Mid-range 3-Day Maasai Mara Big Five Safari
$1,010 / personPrivate · lowest rate, US$, subject to availability
View itinerary
Kenya
3-Day Private Maasai Mara Safari
The essence of the Kenyan safari, focused entirely on the Maasai Mara, in three memorable days.
Duration3 days2 nights
From$1,184per person, US$, lowest date and party-size rate. Estimate, subject to availability
Trip overview
For a beautifully focused three-day escape, this private journey goes straight to the Maasai Mara. Expect sweeping savannah, superb game viewing and the possibility of encountering the Big Five, with two nights in a tented camp located inside the reserve.
The itinerary is intimate, efficient and rich in the experiences that make the Mara one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife destinations.
Departures run on any day subject to availability, and the trip suits solo travellers and travellers of all ages.
CountryKenyaMaasai Mara National Reserve
Duration3 days2 nights
ArrangementPrivateyour own vehicle and guide
Starts & endsNairobi
From$1,184Per person in US dollars, from $1,184 up to $1,812 depending on travel dates and party size. Subject to availability. All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.
Map route
The route, stop by stop
1
Nairobi
Day 1 · Departs Nairobi
2
Maasai Mara
Days 1 to 3 · 2 nights
3
Nairobi
Day 3 · Ends here
What you are likely to see
Lion
Elephant
Buffalo
Giraffe
Cheetah
Solid tone means often seen on this route. Outline means possible, and worth the patience. Sightings vary with season and luck, and nothing wild is guaranteed.
Gallery
The ground this safari covers
Day by day
3 days, in order
Each day lists the route, the meals included and the lodge for that night. Ask us for the expected driving time on any day.
01
Nairobi to the Maasai Mara
Nairobi to the Maasai Mara
A safari representative meets the party in Nairobi, and the road runs west through Kenya's changing landscapes: highland farms, the dramatic drop into the Great Rift Valley, and finally the open plains of the Maasai Mara.
Lunch is at Zebra Plains Mara Camp, with time to settle in, and then the afternoon game drive begins as the light softens over the savannah and the search for the Mara's famous wildlife gets under way.
Afternoon game driveLunch and dinner
Day 12 photos
Accommodation
Night 1 of 2
3 photos
Zebra Plains Mara Camp
North-east of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, near Talek Gate Tented camp · 3 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Zebra Plains Mara Camp lies just outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, to the north-east, about twenty minutes’ drive from Talek Gate. This position gives easy access to the reserve’s central plains for game drives, while the camp itself enjoys a quieter setting where zebra and buffalo are sometimes seen from the property. Accommodation is […]
02
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Full day in the Maasai Mara
A whole day on the Maasai Mara, with a packed picnic lunch, exploring the open plains and the reserve's richest areas in search of lion, elephant, cheetah, buffalo, giraffe and more. The pace follows the rhythm of the bush rather than the clock, stopping wherever the wildlife is worth watching.
Lunch is taken out on the plains, in the shade of an acacia, with the herds grazing in the distance.
Full day game drivePacked lunchAll meals
Day 22 photos
Accommodation
Night 2 of 2
3 photos
Zebra Plains Mara Camp
North-east of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, near Talek Gate Tented camp · 3 photos
View lodge & photosClose
Zebra Plains Mara Camp lies just outside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, to the north-east, about twenty minutes’ drive from Talek Gate. This position gives easy access to the reserve’s central plains for game drives, while the camp itself enjoys a quieter setting where zebra and buffalo are sometimes seen from the property. Accommodation is […]
03
Maasai Mara to Nairobi
Maasai Mara to Nairobi
After breakfast, a visit to a traditional Maasai village gives a chance to meet Maasai families and learn about their heritage, customs and daily life, from the way their homes are built to the meaning of their beadwork. Then comes the scenic drive back to Nairobi, closing the safari with drop-off at the airport or a city hotel.
Maasai village visitBreakfast
The price
The price, in full
Written plainly so there are no surprises at the airport. Anything optional can be added to the quote before you pay.
Included
Already in the price you see.
- Park fees for non-residents
- All activities unless specifically marked optional
- All accommodation unless listed as an upgrade
- A professional driver-guide
- All transportation unless marked optional
- All taxes and VAT
- Round-trip airport transfer
- Meals as specified in the itinerary
- Drinking water throughout the safari
Not included
Budget for these separately.
- International flights
- Additional accommodation before or after the safari
- Tips, published guideline US$10 per person per day
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, travel insurance and visa fees
- Government-imposed increases in taxes or park fees
- Meals specifically identified as excluded in the itinerary
Rates by travel date
| Rate range | Per person |
|---|---|
| Published range | $1,184 to $1,812 |
The advertised rate is presented in USD and varies according to the selected travel arrangements and availability.
Before you book
Questions, answered
What travellers ask us most about a safari like this one. Anything else, ask below and a specialist in Nairobi replies within one business day.
Is this a private safari?
Yes. This safari is private: your own vehicle and guide for the whole trip, and we never merge your party with another to cut costs.
How do we book, and how much is the deposit?
Press Book this safari. You can hold your dates for three days without paying while a specialist checks availability with the lodges and parks, or pay a deposit of 30, 40 or 50 percent, or the full amount, by credit or debit card through Pesapal. You can also pay by bank transfer, or in person at our Nairobi office by card. The standard schedule is a 30 percent deposit to confirm and the balance 60 days before arrival; bookings made within 60 days of departure, and gorilla or chimpanzee permits, are paid in full at booking. Card details go to Pesapal, never to Volcan.
Will we see the Great Migration and a river crossing?
The herds usually reach the Maasai Mara around July and stay until about October, crossing the Mara River many times in that period. For the rest of the year they are in the Serengeti in Tanzania. The timing is set by the rains, so no operator can promise a crossing on a given day, but our guides follow the reports every morning and position you as well as experience allows.
Do we need a visa?
Kenya: most visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), applied for online before travel at etakenya.go.ke. Rules depend on your passport and change from time to time, so check them before you book flights, and always apply through the official government portal, never a third-party agent. We tell you what applies to your route when we confirm your trip.
Which vaccinations and health precautions do we need?
See a travel clinic at least six weeks before you go. Malaria is present in most safari areas of East Africa, so ask about antimalarials, insect repellent and cover-up clothing for the evenings. A yellow fever certificate can be required depending on your route and where you arrive from.
What vehicle will we travel in?
A Toyota Land Cruiser from Volcan’s own fleet, in the company’s colours, with the same driver-guide from the first day to the last. It is yours alone for the whole safari, and every vehicle carries reusable water bottles.
Can children come on this safari?
Yes, and a private vehicle makes it easy to set the pace around them. Child rates depend on the lodges, and some camps and activities set minimum ages, so tell us the ages of everyone travelling and we confirm what applies before you pay anything.
What happens if we need to cancel?
Tell us in writing as early as possible. The cancellation charges for your trip are set out in your written booking confirmation. Gorilla permits, internal flights and non-refundable lodge deposits already paid on your behalf cannot be recovered, so they are charged in full. Refunds go back to the card or account the payment came from. The detail is in our Booking & Payment Terms.
Enquire
Plan this safari with us
Send your dates and who is travelling. A specialist checks availability with the lodges and parks and replies within one business day with an itemised price.
- Free, and no obligation
- Ask about changing the dates, lodges or pace
- Answered by the team in Nairobi who plan the trip
Availability
3-Day Private Maasai Mara Safari
Dates are held for 72 hours without payment while you check flights. Nothing is charged until the itinerary is confirmed in writing.
From
$1,184
Per person in US dollars, from $1,184 up to $1,812 depending on travel dates and party size. Subject to availability. All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.
Prices are for guidance and are confirmed against current lodge and park rates before any payment.
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