3 Days · 2 Nights · Masai Mara

Three days in Africa's greatest wildlife reserve.

The Masai Mara doesn't need a week to make an impression. Three days — two mornings at first light, a full day on the plains, the Mara River in the afternoon — and you'll understand why this place has the reputation it does.

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3 Days  ·  2 Nights  ·  Masai Mara  ·  Sarova Mara Camp  ·  Private Guide & Vehicle  ·  Great Migration Jul–Oct
At a Glance

Everything you need to know.

Duration
3 Days / 2 Nights
Destination
Masai Mara National Reserve
Accommodation
Sarova Mara Camp
Travel
Road safari from Nairobi
Wildlife
Big Five + Great Migration (Jul–Oct)
Ideal for
Short breaks & first-time guests
Why This Safari

Just the Mara. Done properly.

Some safaris try to cover too much ground. This one doesn’t. Three days, one destination — the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s most famous park and one of the great wildlife destinations on earth. You arrive in time for an afternoon drive on Day 1. You spend all of Day 2 in the reserve. You leave on the morning of Day 3 with a final game drive before breakfast. Almost every hour is spent either in the vehicle or in the Mara. That’s the whole point.

The Masai Mara’s resident wildlife is extraordinary year-round: lion prides, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, hippo, giraffe and the vast herds of plains game that never fully leave the reserve. Between July and October the Great Migration brings an additional million-plus wildebeest and zebra into the Mara — including the famous Mara River crossings that make this one of the great wildlife spectacles on earth. Whenever you go, the Mara delivers.

“Three days in the Mara is genuinely enough — enough to see why people come back year after year, and enough to want to.”

— Gerald Omondi, Safari Travel Plus
The Masai Mara

1,510 km² of open savannah, riverine forest and rolling plains. Over 95 mammal species and 470+ bird species recorded. Kenya’s most celebrated wildlife reserve.

Nairobi to the Mara

Approximately 5–6 hours by road, via the Great Rift Valley escarpment — one of Kenya’s most dramatic scenic drives. Your guide collects you and handles everything.

Great Migration — Jul to Oct

Over a million wildebeest and zebra cross into the Mara between July and October. The Mara River crossings are among the great wildlife spectacles on earth.

100% Private

Your vehicle, your guide, your pace. No shared vehicles or group tours. Every game drive is run entirely around you — when to go, where to stop, when to stay.

Day by Day

Your journey, in detail.

01

Nairobi to the Mara

Scenic Drive · Great Rift Valley · Afternoon Game Drive

Your guide collects you from your Nairobi hotel or the airport. The drive west takes you out of the city and into the agricultural highlands before, suddenly, the earth drops away at the Great Rift Valley escarpment — one of Kenya’s most dramatic viewpoints. Take your time here; this is one of those moments. Then descend into the valley and continue south-west across the wheat fields and rolling hills to the Masai Mara. Arrive at Sarova Mara Camp in time for lunch. The camp sits inside the reserve boundary, which means you’re immediately in game-viewing territory — giraffe and zebra are often visible from the lodge. Afternoon game drive from 3.30pm: your first sight of the Mara’s plains, your first lion, your first encounter with the scale of this place. Return to camp for dinner.

Scenic drive Great Rift Valley Game drive

Tonight’s lodge: Sarova Mara Game Camp, Masai Mara National Reserve (arriving)

02

The Full Mara Day

Dawn Drive · Big Five · Migration (Jul–Oct) · Photography · Maasai Culture

The best day. Wake before dawn for the sunrise drive — the light is extraordinary and the predators are still active. Return for breakfast, then the day is yours. A second drive in the afternoon, with a picnic lunch in the park if you prefer to stay out all day. The Mara’s resident wildlife means you’ll find something at every hour: lions hunting in the morning, hippos wallowing at midday, leopard spotted in the acacia trees at dusk. If you’re here July to October, this is migration season — the wildebeest herds are vast and the Mara River crossings happen without warning, which is part of what makes them extraordinary. Optional: a late-afternoon visit to a local Maasai village for a genuine cultural exchange — music, jumping, the chance to learn something about how the Maasai have lived alongside the Mara’s wildlife for generations.

Game drive Big Five Migration (Jul–Oct) Photography Maasai culture

Tonight’s lodge: Sarova Mara Game Camp, Masai Mara National Reserve

03

The Last Drive

Dawn Game Drive · Departure

Nobody wants to leave the Mara without a final look. Wake early for one last game drive at first light — an hour or two in the vehicle as the sun comes up, watching the Mara begin another day. Return to camp for breakfast. Then the drive back to Nairobi, arriving midday or early afternoon. Drop-off at your hotel or JKIA. The drive home gives you time to process everything — which animals you saw, which moments surprised you, whether three days was enough. (It never quite is.)

Game drive Departure
What’s Included

Inclusions & exclusions

Included
  • Private pickup and drop-off in Nairobi
  • 2 nights at Sarova Mara Camp, Masai Mara (full board)
  • All meals throughout the safari
  • Masai Mara National Reserve park fees
  • All game drives in a private 4×4 Land Cruiser
  • Private English-speaking driver-guide
  • Safari vehicle fees, fuel and local accident cover
  • Mineral water throughout
  • All local taxes
Not Included
  • International flights and airport taxes
  • Kenya eTA / visa fees
  • Festive season supplements
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Optional hot air balloon safari (available on request)
  • Optional Maasai village visit fee
  • Alcoholic and soft drinks
  • Laundry and personal extras
  • Travel and medical insurance
Where You Stay

Your accommodation, in full.

Sarova Mara Game Camp, Masai Mara National Reserve Safari Camp
Masai Mara National Reserve
Sarova Mara Game Camp
2 nights · Full board

Sarova Mara Game Camp sits inside the Masai Mara National Reserve — which means you’re in game-viewing territory from the moment you step outside. The camp has a relaxed, unpretentious feel with comfortable accommodation, a pool, and the kind of dining that sends you out on game drives well fuelled. The Masai Mara is one of the world’s great wildlife destinations and Sarova Mara is a reliable, well-positioned base from which to explore it.

Inside the reserve Full board Swimming pool Strong game-viewing location
Your Safari Vehicle

Built for the African bush.

Custom 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser

Every game drive on this 3-day Mara safari takes place in a custom-fitted Toyota Land Cruiser — Kenya’s most trusted safari vehicle. Private throughout, fitted with a full pop-up roof for unobstructed wildlife viewing, a cool box, charging points and a comprehensive first aid kit.

Our custom Toyota Land Cruiser safari vehicle Exterior — Custom Toyota Land Cruiser
Inside our safari Land Cruiser — leather seats and cool box Interior — Leather seats & cool box
Our Land Cruiser on safari in the Masai Mara On safari — Masai Mara

Full Pop-Up Roof

The entire roof lifts open for unobstructed 360° wildlife viewing and photography. A game drive is experienced standing, not craning through a window. Closes in seconds when it rains.

Comfortable Seating — Up to 6 Guests

Comfortable, upright seating for groups of 2–6. Everyone has a window seat and full pop-roof access. Plenty of room for camera bags, binoculars and personal items on a full-day drive.

Cool Box & Water Supply

Chilled drinking water available throughout every drive. The on-board cool box holds water, snacks and cold towels for midday comfort in the Mara.

USB & 12V Charging

Multiple USB-A, USB-C and 12V socket charging points throughout the vehicle — keep cameras, phones and devices charged across every full-day drive.

First Aid Kit On Board

Every vehicle carries a comprehensive first aid kit and your guide holds a current first aid certificate. Emergency numbers are pre-saved and the guide briefs you at the start of the safari.

4-Wheel Drive Throughout

Genuine 4×4 traction is essential in the Mara — especially after rain. The Land Cruiser handles rutted tracks, river crossings and off-road terrain that no minivan could navigate.

100% Private — Always

This vehicle is never shared. No strangers, no compromises on timing, no waiting for others. You set the pace of every drive, every stop, and every return to camp.

4-Wheel Drive Throughout

Genuine 4×4 traction is essential in the Mara — especially after rain. The Land Cruiser handles rutted tracks, river crossings and off-road terrain that no minivan could navigate.

Maximum 6 Passengers

The Land Cruiser seats up to 6 comfortably, with full pop-roof access for everyone. For groups of 2–4 you’ll find significantly more space per person — ideal for extended game drive comfort.

Pre-Departure Safety Check

Every vehicle undergoes a full mechanical inspection before each safari departs. We carry a spare tyre, tow rope and basic repair kit as standard. In 15 years we have never abandoned a client on the road.

Investment

Safari costs

Pricing varies by travel dates and seasonal rates at Sarova Mara. We’ll prepare a no-obligation quote for your exact dates and group size. This safari can also be upgraded with a balloon safari, a luxury camp, or extended to 4 or 5 days.

Prices per person sharing. Solo supplement available. Balloon safari can be added on request.

Questions & Answers

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Three days gives you two full mornings at first light (the best game-viewing time), a full day in the reserve, and a final morning drive. You’ll have enough time to find the big cats, experience the scale of the Mara and, if you’re here July–October, witness the Great Migration. It’s a genuine safari, not a rushed visit.

Between July and October the Great Migration is present in the Masai Mara — over a million wildebeest and zebra, with Mara River crossings that are among the great wildlife spectacles on earth. Outside those months the Mara’s resident wildlife is exceptional year-round: lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and buffalo are present in all seasons.

Approximately 5–6 hours depending on traffic and road conditions. The drive includes a scenic stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint. The road is an experience in itself.

Yes. Your vehicle and guide are private throughout — just your group, no shared vehicles or group tours.

Sarova Mara Game Camp is a comfortable, well-positioned camp inside the Masai Mara National Reserve. It’s known for reliable facilities, full-board meals and a strong game-viewing location. It’s a mid-range property — comfortable, unpretentious and well-suited to a focused 3-day safari.

Yes. We can arrange a hot air balloon safari on Day 2 morning — approximately one hour above the Mara at dawn, ending with a champagne breakfast on the plains. Ask when enquiring and we’ll include it in your quote.

Absolutely. We can extend to 4 or 5 days in the Mara, upgrade to a more exclusive camp, or combine with a second destination such as Lake Nakuru or Amboseli. Use Get a Custom Safari Quote to discuss.

Year-round. July–October for the Great Migration and peak game viewing. January–March for quieter, greener conditions with strong predator activity. April–June and November–December for the lowest prices and fewest visitors.

Ready to Go?

Start planning your Masai Mara safari

Speak to our Nairobi team directly — we know the Mara, we know Sarova, and we’ll make sure every hour of your three days counts.

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