Your Masai Mara Safari begins with a morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel or the airport. Meet your professional safari driver-guide and set off towards the renowned Masai Mara National Reserve. The journey takes you through Kenya’s scenic countryside, with a stop along the Great Rift Valley escarpment where you can enjoy panoramic views and take photographs.
Continue towards the Masai Mara, arriving at your mid-range safari lodge around lunchtime. After check-in and lunch, take some time to relax and settle into your surroundings before beginning your first wildlife adventure.
In the afternoon, head into the reserve for your initial game drive. The Mara’s open grasslands provide excellent habitats for a variety of wildlife, giving you opportunities to search for elephants, giraffes, lions, buffaloes, zebras and wildebeest. Depending on the season and where the animals are located, you may also encounter cheetahs, leopards, rhinos and numerous bird species.
As the afternoon progresses, enjoy the changing scenery and observe wildlife as they move across the plains. Your guide will help identify the different species and share information about their behavior and habitat.
Return to Jambo Mara Safari Lodge in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay, preparing for another exciting day of wildlife exploration.
Main Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve
Best Time To Visit: June to October for general wildlife viewing; August to October is traditionally associated with the wildebeest migration, although timing can vary.
High Season: June to October and December to March
Best Weather: June to October – generally sunny with moderate temperatures
Wildlife: Elephant, giraffe, lion and cheetah are commonly encountered, while zebra and wildebeest are particularly abundant.
Accommodation: Jambo Mara Safari Lodge
Wake up early and enjoy breakfast before setting out with packed picnic lunches for a full day of game viewing in the Masai Mara. This is the highlight of your Masai Mara Safari, with an entire day dedicated to exploring the reserve and searching for its diverse wildlife.
During the migration season, your guide will monitor wildlife movements and, where conditions and timing allow, may take you towards areas of the Mara River where wildebeest and zebras gather. River crossings are a natural event and cannot be guaranteed, but witnessing the migration herds moving through the ecosystem can be an exceptional safari experience.
Away from the migration herds, continue exploring the reserve in search of the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. You may also encounter cheetahs, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles and a wide range of bird species.
Enjoy your picnic lunch at a suitable scenic location before continuing with afternoon game viewing. The open savannah, riverine areas and diverse habitats provide plenty of opportunities for photography and wildlife observation throughout the day.
After several hours exploring the reserve, return to Jambo Mara Safari Lodge in the late afternoon. Relax, enjoy dinner and spend another night near the Masai Mara.
Main Destination: Masai Mara National Reserve
Accommodation: Jambo Mara Safari Lodge
Enjoy an early breakfast at the lodge before checking out and beginning your journey back to Nairobi. If your schedule allows, you can choose to visit a traditional Maasai village as an optional cultural experience. This visit provides an opportunity to learn about Maasai traditions, lifestyle, crafts and community customs, with the activity payable locally.
After the optional visit, continue your drive towards Nairobi. Enjoy the changing landscapes as you leave the Mara’s open plains and travel back towards the capital. A lunch stop can be arranged along the way depending on your schedule and package arrangements.
Upon arrival in Nairobi, you will be transferred to your hotel or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your onward journey.
Your Masai Mara Safari comes to an end with your departure from Nairobi, taking with you memories of Kenya’s remarkable wildlife, expansive savannah landscapes and the spectacular experience of exploring the Masai Mara.
Main Destination: Nairobi
