Kenya Safaris
3 Days Maasai Mara Lodge Safari
Overview
About this safari
A classic comfort lodge safari to Kenya's most celebrated reserve — the Maasai Mara, home to the Big Five and the spectacular wildebeest migration (Jul–Oct).
Three days, two nights of game-viewing across rolling grasslands, gallery forests and the Mara River. Sleep in a comfortable lodge with hot showers, full board, and sundowners on the deck as the plains turn gold.
This is the ideal first East African safari — short enough to combine with a beach extension to Mombasa or Zanzibar, complete enough to tick off lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and (with luck) rhino.
Highlights
What you'll experience
- Big Five game-viewing in the Maasai Mara
- Seasonal Great Migration (Jul–Oct)
- Comfortable lodge with hot showers and full board
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- 4x4 / pop-up safari van for excellent photography
- Optional balloon safari add-on
Day by Day
Itinerary
Day 1 - Nairobi → Maasai Mara (285 km, ~5 hrs)
Pick-up from your Nairobi hotel at 07:30 and drive west through the Great Rift Valley, with a viewpoint stop above the escarpment. Arrive at the Maasai Mara for lunch at the lodge. Afternoon game drive in search of lion, elephant, buffalo and giraffe across the open plains.
Lunch, DinnerOvernight: Mara Sopa Lodge [CONFIRM lodge]Day 2 - Maasai Mara — full day game drives
Full day of game drives across the Mara with a picnic lunch by the river. The Mara borders Tanzania's Serengeti and is the stage for the Great Migration. Search for the Big Cats — lion prides on kopjes, leopard in the riverine forest, cheetah on the plains — and visit Mara River crossing points in season.
Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, DinnerOvernight: Mara Sopa Lodge [CONFIRM lodge]Day 3 - Maasai Mara → Nairobi
Early morning game drive while the plains are still cool, returning to the lodge for breakfast. After check-out, drive back to Nairobi, arriving early afternoon for hotel or airport drop-off. [CONFIRM exact end timing]
Breakfast
What's Included
- All park entrance fees
- Transport in a 4x4 safari vehicle / van with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Full board accommodation on safari (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Game drives as per itinerary
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
What's Excluded
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Tips for guides, drivers and camp staff
- Personal items (laundry, phone, curios)
- Optional activities (balloon safari, cultural visits)
- Optional Maasai Mara balloon safari
Good to Know
Before you travel
Best time to travel
Jul–Oct for the Great Migration. Jan–Feb for big cats. Year-round excellent game-viewing.
What to pack
Neutral-coloured clothing, fleece for early mornings, sun hat, sunglasses, binoculars, camera with zoom.
Fitness level
Easy. Most activity is from a vehicle; short walks at lodges only.
Frequently Asked
Questions about this safari
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