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A male lion resting in tall grass.

Budget safari · Kenya

3-Day Maasai Mara Safari

The shortest way to see the Maasai Mara: leave Nairobi in the morning, reach camp for an afternoon game drive, spend a full day on the plains with a picnic lunch, and return on day three.

  • 3 days
  • Kenya
  • Budget safari
  • From USD 420
Get a free quoteAsk on WhatsApp
4.9/5 from 31 traveller reviews on SafariBookings (opens in a new tab)

The journey

A closer look at your trip.

The shortest way to see the Maasai Mara: leave Nairobi in the morning, reach camp for an afternoon game drive, spend a full day on the plains with a picnic lunch, and return on day three.

Maasai MaraNairobi
Duration
3 days
Countries
Kenya
Trip style
Budget safari
Transport
4x4 Land Cruiser
Start
Nairobi
End
Nairobi
Price
USD 420 (Jan-Jun) / USD 620 (Jul-Dec)

Choose your safari style

The same route, at the level you want to travel.

This journey follows the same wildlife route whichever style you choose. What changes is where you sleep, the level of service and how the trip is quoted.

Choose your safari style

Budget: where you stay

Suggested accommodation

Suggested accommodation is subject to availability. A property of a similar standard may be proposed where necessary.

What this style means

  • Practical camps and lodges, and public campsites inside the Tanzanian parks. The wildlife itinerary, the guiding and the 4x4 Land Cruiser are the same as on the upgraded styles of this route.
Price
USD 420 (Jan-Jun) / USD 620 (Jul-Dec)
Catalogue reference
Product 1
Enquire about the budget option

Midrange: where you stay

Suggested accommodation

Suggested accommodation is subject to availability. A property of a similar standard may be proposed where necessary.

What this style means

  • Upgraded rooms, dining and a higher service level throughout, with a 4x4 Land Cruiser for game drives.
Price
On Request
Catalogue reference
Product 58
Enquire about the midrange option

Trip highlights

The places that shape this journey.

  • 01

    Maasai Mara

  • 02

    Nairobi

Your route

Across Kenya.

Nairobi → Maasai Mara → Nairobi

We will confirm the day-by-day sequence and overnight stops in your detailed proposal.

KENYATANZANIANairobiMaasai Mara

Schematic route · See the day-by-day programme for travel details.

Day by day

3 days in East Africa.

  1. Day 1

    Nairobi to the Maasai Mara

    Leave Nairobi for the Maasai Mara, travelling through the Great Rift Valley and Narok on the way to the reserve. The changing landscape is part of the introduction, from the escarpment to the broad plains of southern Kenya. On arrival, settle into camp and pause for lunch before the programme’s first game drive. Watch for grazing herds and the predators that follow them as the light softens, then return for dinner and the night.

    Overnight
    Miti Mingi Camp, Maasai MaraZebra Plains Mara Camp
    Meals
    Lunch and dinner

  2. Day 2

    A full day on the Mara plains

    Take picnic lunches into the reserve for a full day of game viewing from the 4x4 Land Cruiser. The Mara's open grasslands support zebra, wildebeest, antelope and the predators that share their habitat, while the river corridors provide another setting to explore. Your day allows time to watch animal behaviour rather than simply move between sightings. Migration herds may be present in season, but neither their location nor a river crossing can be guaranteed. Return for dinner and another night in the Mara.

    Overnight
    Miti Mingi Camp, Maasai MaraZebra Plains Mara Camp
    Meals
    Picnic lunch and dinner
    A male lion and lioness resting in grass at sunset.
    The Maasai Mara — the heart of this journey.

  3. Day 3

    Return from the Maasai Mara to Nairobi

    Begin the final day with breakfast at camp before leaving the Maasai Mara region for Nairobi. The published programme also describes a Maasai village visit; ask us to confirm its arrangements and whether an additional charge applies in your quotation. The return drive takes you back through the settled landscapes of the Rift Valley towards the capital. Agree your Nairobi drop-off point in advance, and coordinate any onward flight with the team when making your booking.

    Meals
    Breakfast

What is included

Your written quotation itemises every one of these for your dates, so you can compare it line by line with any other:

  • Park, reserve and conservancy entry fees
  • Accommodation for each night, named
  • Meals on each day
  • Game drives in the 4x4 Land Cruiser, with its seating
  • Driver-guide and fuel
  • Airport or hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • Whether the vehicle is private or shared

What to allow for

Most travellers also budget separately for the items below. Your quotation confirms which apply to this trip.

  • International flights
  • Kenya eTA and any Tanzania visa
  • Travel and medical insurance (Tanzania now requires inbound cover)
  • Optional activities such as a balloon flight
  • Drinks and tips for guides and camp staff
How safari prices and park fees work →

When to travel

Seasonal considerations.

The Great Migration is a natural phenomenon, not a scheduled event. The herds move through the Serengeti and Maasai Mara with the rainfall, so their position shifts from month to month and year to year, and river crossings can never be guaranteed on a given date. Broadly, the calving months in the southern Serengeti fall around January to March, the western and central plains hold the herds from roughly April to June, and the northern Serengeti and the Mara are the usual focus from about July to October. We plan around the most current reports rather than a fixed calendar.

Read the full season guide →

Who it suits

Is this the right journey?

  • A first safari, a short break, or an add-on to business travel — enough time to see a great deal without a long commitment.
  • Travellers at different budgets — this route is sold as Budget, Midrange, with the same wildlife itinerary throughout.
  • Solo travellers and couples happy to share a vehicle on a scheduled departure, or any group wanting the journey privately on request.

Pricing

Plan with the details in view.

USD 420 (Jan-Jun) / USD 620 (Jul-Dec)

Seasonal published prices in US dollars
Travel periodPublished price
January–JuneUSD 420
July–DecemberUSD 620

Published catalogue reference rate. Confirm availability and the final quotation for your travel dates.

This itinerary can also be arranged privately in a 4x4 Land Cruiser on request. A private departure is quoted separately and confirmed with your dates and group size.

Request a quotation

Free quotation

Get a quote for this trip.

Tell us when and how many. We will reply with a written quotation for the 3-Day Maasai Mara Safari in the style you selected above, and adjust the pace, parks or accommodation if you would like something different.

4.9/5 from 31 traveller reviews on SafariBookings (opens in a new tab)
  1. 01

    Tell us your dates

    Send the quick form or a WhatsApp message. It is free and commits you to nothing.

  2. 02

    Get a written quotation

    Our Nairobi team checks availability and sends a quotation stating the route, accommodation and exactly what is and is not included.

  3. 03

    Adjust it until it fits

    Change the pace, the style of accommodation or the parks. Ask anything before you decide.

  4. 04

    Book when you are ready

    Nothing is reserved or charged until you accept the quotation in writing.

Rather talk it through? Ask on WhatsApp

Free and without obligation. Nothing is booked or charged until you accept a written quotation.

Your questions, answered.

How do I request a quotation?

Send your travel dates, party size and accommodation preferences. We will confirm availability and send a written quotation before you book.

Can I customise this trip?

Ask our team about adjustments to the itinerary, accommodation and pace. We will explain what is practical for your dates and confirm any price changes.

What is the published price for this 3-day trip?

USD 420 (Jan-Jun) / USD 620 (Jul-Dec). Ask us to confirm the quotation for your dates and group size.

What vehicle is used for game drives?

Safari game drives use a 4x4 Land Cruiser. Your quotation will confirm whether your trip is private or shared and specify any separate transfer arrangements.

Before you choose

Understand the places, stays and practical details.

Read the destination guides alongside this itinerary to compare access, wildlife habitat and accommodation position. The named comfort option and written quotation confirm the actual overnight stays, meals and activities.

Places on this route

Useful preparation

Keep exploring

Related journeys.

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