Tour Overview
This is our most requested short safari, built for travellers who have a long weekend or want to combine the Mara with a beach extension. You leave Nairobi early, arrive at the reserve in time for an afternoon game drive, then get a full day inside the Mara before heading back on the third morning. It moves fast but doesn't feel rushed - two nights is enough to see the Mara's resident wildlife and, between July and October, the river crossings.
Safari Highlights
Two full game drives inside the Masai Mara National Reserve
Chance to see the "big five" in one of Africa's most concentrated wildlife areas
Sundowner stop on the escarpment on the return drive
Optional visit to a Maasai village on day 2
Day-by-Day Itinerary
D1
Nairobi to Masai Mara
Nairobi → Masai Mara National Reserve
Depart Nairobi by road after an early breakfast, driving via Narok with a stop to stretch and pick up supplies. Arrive at camp in time for lunch, then head out for an afternoon game drive as the light softens and animals become more active. Dinner and overnight at your camp inside or bordering the reserve.
D2
Full Day in the Masai Mara
Masai Mara National Reserve
A full day dedicated to game viewing, with an early morning drive when predators are most active followed by a mid-morning break back at camp. Head out again in the afternoon to cover different parts of the reserve - the Mara River area if the migration is in season, or the Central and Musiara plains at other times of year. Optional cultural visit to a nearby Maasai village can be arranged.
D3
Masai Mara to Nairobi
Masai Mara National Reserve → Nairobi
One last early game drive on the way out of the reserve, then breakfast at camp before the drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the early-to-mid afternoon. We can arrange drop-off at your hotel or the airport depending on your onward plans.
What's Included
- -Transport in a 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof for game viewing
- -English-speaking driver-guide
- -2 nights' accommodation on the basis stated (full board unless noted)
- -All game drives and park entry fees for the Masai Mara National Reserve
- -Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
What's Excluded
- -International or domestic flights
- -Visa fees and travel insurance
- -Tips for your driver-guide and camp staff
- -Alcoholic and premium beverages
- -Optional Maasai village visit fee (paid locally)
- -Items of a personal nature
Accommodation & Safari Vehicle
Accommodation: Mid-range tented camp (upgradeable to luxury)
Vehicle: 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
Best Time to Visit
The Mara has resident wildlife throughout the year. For the wildebeest migration and river crossings, July to October is the classic window, though exact timing shifts year to year with rainfall. The calving season further south in the Serengeti (January-March) means fewer wildebeest in the Mara itself during those months, though resident game viewing remains good.
