This is the Best Kenya Itinerary: 3 Day Maasai Mara Safari (2025)

Planning a Kenya itinerary including a 3 days Maasai Mara safari? You’re in for the adventure of a lifetime. With so much astounding wildlife, it’s no wonder the country welcomes over 1.9 million international visitors a year.

I’ve been lucky enough to do safaris in both Kenya and Tanzania. On my Kenya trip, I spotted the ‘big five’ game animals in the famous Maasai Mara national reserve. Once-in-a-lifetime moments, included watching wild lions at breakfast-time and meeting the Maasai people in their village. Depending on the time of year, you can also see hundreds of animals on their Great Migration.

Your African safari dreams can come true at a fraction of the cost of luxury expeditions. In this dedicated guide, I will share a full 3 day Kenya itinerary, including where to stay, how to book, what to expect each day and how to keep costs down.

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The 3 day Kenya itinerary at a glance

Day 1: Depart Nairobi early morning, drive to Maasai Mara (4-5 hours), afternoon game drive
Day 2: Full day of game drives with packed lunch, spot the Big Five and hopefully the Great Migration
Day 3: Morning game drive, Maasai village visit, return to Nairobi

My safari started in Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi, where most international flights land. This is where your adventure will begin too.

Where to stay in Nairobi before your safari

For safari-goers, Westlands – north of the city centre – is the best area to stay in Nairobi. It’s safe with easy access to tour pickup points and close to attractions like the Giraffe Center if you have extra time for day trips from Nairobi.

If you are looking for an affordable Nairobi hotel with loads of character, check out the fabulous Acacia Tree Lodge.

The best hostels in Nairobi include Mad Vervet Nairobi Backpackers Hostel, which has evening entertainment and a shared kitchen. The top-rated Jabulani Nairobi Backpackers Hostel serves a tasty continental, vegetarian or vegan breakfast.

Explore the map below to find the best accommodation deals in Nairobi for your dates:

Day 1: Nairobi to Maasai Mara – First Game Drive

Your 3 day Kenya itinerary begins with an 8:00am pickup from your hotel in Nairobi city centre or Westlands. The drive to Maasai Mara takes 5-6 hours with a scenic stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint for breathtaking views.

Giraffe spotting

The first creatures I saw in the wild were giraffes. The first thing that surprised me is that you can see these beautiful tall animals sauntering around not far from the road, even before you’ve entered the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Unlike being in a zoo, this is the animals’ land and we were just visiting. There are no fences or barriers. Sometimes the giraffes would just walk around on the road, seemingly undisturbed by the presence of the vehicles.

After arriving at your tented camp and having lunch, you’ll head out for your first afternoon game drive from 4:00-6:00pm – the perfect introduction to your safari adventure. You’ll stay overnight in a private tent with bed, linen, shower, and toilet inside, complete with mosquito nets and hot water.

Book your 3-day Maasai Mara group safari from Nairobi here.

Day 2: Full Day Game Drives – The Big Five and More

The Big Five – and many more

Day 2 of your Kenya itinerary is dedicated to full-day game drives with packed lunches.

You’ll travel all the way to the Mara River where wildebeest cross from Serengeti into the Maasai Mara. All year round there are lots of resident hippos and crocodiles sited at the banks of Mara River.

While the aim is to see the ‘Big Five’ – referring to the African game animals said to be most difficult to hunt – we saw so many more creatures than I was expecting.

The five named are the African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard and rhinoceros. We were lucky enough to see all of these on our trip.

We also saw birds of prey, colourful lizards, monkeys, pink flamingos, crocodiles, African buffalo, leggy ostriches and enormous hippos.

Lions’ breakfast time

One morning on our safari required a particularly early start, in order to see the animals feeding as the sun rose.

Some lionesses had just killed a wildebeest, so as the male lion tucked into the feast, the females gathered the lion cubs and the rest of the pride to tuck into their share of the kill.

It was one of the most memorable parts of my Kenya itinerary.

Book this incredible budget safari adventure now – click here to find out more.

The Great Migration

We were extremely lucky to see the Great Migration during our safari. Every year, hoards of zebra, Thomson’s gazelle and wildebeest walk the 500 treacherous miles (800 km) from Tanzania to Kenya to find comfortable places to graze during the dry season.

After calving in Tanzania during the spring, around 1.7 million wildebeest move northwest, arriving in Kenya in July or August. They are joined by a quarter of a million zebra and just under half a million gazelles.

Once the rains begin in November, the migration starts moving south again.

It was incredible to see this natural phenomenon for ourselves and at one point we were surrounded on all sides by these magnificent journeying creatures during our safari.

Secure your spot on this amazing budget safari here.

Day 3: Maasai Village visit and return to Nairobi

Maasai Mara village

On the final day of our safari, we had an early morning breakfast before checking out. We visited a local Maasai village for a cultural encounter on our way back to Nairobi, which was a real privilege. The men of the village performed a captivating and rhythmic welcome dance and song for us, before inviting two of the men from our group to join them.

Dressing them up in the traditional blankets, with headgear and a stick, the Maasai asked the men to jump. Leaping high is seen as a sign of prowess and could help you win the heart of a Maasai woman – along with a few cows as payment for her family.

The Maasai villagers explained to us their lifestyle, including how every nine years they need to relocate their village because termites attack their mud homes. There are around 840,000 Maasai people in Kenya and another 800,000 in Tanzania.

While the men of the village are usually warriors or farmers, the women raise the children, cook, milk the cows and construct the mud houses, which bake hard in the sun. We were invited into one family’s home, which was pitch black, without any natural or artificial light.

Book your 3-day Maasai Mara group safari from Nairobi here.

Return to Nairobi

After the village visit, you’ll continue your drive back to Nairobi with a complimentary lunch stop at a traveller’s motel. You’ll typically arrive in Nairobi in the early evening, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel to conclude your Kenya itinerary.

The best time of year to go on a Kenya safari

The timing of your safari affects three key factors: costs, weather conditions and your chances of seeing the Great Migration.

Peak season runs from July to December. The main benefit is having the best chance of seeing the Great Migration, but you’ll pay double the park fees and encounter more crowded conditions.

Off-peak season is from January to June. The advantages include significant savings and fewer crowds. While you’ll still likely enjoy excellent wildlife viewing, you’ll miss the peak Great Migration period during these months. Also, there may be rain, particularly during the long rainy season from March to May.

For budget travellers, January and February provide a good compromise, balancing drier weather with low season prices and substantial savings.

Budget safari cost breakdown

So how much does a 3-day Maasai Mara safari really cost? The base price is around €175 per person, however there are additional mandatory fees to enter the park. Below I outline what’s included and what’s not included.

What’s included in your budget safari:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Nairobi
• Professional experienced guide
• 4WD safari vehicle with pop-up roof
• 2 nights accommodation in private tented camps
• All meals (lunch Day 1 to lunch Day 3)
• Packed lunch on Day 2
• Bottled water during drives
• Maasai village cultural visit

Not included:

• Park fees (€400 peak season or €200 off-peak per person)
• Drinks and alcohol
• Tips for guides (€10-15 per day recommended)
• Personal expenses
• Optional hot air balloon tours (€400+ per person)

Cost comparison with other safari options

Budget safaris achieve affordable pricing by sharing costs among multiple travelers. Group tours split vehicle expenses between up to seven people, while tented camps provide comfortable accommodation without luxury pricing. Professional guides serve multiple guests, and set itineraries keep operational costs down by avoiding expensive customisation.

Cost comparison with other safari options:

• Budget 3-days safari: €375-575 per person
• Mid-range safari: €800-1,200 per person
• Luxury safari: €1,500-3,000+ per person
• Ultra-luxury safari: €3,000-5,000+ per person

The lions don’t charge extra for premium viewing – you’ll see exactly the same Big Five regardless of how much you spend. By choosing this budget group safari, you could save over €2,000 per person compared to luxury options.

Don’t miss out – book your budget Maasai Mara adventure here.

More money-saving tips for your safari

Planning ahead is one of the best ways to save money on your safari. Early bird discounts are often available, helping you avoid last-minute price surges that can increase costs significantly. Booking well in advance also ensures better availability for vehicles and camps, so you won’t be stuck with more expensive options.

Bringing your own essentials can save you money during your safari. Pack sufficient sun cream and insect repellent, as these items are expensive to buy at safari camps.

Packing list for your Kenya itinerary

Here’s a list of essential items:

• Neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, brown, green)
• Warm layers for early morning game drives
• Comfortable walking shoes and sandals
• Sun hat and sunglasses
• High SPF sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Camera with extra batteries/memory cards
• Binoculars (often provided by tour companies)
• Personal medications
• Flashlight/headlamp
• Wet wipes

Day trips from Nairobi

If you have extra time in Nairobi, you can take several action-packed day trips to keep you entertained.

These include the Giraffe Center with its Instagram-famous Giraffe Manor, where you can feed these long-legged lovelies. Also, at the Karen Blixen Museum, you can discover her life story that inspired a multiple Oscar-winning movie, Out of Africa.

Read all about the best day trips from Nairobi.

Frequently asked questions

Is 3 days enough for Masai Mara?

Absolutely! Three days is the perfect duration for a Masai Mara safari. You’ll have time for multiple game drives, spot the Big Five, visit a Maasai village, and potentially see the Great Migration if visiting during peak season. Many travellers find 3 days gives them a excellent taste of safari life without the expense of longer trips. It’s long enough to see incredible wildlife but short enough to fit most budgets and holiday schedules.

What is the cheapest way to do Masai Mara?

The cheapest way to experience Masai Mara is through a 3-day budget group safari during the low season (January-June). This saves you €200 per person on park fees compared to peak season. Choose group tours over private ones, stay in tented camps rather than luxury lodges, and avoid optional extras like hot air balloon rides. Packing your own essentials and travelling during budget season can bring your total cost down to just €375 per person.

How much should I budget for a safari in Kenya?

Budget €575-775 per person for a complete 3-day Maasai Mara safari experience. If you travel during budget season (January-June), expect to pay around €575 per person total. Peak season travel (July-December) costs approximately €775 per person due to higher park fees. These figures assume hostel accommodation (€15 per night) and moderate spending on meals and extras.

If you prefer budget hotels at €50 per night instead of hostels, add €70 to your total budget. For more comfortable spending on meals and souvenirs, budget an additional €100. Even with all upgrades during peak season (around €945 total), this is significantly cheaper than luxury safaris which cost €1,500-3,000+ per person for the same duration.

Final thoughts on the best Kenya itinerary

My Maasai Mara safari was a fantastic experience. I’m grateful to our tour guide and group of adventurers, who made it an unforgettable three days.

It was well worth joining a tour group and I made new friends from around the world, as we shared this trip of a lifetime.

It’s highly recommended to give you a taste of Africa’s incredible wildlife and culture, while being easily accessible from Kenya’s capital city. Check the dates and book your adventure here.

Ready for more African adventures? Next up, discover more safari adventures in my post about Tanzania.