Some safaris sample a country’s parks one at a time. This one goes deep instead, three full days dedicated entirely to the Masai Mara, part of the greater Serengeti ecosystem and home to the great wildebeest migration and all of the Big Five: lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino.
The journey south passes through the Great Rift Valley, a stop at the historic escarpment viewpoint setting the tone before an introductory game drive on arrival. What follows are two full days immersed in the reserve, morning and late afternoon game drives, picnic lunches taken at the Mara River’s migration crossing point, and the kind of predator density- lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena, jackal and serval cat- that makes the Mara one of the most concentrated wildlife destinations on the planet, home to an estimated three million individual animals.
A focused, privately guided Masai Mara safari for travellers who’d rather spend three days properly immersed in one extraordinary place than split their time across several.
This itinerary suits travellers who want to properly immerse themselves in the Masai Mara specifically, rather than treating it as one stop on a wider circuit. Three full game-viewing days give a genuinely strong chance of witnessing the Big Five and, during July to October, the great migration itself. Well suited to photographers, repeat visitors to Kenya who've already covered the wider circuit, and anyone who prefers depth over breadth in their safari itinerary.
This safari is at its most spectacular during the July to October migration season, when the Mara River crossings are in full swing. January and February also offer excellent Big Five game viewing with noticeably fewer vehicles than the peak months. Given this itinerary spends three consecutive days in a single reserve, timing matters more here than on shorter, single-day Mara visits, worth discussing directly with guests who have flexible travel dates.
You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven through the Great Rift Valley to the Masai Mara National Reserve, stopping at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint to photograph the historic escarpment along the way. The Mara forms part of the greater Serengeti ecosystem, famous for its spectacular wildebeest migration and home to the Big Five: lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino. An introductory game drive on arrival sets the stage for the full days of exploration ahead, before returning to the lodge for dinner and your overnight stay.
After breakfast, you’ll head out for a full day of game driving, packed lunch in hand. Large herds of herbivores graze across the plains, while cheetah and leopard keep to their preferred vantage points nearby. The Mara sits at the heart of Kenyan tourism, home to a huge range of mammal, amphibian and reptile species, alongside more than 400 recorded bird species. Wildlife is genuinely more abundant here than almost anywhere else in Africa, and visitors rarely leave without seeing the Big Five. Your picnic lunch is taken at the Mara River’s migration crossing point, followed by some rest before a late afternoon game drive that runs well into the evening. You’ll return to the lodge for dinner and your overnight stay.
Enjoy another full day exploring the Mara’s endless plains, a 1,510 square kilometre wildlife area that forms a smaller extension of the greater Serengeti ecosystem. The Mara is world-renowned for its sheer abundance of wildlife, estimated at over three million individual animals, and the highest concentration of big predators anywhere in the region, lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena, jackal and serval cat among them. You’ll wake for an early morning game drive, with midday meals again taken at the Mara River’s migration crossing point, before returning to the lodge for dinner and your final overnight stay.
After breakfast, you’ll have time for one final short game drive before checking out and beginning the drive back to Nairobi, retracing the route through the Great Rift Valley with a final photo stop at the escarpment viewpoint. You’ll arrive in Nairobi in the afternoon, dropped at your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward journey, bringing this Masai Mara safari to a close.
Pricing
Rates vary by season, with low season from $1,200 per person and peak season (July to October) from approximately $1,700 to $1,900 per person. Final rates confirmed at time of booking.
Why travel with us
We keep group sizes intentionally small so every guest gets the attention, flexibility, and authenticity a safari deserves.
Our guides are born from the landscapes they lead. Decades of knowledge, sharp eyes, and a genuine passion for East African wildlife.
From comprehensive pre-trip briefings to 24-hour in-country support, your safety and comfort are always our first consideration.
Every safari we operate contributes to wildlife conservation and local community projects across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
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