Masai Mara Masai Mara Budget Safari
Group joining departures and budget camps — the cheapest way to see the Mara without cutting the game drives short.
From $450 per person
View Budget Safari
The classic first safari: two nights in the Mara, a full day of game drives, and the Big Five on your doorstep — by road from Nairobi.
The 3-day Masai Mara safari is the itinerary most first-time visitors choose, and for good reason: it fits in a long weekend, keeps costs down by limiting park-fee days, and still delivers a genuine safari experience — two nights under canvas or in a lodge, an afternoon game drive on arrival, an uninterrupted full day in the reserve, and a final morning drive when predators are most active.
The drive from Nairobi takes 5–6 hours, descending the Great Rift Valley escarpment and passing through Narok town before reaching the reserve. You'll travel in either a pop-up-roof safari van or a 4x4 Land Cruiser (recommended in the rainy seasons, April–May and November, when black-cotton roads get slippery).
Pick-up from your Nairobi hotel or the airport between 7:00–8:00 am. Drive south-west through the Great Rift Valley with a viewpoint stop, then through Narok town for lunch en route or at camp. Arrive at the Mara by early afternoon, check in, and head out at around 4:00 pm for your first game drive as the heat fades and animals become active. Dinner and overnight at your camp or lodge.
A full day exploring the reserve with a picnic lunch by the Mara River, where hippos and crocodiles gather. Your guide tracks lion, cheetah, elephant and — during July to October — the migration herds. Optional extras today: a sunrise hot-air balloon safari (approximately $450 per person, booked in advance) or a visit to a Maasai village (about $25–30 per person, paid locally). Dinner and overnight at your camp or lodge.
An early-morning game drive at dawn — the best hour for big cats returning from a night's hunt — followed by breakfast at camp. Depart the Mara by mid-morning and arrive back in Nairobi between 4:00 and 6:00 pm, with drop-off at your hotel or the airport. If you have an evening international flight, this itinerary connects comfortably.
| Option | Low Season (Jan–Jun) | High Season (Jul–Dec) | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group joining — budget camp | from $450 | from $650 | Budget tented camp, en-suite |
| Private safari — budget camp | from $650 | from $850 | Budget tented camp, en-suite |
| Private safari — mid-range | from $900 | from $1,200 | Mid-range lodge/tented camp |
| Private safari — luxury | from $1,600 | from $2,200 | Luxury camp or lodge |
Prices are indicative per person sharing a double/twin, based on 2 travellers for private options, and include park fees ($100/adult/day Jan–Jun; $200 Jul–Dec). Exact price depends on dates, group size and camp availability — request a quote for an itemised figure.
July–October is migration season — the Mara at its busiest and most spectacular, with wildebeest river crossings possible on your full day in the reserve. Book camps 2–3 months ahead. January–February is warm and dry with excellent resident game viewing and calving on the plains. March–May is the green season: dramatic skies, newborn animals, the lowest prices of the year, and half-price park fees — bring a rain jacket and choose a 4x4.
If your dates fall in migration season and a river crossing is on your bucket list, consider the 4-day safari — the extra full day in the reserve roughly doubles your time near the river. Outside migration season, 3 days is enough for most travellers to see the Big Five.
Tell us your dates and group size — we'll reply on WhatsApp with an itemised price and the exact camp you'd stay in.
Group joining departures and budget camps — the cheapest way to see the Mara without cutting the game drives short.
Compare 3-day, 4-day, luxury, flying and honeymoon itineraries side by side and pick the trip that fits your dates and budget.