This 6-day Masai Mara Wildlife Safari begins from Nairobi and provides an incredible safari experience with accommodation in premium lodges or camps as well as exhilarating, private game drives within the main Maasai Mara National Reserve. The Masai Mara Reserve is one of the world’s most recognized animal protection zones, home to a diverse range of African species. This Safari begins and finishes in Nairobi City, making it perfect for travelers coming on morning flights into Nairobi who do not need to spend the night in the city prior to the Safari.

 

Day 1

On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met by our local guide and transferred to the Eka Hotel in Nairobi (or similar) for an overnight stay.

Eka Hotel is a modern, contemporary hotel conveniently located between Jomo Kenyatta and Wilson airports. The hotel offers easy access to Nairobi’s most popular attractions, such as Nairobi National Park, the Karen Blixen Museum, and the Giraffe Center. If you’d like to spend more than one night in Nairobi to take in some of the local attractions, we can arrange that.

Eka Hotel has an excellent restaurant, bar, coffee shop, gym, swimming pool and wellness centre. Dinner is not included, but you can enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant or any of the nearby local restaurants (the hotel is opposite the NextGen shopping mall with a variety of restaurant options)

Day 2

After an early breakfast in Nairobi (included in the price), we depart for the Masai Mara, home to the highest density of wildlife in the world. We head to our safari camp, Basecamp Masai Mara, on the banks of the Talek River. During the scenic drive to the Mara, you’ll have plenty of time to discuss your day-to-day itinerary and game-viewing expectations with your guide.

We arrive at Basecamp Masai Mara at lunchtime. After lunch, we enjoy our first afternoon game drive in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. We can expect to see elephants, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest and a variety of antelope species. Predator sightings are always special, and surprisingly common in the Mara. We return to camp around sunset. Dinner in the camp restaurant overlooking the Talek River and the African plains beyond is a magical experience.

You will stay in one of 17 spacious canvas and mosquito-screened tents resting beneath thatched roofs on wooden platforms facing the Talek River. Each en-suite tent has a bio-flush toilet, a solar-heated, open-air safari shower, and a private balcony. The trees in the surrounding forest are home to monkeys and various beautiful birds.

 

Days 3 to 5

The Masai Mara National Reserve is most famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration, which can usually be witnessed between July and September when the herds cross from Tanzania into Kenya. However, even outside of migration season, there is plenty of resident game, including the Big Five (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard), resident herds of wildebeest and zebra, giraffe, cheetah, and many other species to be seen.

Hippos and giant crocodiles are abundant in the Mara River. Wandering herds of elephants traverse the grassy savannas, accompanied by eland, topi Thomson’s gazelles, and many other grazing animals. The iconic vistas and abundant wildlife found here make the Mara one of the world’s best safari destinations and a photographer’s dream location. For the next three days, we will explore all the Mara has to offer on fully guided game drives.

 

Our game drive times are flexible. We might go out on morning and afternoon game drives, returning to camp for lunch. Or we can take a picnic lunch and stay out all day to cover a bigger area and see more of the reserve. The Masai Mara National Reserve covers an area of 1,510 square km (or 583 square miles), and together with the Mara Triangle, it is by far the most visited game reserve in Kenya.

The Mara is an attractive all-year-round safari destination with two rainy seasons – the long rains from March to May and the short rains from October to December.

Day 6

After four glorious nights at Basecamp Masai Mara, we embark on our final morning game drive in the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Around mid-morning, we leave the Mara and head back to Nairobi. The drive takes around five hours, and we normally arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by late afternoon, in time to check in for your outbound flight.

Please Note:

  • Kindly ensure you do not book an outbound flight that departs before 21h00 (check-in at 18h00).
  • This safari is ideal for those on a budget with limited time but who still want to experience the wonders of game viewing in one of East Africa’s most famous game reserves.
  • Enquire Nowto ask about availability for your preferred departure date.
  • Please book early! This is a popular safari, and short notice availability is minimal.
  • Please let us know if you prefer a private safari.
  • This safari has a fixed itinerary, but we can also arrange a custom itinerary for you. If you’d like to change the duration or accommodation, please ask us for a custom quote.
 Includes
Eka Hotel
  • Meet and greet at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
  • Transfer to Eka Hotel
  • 1 night accommodation
  • Breakfast
Basecamp Masai Mara
  • Return transfers from Nairobi
  • Guide and vehicle for the duration of the tour
  • Accommodation and all meals
  • Daily game drives in Masai Mara National Reserve
  • Masai Mara National Reserve park fees
 Excludes
Eka Hotel
  • Dinner
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Visas if applicable
Basecamp Masai Mara
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Drinks
  • Laundry
  • Gratuities (Optional)
Other
  • International flights and medical insurance
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Additional nights’ accommodation in Nairobi