and fewer visitors. Some camps close or offer lower rates; some tracks can be muddy.
The move into the busier safari period. Demand and rates start to rise.
The main Great Migration period in the Mara. High demand and higher accommodation prices; reserve fees for non-residents are also higher from July.
Short rains and fewer visitors in many areas.
Higher demand around Christmas and New Year. Book early for these dates.
Weather patterns vary from year to year; these are general guides, not rules.
Getting there
From Nairobi by 4x4
Roughly 5 to 6+ hours, depending on route, traffic, road conditions and where in the Mara you are staying. The usual route runs past the Great Rift Valley escarpment and through Narok town.
- Lower cost, especially for families and groups
- Your vehicle and guide stay with you for the whole trip
- A long day each way; the last stretch can be rough
Scheduled safari flight
Light-aircraft flights from Nairobi's Wilson Airport land at airstrips in the reserve and surrounding conservancies, operated by carriers including Safarilink and Airkenya Express. A faster alternative to the drive.
- Saves most of a day of travel each way
- Your camp's vehicle meets you at the airstrip
- Higher cost per person; strict baggage limits, usually soft-sided bags
Ask us to compare road and air options for your dates.
What affects the price?
There is no single price for a Maasai Mara safari. Your quotation depends on:
- Travel dates
- Number of travellers
- Resident status
- Accommodation level
- Private or shared vehicle
- Road or air transfer
- Number of nights
- Park or conservancy fees
- Optional activities
Indicative ranges · 3 days / 2 nights
Basis: per person sharing, from Nairobi by road, for non-resident adults, including reserve fees. Kenyan citizens and East African residents pay lower reserve fees and often resident rates at camps. Ranges reflect published 2026 packages from Kenyan safari operators, converted at about KES 129 to USD 1 (Central Bank of Kenya, September 2026). They are a market guide, not Travel Life Africa package prices.
Published 2026 rates for reference
| Reserve entry, per adult per day | January – June | July – December |
|---|---|---|
| Non-resident | USD 100 | USD 200 |
| East African resident | KES 2,500 | KES 5,000 |
| Kenyan citizen | KES 1,500 | KES 3,000 |
Non-resident children aged 9–17 pay USD 50; children 8 and under enter free. If you stay outside the reserve, a ticket covers one 12-hour visit. Conservancy fees are separate. For comparison, one mid-range camp's published 2026 rate (Basecamp Masai Mara, full board with shared game drives) runs USD 300–500 per person per night before reserve fees, and shared balloon flights are commonly listed at around USD 450–650 per person.
Final pricing is confirmed against your travel dates, accommodation choice and availability.
What's included
Usually included
- Accommodation for the nights booked
- Meals according to the selected board basis
- Safari game drives as per itinerary
- Professional driver-guide
- Transport from and back to Nairobi
- Park or reserve entry fees, where included in the selected package
Not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa or travel authorisation fees
- Personal expenses
- Tips
- Alcoholic drinks
- Optional activities
- Anything not listed on your quotation
Inclusions vary by package. Your written quotation defines exactly what is and isn't included.
Before you request a quotation
You don't need every answer, but these are the choices that shape the price. We can talk them through with you.
- DatesWhen you want to travel, and how flexible you are.
- Who is travellingNumber of adults, and children's ages.
- ResidencyKenyan citizen, East African resident or non-resident. This changes reserve fees and camp rates.
- Accommodation levelBudget, mid-range or luxury.
- Private or sharedYour own vehicle and guide, or seats in a shared safari.
- Road or flightOr ask us to compare both.
- Number of nightsTwo nights, or an extended stay.
- ExtrasBalloon flight, cultural visit, or a lake stop on the way back.
Where you'll be
The Maasai Mara National Reserve lies in Narok County, south-west Kenya, on the border with Tanzania's Serengeti.
Photos via Unsplash (Unsplash Licence): David Clode, Bibake Uppal, Wolfgang Hasselmann, Harshil Gudka, Crispin Jones. Photos show the types of landscape and wildlife found in the region and are not from a specific Travel Life Africa trip.
What we arrange for you
A Maasai Mara safari has several moving parts. We coordinate them so you deal with one company.
One point of contact
One advisor handles your trip from the first quote to your return to Nairobi.
Accommodation
We check availability with camps and lodges and confirm rooms before you pay.
Transport
Vehicle, driver-guide and pick-up arranged around your arrival and departure.
Flight options
Scheduled safari flights compared with the road option, and connections to other flights where needed.
Visa and entry guidance
Help with visa or travel authorisation requirements where relevant.
Pre-trip guidance
What to pack, luggage limits, cash and what to expect on the day.
24/7 human support
A real person to call while you are travelling.
Changes and disruption
If plans change or something goes wrong, we work through the alternatives with you.
Plan your Maasai Mara safari
Tell us when you want to travel, who is travelling and the kind of safari you have in mind. We will work through the accommodation, transport and experience options with you before confirming a quotation.
- Only name and email are required
- No obligation; a travel advisor replies, not an automated sequence
- Flights and visa guidance can be arranged at the same time
Prefer to talk it through? Talk to a travel advisor on +254 727 443840 or email travel@travellifectm.com.
