3D / 2N
Maasai Mara
3-Day Maasai Mara Safari
The classic Maasai Mara safari from Nairobi: two nights in the reserve, a full day out to the Mara River, full board, park fees and Nairobi pick-up included.
FromKES27,500per person sharing
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Narok County, south-west Kenya · Kenya
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Big cats, open plains and the Mara River crossings
The Maasai Mara is Kenya's best-known safari reserve: open grassland with lion, cheetah and leopard all year, and the wildebeest migration from roughly July to October.
- Best time to go
- July–October for the migration; January–March for dry, quieter game viewing and lower fees.
- Getting there
- From Nairobi: about 5–6 hours by road or around 1 hour by light aircraft from Wilson. From Mombasa or Diani: roughly 2½–3 hours by scheduled light aircraft, or two days by road via Nairobi.
- Ideal for
- First-time safari-goers, photographers, migration chasers and honeymooners
The Maasai Mara is Kenya's headline safari: open grassland in Narok County where lion, cheetah and leopard are seen all year, and where the wildebeest migration arrives from roughly July to October. The reserve covers about 1,500 km² on the Tanzanian border and is the Kenyan end of the greater Serengeti–Mara ecosystem.
Why visit
Short grass and rolling plains make game easy to spot, and Mara guides are some of the sharpest in Africa. Two or three nights gives you a proper taste, and a sunrise hot-air balloon flight adds the big-sky view. If you'd rather share sightings with fewer vehicles, stay in one of the private conservancies on the reserve's northern and eastern edges. They cap vehicle numbers, allow guided walks and night drives, and pay the Maasai families who lease them the land.
What you'll see
- Lion prides, cheetah hunting on the open plains and leopard along the Talek and Mara rivers
- Wildebeest and zebra crossing the Mara River in migration season
- Elephant, buffalo, giraffe, topi, eland and pods of hippo
- Black rhino, if you're lucky, in the quieter corners of the reserve
- Maasai villages, visited with a local guide
Best time to visit
July to October is migration season. Crossings are most often seen in August and September, but they follow the rain, not a calendar, so nobody can honestly promise you a date. January to March is dry, quieter and excellent for predators. The long rains, roughly April and May, make some tracks muddy and close a few camps, but the plains turn green and rates drop. Narok County also charges lower reserve fees from January to June than from July to December, which makes the first half of the year the best value.
Getting there from Mombasa and Nairobi
From Nairobi: about 5–6 hours by road via Narok, mostly on tarmac, or about an hour by light aircraft from Wilson Airport.
From Mombasa: the quickest way is a scheduled light-aircraft flight from Moi International Airport or Ukunda (Diani), which takes roughly 2½–3 hours including stops. By road it's a two-day journey each way with a night in Nairobi or Naivasha. Many coast families ride the SGR to Nairobi and continue by safari vehicle from there.
Good to know
- Reserve fees are charged per person per day and paid cashless. Narok County applies strict ticket times, so a late exit can mean paying for an extra day; we plan your departure around it.
- Conservancies charge their own fees on top of, or instead of, reserve fees, depending on where you drive.
- Pack warm layers. The Mara sits well above 1,500 m and dawn drives are cold.
- Light aircraft usually limit luggage to around 15 kg, in soft bags.
- Don't fly a drone without the required permits.
Guide checked October 2026 by the Jeff Tours team. Park fees and visa rules change — we confirm current ones in every quote.
Trips to Maasai Mara
Ways to see Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara: your questions
How far is the Maasai Mara from Mombasa?
By road the Maasai Mara is well over 700 km from Mombasa, because you drive via Nairobi and Narok, so road safaris from the coast take two days each way or combine the SGR to Nairobi with a road transfer. The quicker option is a scheduled light-aircraft flight from Mombasa or Diani to the Mara airstrips, which takes about 2½–3 hours including stops.
When is the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara?
The herds usually arrive in the Maasai Mara from Tanzania's Serengeti around July and stay until about October, before heading back south as the short rains begin. River crossings are most often seen in August and September, but the timing shifts with rainfall every year, so plan at least two or three full days in the reserve to give yourself a good chance of seeing one.
How many days do you need in the Maasai Mara?
Two nights is the minimum for a worthwhile Mara safari, giving you one full day plus morning and evening game drives. Three nights is better, especially in migration season, when you may wait several hours at the river for a crossing. If you're coming from Mombasa by road, add two travel days each way; flying in makes a two- or three-night trip realistic from the coast.
What is the difference between the Maasai Mara reserve and the conservancies?
The national reserve is managed for Narok County and is open to every licensed safari vehicle, so popular sightings can get busy. The conservancies around it are private land leased from Maasai landowners. They limit vehicle numbers, allow walking safaris and night drives, and charge their own fees, part of which goes to the landowners. Many safaris combine a conservancy stay with game drives in the reserve.
Do Kenyan citizens and residents pay less for the Maasai Mara?
Yes. Narok County sets separate reserve fees for Kenyan citizens, East African residents and non-residents, and many lodges and camps publish lower resident rates. Bring your Kenyan ID or residence permit, because you'll need to show it. Reserve fees are also lower from January to June than from July to December, so green-season trips are the best value for Kenyan families.
What should I pack for a Maasai Mara safari?
Pack warm layers for early-morning and evening drives, because the reserve sits well above 1,500 metres and can be chilly. Add neutral-coloured clothes, a hat, sunscreen, binoculars, a torch and a power bank. Use a soft-sided bag if you're flying in: light aircraft to the Mara usually limit luggage to around 15 kg per person, including hand luggage.
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