3-Day Kenya Safari from Nairobi: Read These Tips Before Booking!!
Are you planning a Kenya Safari holiday to Masai Mara and looking for real insights on what to expect before you book?
Coming to this stunning landscape where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles head each year for rich grasses, as part of the great wildlife migration across the Mara River, is legendary.
Year-round residents also include lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, leopards, and cheetahs to name a few + 500 bird species! No surprise, some call this place the 8th wonder of the world!
It’s a bit overwhelming trying to decide the best Kenya safari trip when you’ve never been on one! There are so many ‘packages’ on offer and tour operator recommendations for this region, for various activities and more. But…
If you are like us, you want a safari trip that reflects YOUR personal ‘bucket list’, budget, level of adventure, and available time.
We love safari travel experiences! As well as Kenya, we have been Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, explored Botswana’s Okavango Delta, and enjoyed South Africa’s rich sightings of wildlife. Each one is very different but we have learned that knowing what to ask any tour operator before booking is key.
Our goal with this guide is to help you plan an unforgettable 3 Day Masai Mara Safari. We share everything from our own experience you need to know: budgeting, transportation to safari activities, best camps & selecting a tour operator.
Best Time to Go on Safari in Kenya
If you visit in January and February (as we have) or June to October, you will experience the dry season which is the best time to visit. April is the wettest month, along with March, May and November. During the ‘green’ season, it is probably more difficult to get around, but prices will be lower!
Does it rain in Masai Mara? Yes, it does and these seasonal rains are essential as they provide the food source for millions of animals.
If you want to experience the Great Migration of millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles, the best time for a safari in Masai Mara is between July and October.
Masai is located just south of the Equator which means that the climate is fairly constant. You will be at a higher elevation between 5000-6200ft (1500-1900m) so expect cooler evenings any time of year.
🎒TPOP Tip:
If you plan to come during peak migration season, expect flights, accommodation & park fees to be higher. It will be crowded!
Masai Mara Reserve – What You Need to Know
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is in southwest Kenya and is approximately 1,500 square km (580 square miles) in size. It was established in 1961 and the reserve borders the Serengeti.
Since 2024, you can’t drive yourself into the park, so you need to book with an official driver/guide. This is mainly to protect the fragile environment.
Within the Masai (or Maasai) Mara, there are also 15 conservancies, which are essentially a private land partnership between the Masai people and tourism businesses.
The Masai land is leased and protected while farmers can bring their cattle onto it to graze during daylight hours. It’s a wonderful example of a win-win use of land protecting grazing land for millions of animals that otherwise could be threatened.
Why Choose Mara North For Your Safari
When we first looked a the range of camps and lodges and locations it was overwhelming.
We decided to book into the Karen Blixen Camp, a North Mara Conservancy. because it is a smaller area with a very high density of wildlife, so over 3 days we would drive less distance and see more. (We did!)
Staying in Mara North didn’t restrict us from taking a safari into Masai Mara Reserve for a day during our stay. This way you have the best of both worlds.
It is more expensive to stay at a Conservancy but there are far fewer vehicles driving around! This means when you spot wildlife you can linger longer and simply enjoy nature doing its thing. You can also go off the main roads to see animals closer whereas in the Mara Reserve you must stay on the roads.
So, if this is your once in a lifetime Kenya safari holiday, here’s what to ask yourself and be clear on your location preferences with your tour operator.
- Am I okay with several vehicles competing for sightings?
- Am I okay with longer drives ie. More time on roads vs. close to animals on grasslands?
- Would I prefer more flexibility during Safari drives?
What To Expect On A 3 Day Safari
Early morning and late afternoon game drives are the main activities when on a safari. Expect to be woken up before 6 am with an offer of a coffee before breakfast and to head out around 6.45 am.
Timings may differ from camp to camp depending on how far your drive is to view animals. You will drive from spot to spot for several hours (4-5 in our experience) and then return to the camp for lunch.
Early afternoons are a time to relax at the camp’s pool, have a workout, spa treatment, or nap in your tent. Camps on the river or near watering holes often have animals visiting so you may enjoy more sightings from your base.
Around 4-5 pm, you’re off again for a late afternoon/evening safari and this is when there may be more activity like lions hunting or hyenas preying on Thompson Gazelle herds – we saw both these on our first day!
Drinks and dinner will be served in your camp. Most are all-inclusive as they are remote.
Activities in Masai Mara Beyond Safari Drives
As you plan for your 3 day Kenya safari stay, think about what other activities you might want to include from sunrise balloon rides over the Masai Mara to horse riding and Masai Village visits. We have more details on each below so you can make a short list to check further with your tour operator.
Most operators also offer a full-day Masai Mara Reserve Safari drive, in addition to your Conservatory lands. This is a perfect time to include a safari picnic lunch at a beautiful spot overlooking miles of open savannah!
Luxury Places to Stay in Masai Mara North
You’re going to be in a fairly remote wilderness when on a Kenya Safari. However, the choice of luxury camps in stunning locations continues to grow to meet modern demands.
Maybe you’re planning this safari to celebrate an anniversary, special birthday, or honeymoon and so you might be thinking of splashing out a bit on accommodation.
If this is the case, we strongly recommend staying at one of the 15 Conservancies within Masai Mara. Mara North Conservancy is one of the most prolific for wildlife viewings and is fairly close to the National Mara Reserve.
Luxury Options in Mara North include larger sites with more facilities to intimate hidden away smaller camps.
Check these out for facilities, prices and availability:
Karen Blixen Camp Mara North
You may not immediately recognize the name but you may well have watched the classic film ‘Out of Africa’.
Karen Blixen was a Danish woman living in Kenya in the 1920s and the author of the book, Out Of Africa, written about her life here. This camp is named in her honor and its understated luxury in a stunning part of Mara North is hard to beat.
With only 22 tents sitting along the River Mara and hippos entertaining daily, it’s like you are living surrounded by the best of Masai Mara.
Don’t be surprised to look up from your dining area and see giraffes and elephants grazing on the opposite bank of the river.
➡️ Check here for Karen Blixen Specials and Package Prices
The staff are friendly and professional. All our game drives were full of adventure. They go the extra mile to give you time to watch animals at play while out on safari, even if it means you return a little later for dinner.
Speaking of food, the meals here were simply outstanding. Being vegetarian was not a problem at all and in fact, the freshness and creativity of the food surpassed my expectations. It was like dining in a top restaurant at every meal.
You can lounge by the small pool between drives, go hot air ballooning, visit Masai Villagers, have spa treatments, do bush walks, take a photography course, and more!
A Masai Warrior (ours was called Steve) accompanies you in the hours of darkness to and from your tent to the main dining area and bar.
It’s only about 5 minutes of a walk but this is standard practice in most camps and a lovely way to learn more about Masai culture and the area.
Top Activities To Do On Safari
Over a 3-day Kenya Safari holiday, you’re going to want to spend most of your time out on drives. In addition to seeing the stunning scenery and wildlife from a land cruiser, there are several unique safari experiences.
Here’s the best of them to consider and add to your ‘wish list’ to budget and discuss with your tour operator.
Safari Drives
You’re going to spend 4-5 hours early morning and late afternoon/sunset out on wildlife viewing during a Kenya safari holiday.
These are the best times for animals to be more active although you never know what you might see. We’ve seen cheetahs and groups of lions here during the heat of the day!
You’re going to be sitting in a LandCruiser vehicle with open sides and overhead shade. If you are on a private game drive, you can move around to get the photos you want each time the vehicle stops.
There are usually 2 driver/guides with you (more eyes to look for animal activity!) and they know typical spots where different animals hang out. Here’s some of what you should see (no guarantees of course):
Lions, Elephants, Giraffes, Wildebeest, Cheetahs, Leopards, Hippos, Gazelles, Baboons, Hyenas, Jackals, Ostriches, and many beautiful birds from the huge ‘Secretary Bird’ to the colorful lilac-breasted Roller. So cute!
Rhino sightings are possible but they are more difficult to find – to be honest we have only seen them in South Africa.
You will likely receive a refillable water bottle to use while out on safari. In our experience, they also offer soft drinks, coffee, and on afternoon drives, beer & cocktails.
Sunset spots will be out in the open where you can enjoy a cocktail and some appetizers as the day fades – but keep a look out for activities as this is when a lion sprung into action in front of our eyes, chasing a hyena!
You will be back at camp for pre-dinner drinks and a leisurely meal. If your camp is at a waterhole or river, expect to be entertained with animals coming to drink or local monkeys harvesting berries from trees.
Hot Air Balloon Safari Trip
If you haven’t experienced floating above the ground in almost silence, a Masai balloon flight at sunset might be another adventure in Kenya to consider.
Timing: 5 – 5.30 am start (champagne breakfast on landing).
Duration: 2 Hours (plus time for transport to the starting point from your camp). Cost: Budget for $150-200 USD pp.
Check in advance with Tour operators/camps if they can arrange this activity most do. Or reach out directly to Masai Mara Balloon Safaris. Imagine if you see a herd of elephants in motion or a pride of lions at sunrise after their night hunt without anyone else around!
After you land and enjoy breakfast outdoors, continue on your first safari drive to pack as much as you can into your 3-day safari.
Horse Riding in Mara Reserve
Timings: 7 am Tour (includes picnic breakfast) and 3 pm (includes sunset cocktail after the ride).
Duration: 2 Hours (plus time for transport to the starting point from your camp). Cost: $200 USD.
A horseback ride at sunrise through the pristine Savannah is another unique activity to enjoy while you are in Masai Mara. These are offered outside the main reserve at conservancies like Olerai Conservancy.
You are accompanied by a ranger on horseback (maybe 2) for security and safety. If you are not a little experienced in horse riding, this might not be for you as it does require knowing the basics.
Visit a Masai Village
This trip was a Masai Mara highlight for us along with the wildlife viewings.
Why? It’s a chance to connect with the Masai people at a personal level and get a glimpse into their way of life and culture. It’s colourful, resourceful, and creative with women in charge of home building and the men grazing animals.
Expect to spend a couple of hours meeting the villagers. You can tour a village home and view intricate Maasi beadwork which is world-famous. This is the time to buy a small souvenir – straight from the person who made it.
Walking Safari, Night Time Safari Drive
Walking Safari. If you are an adventurous soul, then you might be interested in a walking safari. Some Conservancies camps in Mara North include them but you can’t do them in the main Reserve.
Typically, these are an hour or less. You will be accompanied by a Maasi Warrior for security and safety. If you love a slower pace, photography, and bird watching, it’s a perfect opportunity. Expect to pay $20-50 USD.
Night Time Safari Drive. It’s true that as darkness falls on the Savannah, predators come to the plains ready to hunt. So, you might be interested in a nighttime safari to try and see hunters chasing their prey.
You can’t do this in the Main National Masai Reserve but certain camps offer this option – mainly within conservancies.
Personally, we prefer the dusk/sunset time of day to see predators come to life because the light is sensational. Also, you need to be sure you are going with a skilled guide who knows the area and where to look as it will be pitch dark!
If you are interested in this, ask your tour operator which camps offer this. Expect to pay additional fees for this excursion, typically around $100 USD pp.
How to Get Masai Mara from Nairobi
As part of planning your safari in Kenya, think about how you might like to get from Nairobi to your destination in Maasi Mara. Here’s a quick summary of options, prices, and timings to help you plan your transfer.
By Road: Drive Yourself, Hire Car/Driver & Group Transport (allow 6 hours to main Reserve)
By Air: Schedule Flight, Private Charter (45 mins to 1 hr)
Flights From Wilson Aerodrome
The closest town and airport to Masai Mara is Narok. However, multiple scheduled and charter flights can land on bush airstrips getting you closer to your camp.
We recommend SafariLink Airline leaving from Wilson Aerodrome in Nairobi. These planes are varied in size. We flew out on a larger 20+ seater and returned on a 14 seater. Both were comfortable and on time. Budget $350-$500 for a return flight.
Think about these flights as a bit like a bus service. Our camp was on Stop 3 which meant two quick landings before our Mara North one. Our first flight was around 45 minutes, the second 7 minutes, and the final one 5 minutes!
On our return, it was a quick 40-minute journey back to Nairobi. Flying at low altitude the views are incredible.
🎒TPOP Tip:
Seats are not assigned on these flights but try and get a window seat. You will see wildlife as you fly in or transit between airstrips.
Road Transportation
If you rent a car to drive yourself, budget $150 per day. You will need a 4×4 as road conditions can be rough in some areas. You will also need to budget for fuel for your round trip – $100 depending on how much driving you do around the Reserve.
After the town of Narok, the road becomes rough and can be difficult to navigate.
If you prefer to travel by road but don’t want to drive, hire a car with a driver. Then you can relax and enjoy the ride without any worries. Budget $300 per day as they will stay, drive you around, and bring you back after your 3-day safari in Maasi.You will be in a 4×4 vehicle.
Join a group transfer in a mini-van or larger 4×4 vehicle. This is the cheapest option and can be booked as part of your safari tour so check with the operator if this is your preferred transfer. Budget around $70-$100 per day for this option.
Note: There is a daily entrance fee for the National Masai Mara Reserve which is $200 per day for adults in 2025.
Crossing Into The Serengeti From Masai Mara
Kenya’s Masai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti share the same landmass and ecosystem and border each other.
However it’s not possible to drive between them without going through a specific route which would take a couple of days. If you want to combine both countries on your trip we suggest using a tour operator to help you figure out the best logistics.
How to Budget for a Kenya Safari
If you are planning to use a tour operator, one of their first questions will be to ask about your budget. Here’s our tips on how to think about this:
The lowest daily budget for a Safari from Nairobi is going to be around $350-$400 per day per person. This will likely mean shared road transport to Masai Mara and shared safari drives. Also, the cheaper accommodation options. It is also traveling off-peak season (ie. Not during The Great Migration).
At the other end, take direct scheduled commercial flights from Wilson Aerodrome. Stay in a luxury Conservancy camp with private safari vehicles. Plan for $1000-$1500+ per day per person for these.
Break down your planning into the following categories and get more ideas from tour operators to help manage keeping to your budget:
- Timing: Month of travel – if you travel outside of The Great Migration, it will be cheaper.
- Accommodation: maybe you don’t need a camp with a pool, gym or extra frills.
🎒TPOP Tip:
If you are a family group, some camps offer free or reduced rates for kids, so ask before you book.
- Transport To and Within Masai Mara.You can save costs by taking shared road transport and game drives. Be aware that if you end up in a middle seat on a safari, it might be a bit frustrating!
- Safari Drives and Activities. Check what is included in your camp accommodation package and what extras might be payable eg. How many safari drives (are they private?), costs for ballooning, Masai village trip, night walks etc.
Other costs to consider as you work out your budget are:
- Flights to/from Nairobi
- Visa costs (E visa is around $50 currently)
- Travel Insurance Cost
- Tips and Gratuities
- Overnight accommodation in Nairobi (if you stay here)
- Activities in Nairobi (if you tag on a couple of days here)
- Souvenir Shopping
What can I add To A 3 Day Masai Mara Safari
If you are coming a long distance to spend time in East Africa, why not extend your stay and take advantage of other amazing things to do in the region.
Kenya and Tanzania have great beaches to complement a safari in Masai Mara. Or add in a couple of days in the capital city Nairobi.
It’s also a short hop over to Rwanda or Uganda, other popular East African Countries. You can go on safari in both these countries too (smaller scale) and also trek with endangered mountain gorillas!
➡️ Read our Guide on 2 Days In Kigali – the capital of Rwanda
➡️ Read our Guide to Trekking with Gorillas in Uganda
Ideally if you have time and the budget, stretch your stay in EastAfrica out to 10 days or 2 weeks!
FAQs
Here are important questions often asked by people when planning travel to Kenya.
Is Kenya Safe to Visit As A Tourist?
We found Kenya to be safe and had no issues during our travels. We love travel adventures but we aren’t going to travel somewhere that is dangerous!
As always, we suggest you look at your Government’s Travel Guidance to check their view on current conditions and then make your personal decision.
The areas that are viewed as no-go are remote parts of Kenya and certain districts within Nairobi, not Masai Mara or the Karen area of Nairobi where most of us travelers head to.
We do believe it is reassuring to have a professional driver and transport service when in Nairobi. If you use a Kenya tour operator Asilia (we used them and they were great) they will take care of transfers and tours, and know where to go or not.
Do I need a visa to enter Kenya?
Every visitor to Kenya including children requires a valid visa. You need to apply for one BEFORE travel to the country but it is easy now to apply online:
Link to Kenya E-Visa Application Site
As part of this process, you need to input your passport number and your itinerary. Your tour operator will provide an itinerary you can upload with all the necessary trip details.
The visa is valid for 90 days on issue, so make sure you don’t apply too early!
🎒TPOP Tip:
TPOP Tip: Make Sure you have at least 6 months remaining on your passport and 2 blank pages.
What vaccinations do I need?
We always check with our Doctor to keep up to date with any vaccinations before we head anywhere overseas. The CDC recommends being up to date with several basic vaccines for Kenya Travel.
If you are arriving in Kenya from a country where Yellow Fever is present, you may need to show a Certificate of Vaccination. It is often called a ‘Yellow Card.’ Your Doctor will advise what is right for you.
Selecting The Right Safari Tour Operator
Any search online will bring up many African specialist travel companies. So, how do you pick the right one?
If you don’t have a preferred tour operator, we suggest you go to several with your Masai Mara Safari wish-list and budget. Ask for an itinerary and then compare and evaluate which feels the best all round adventure.
For a budget option check this company as a starting point:
Budget travel options – Bienvenido Kenya Safaris
If you are looking for a medium or luxury Masai Mara experience, take a look at these companies. We have used them (as paying customers)and found them reliable and flexible:
- US/UK Based International Tour Operator: Audley Travel
- Kenya Based Operator: Asilia Kenya Safari
Best Kenya Safari Choice for You?
Kenya is stunningly beautiful with landscapes and wildlife you can’t appreciate until you are here in person. The Big Five all live here and it’s possible to see them all in Maasi Mara!
Choose to Stay in A Conservancy Camp for a sustainable safari with typically fewer people, higher quality, and more unique activities.
Choose to Stay in a Regular Camp for a more classic safari experience or if you are working with a tighter budget.
We hope this guide helps you get clearer on what to expect on safari and gives you an exciting plan to share your dreams with your tour operator.
