3-Day Masai Mara Private Safari

Masai Mara National Reserve

Rates From $935

About This Tour

Wildlife movement and seasonal rhythms define this short journey into the heart of the Masai Mara. The trip is designed for travelers seeking a focused encounter with one of Africa’s most famous ecosystems. It offers a steady pace that allows for deep immersion into the savannah landscapes and predator-rich plains.

The journey begins with a road transfer from Nairobi, descending through the Great Rift Valley toward the Mara. Two nights are spent within the reserve, providing ample time for extensive morning and afternoon game drives. The sequence concludes with a return drive to the capital, balancing active wildlife viewing with scenic travel days.

A calm atmosphere and reliable service ensure a comfortable experience for first-time visitors or those with limited time. The flow of the trip emphasizes the natural beauty of the reserve while maintaining a steady, unhurried rhythm. Travelers can expect a grounded and authentic introduction to Kenya’s wilderness.

Our Community Impact

Johnbow prioritizes lodges that provide steady employment to local communities and support regional conservation efforts. By choosing partners that engage with local neighborhoods, this safari contributes to the economic stability of the Masai Mara region.

Our Sustainability Promise

We focus on responsible travel by working with lodges that practice sustainable waste management and energy use. Our team emphasizes low-impact wildlife viewing to ensure the protection of the natural habitat for future generations.

Why This Safari Works

The itinerary uses a direct road route that provides a scenic introduction to the Kenyan landscape before reaching the wildlife-dense plains of the Masai Mara. This structure works well for travelers who enjoy seeing the transition from urban life to the wild. By staying in a single central location for two nights, the journey avoids frequent packing and allows for a more relaxed exploration of the reserve.

Your Trip at a Glance

A snapshot of your entire experience, from key highlights to where you'll stay and what to expect each day.

  • 4x4 Land Cruiser
  • Big Five Experience
  • Couple
  • Family
  • Full Board
  • Game Drives
  • Great Migration
  • Hot Air Balloon Safari
  • Road Transfer

Trip Summary

  • Day 1: Nairobi to Masai Mara by road
  • Day 2: Full Day Safari, Masai Mara
  • Day 3: Masai Mara to Nairobi by road

Destinations

  • Masai Mara National Reserve

Where You Stay

  • Mara Serena Safari Lodge – 2 Nights

Safari Highlights

  • Rift Valley viewpoints
  • Vast savannah plains
  • Morning wildlife activity
  • Afternoon light on the Mara
  • Private vehicle comfort
  • Scenic road transitions
  • Central lodge atmosphere
  • Steady travel pace

Featured Destinations

Where You Stay

Route Map

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Itinerary Highlights

  • Great Rift Valley descent

  • Transition to the plains

  • Arrival at the lodge

Itinerary information

The journey leaves the busy streets of Nairobi and moves toward the open spaces of the Masai Mara. A stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint offers a wide perspective of the landscape before the drive continues through rural towns. Upon reaching the reserve, the air becomes cooler and the scenery shifts to golden grasslands. After checking into the lodge, there is time to settle in and enjoy the quiet surroundings of the bush.

  • Meals: Lunch and Dinner
  • Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge
4 Days Budget Amboseli and Masai Mara

Itinerary Highlights

  • Early morning game drive

  • Savannah wildlife viewing

  • Sunsets over the Mara

Itinerary information

The entire day is dedicated to exploring the different sectors of the Masai Mara National Reserve. Morning drives often capture the most active wildlife behavior as predators move through the tall grass. The afternoon allows for a deeper look at the diverse species that inhabit the plains, from elephants to various antelope. The rhythm of the day is dictated by the movements of the animals and the changing light across the horizon.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
  • Accommodation: Mara Serena Safari Lodge

Itinerary Highlights

  • Final morning views

  • Return road journey

  • Afternoon arrival in Nairobi

Itinerary information

After a final breakfast overlooking the Mara, the return journey to Nairobi begins. The drive allows for one last look at the reserve’s edges before heading back into the highlands. The route passes back through the Rift Valley, providing a different perspective of the escarpment in the midday light. The safari concludes upon arrival in the capital city by late afternoon.

  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)

JohnBow Safari Expert Insight

❝ We designed this itinerary for those who want a focused and efficient wildlife experience. The road route is reliable and provides a grounded sense of Kenya’s geographical diversity. ❞

~Johnbow Travel Expert

Rates

Competitive rates for unforgettable experiences

SeasonDate Range2 Guests4 Guests6 Guests
Shoulder SeasonJan – March, 1 June – 30 June, 2026N/AN/AN/A
Green Season1 Nov – 21 Dec, 2026$ 1,160$ 990$ 935

Important Rate Notes

  • Rates vary based on availability and rooming.
  • Single room supplements apply for solo travelers.
  • Child policies differ across lodges and require confirmation.
  • Lodge alternatives of a similar standard may be offered if needed.

What's Included

  • All accommodations during the safari
  • Transportation on safari in a Jeep 4x4
  • Game drives
  • All Meals as indicated
  • Park entry fees
  • Professional tour driver/guide
  • Bottled drinking water

Optional Addons

  • Maasai Cultural visit
  • Hot air balloon safari
  • Bush breakfast
  • Nature walk

What's Not Included

  • International flights (we can arrange for you)
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips and gratitude
  • Government-imposed increase in taxes and/or park fees
  • Personal items

Ready to start planning your Safari? Tell us your travel dates, who you are traveling with, and what matters most to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive typically takes between five and six hours with stops along the way.
A private four-by-four Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof is used for all viewing.
A cultural visit can be arranged as an optional activity during your stay in the Mar

See What Our Travellers Have To Say

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Dorcas Munga profile picture
Dorcas Munga
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Great planning and communication. My trips have been smooth. All expectations met 💯
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Mike Bourassa profile picture
Mike Bourassa
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Our driver, Patrick, made the experience even more special with his outgoing personality and his knowledge of each park. He always made certain that he positioned his vehicle just right so we could get a perfect photo. He shared a lot about African culture an answered our questions. His keen eye spotted a cheetah from a long distance and we experienced the animal stalk and catch his prey (only to have a hyena steal it from him at the end). The accommodations were excellent at Massai Mara but were a bit too primitive at Amboseli. The large openings between the sleeping area and the bathroom brought way too many bugs into the tent. Wonderful memories of the entire experience!! We hope to come back next year and Patrick will be our choice of guide.
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Kate Mandere
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Wonderful team, very warm, helpful and well coordinated!
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Emmy Chepkoech
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I recently booked my 1st trip with Johnbow Tours and Travel and it was an outstanding experience from the start to finish. The team was professional, well-organised, helpful and incredibly friendly. Transfer to my hotel room and back was handled smoothly allowing us to relax and enjoy our journey. The fact that they allow lipa mdogo mdogo was not overwhelming paying for the package...I can't wait to book again with Johnbow 😊
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Gloria Kikete
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Jonbow has offers seamless travel service with a personal touch.
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Lolo Chgn profile picture
Lolo Chgn
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Safaris de 5 jours depart Nairobi et arrivée à Diani beach Visite des parcs d’amboseli, tsavo ouest et est , t.hills Découverte d une faune magnifique Notre chauffeur Chombo a tout fait pour rechercher les animaux et il était à notre écoute ! Dépaysement total garanti Les hôtels étaient tout confort avec des conditions d’alimentation en eau et électricité précaire ! Nous remercions vraiment Morris et Chombo pour ce magnifique Safari
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Irene Nduku
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Excellent services, the team was friendly, efficient and went above and beyond to meet my need.Their service was prompt and effective. I highly recommend
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Cheyenne van den B profile picture
Cheyenne van den B
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We had a two day tour with Johnbow Tours & Travel to Tsavo West. The park itself is not that good to be honest, but we stayed at Salt Lick lodge and that was amazing. The animals are coming so close to the lodge, it is really beautiful to see. The driver Pius was also really nice and he had a lot of knowledge about the animals. I have been in contact with Morris and that was also really pleasant because of the arrangement we had.
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virginia mumo
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As a team of 12pax..we had an exceptional good experience with the Johnbow team. Well informed and humble team who contributed a lot to an enjoyable trip and creating memories.
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Stay06810033473
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Customer Servive Customer service was great!Communication was timely and effective especially as there were some flight changes.Either way the bookings were perfect, customer service was exceptional and we even got a treat for our anniversary, at no extra costElijah and Sam were very helpful.
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Annette M profile picture
Annette M
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Exceptional Experience with Johnbow Tours and Travel! I had an unforgettable trip to Bali and Thailand, the guides were amazing, the places beautiful and the itinerary on point. Bali has very many temples and beautiful rice terraces, the swings and sunset views unforgettable. thank you Johnbow for the tour.
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KSP
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Memorable Safari with a Great Team and Guide We had a really good experience with Johnbow Tours during our Kenya safari. Morris, our main point of contact, was communicative and professional throughout. He stayed in touch via WhatsApp both before and during the trip, answering all our questions quickly and clearly, which gave us a lot of confidence going in.The pricing felt fair for what we received, and the Land Cruiser was comfortable, especially considering the long drives. They also provided snacks at the start of the trip upon request, which was thoughtful.Our guide, Paul, was very knowledgeable. He had a sharp eye for spotting animals and shared interesting facts about everything we saw. We had plenty of game drives and were lucky to spot a wide variety of wildlife.The only small issue was around water. We had been told water would be included throughout, but at a couple of the lodges, we were charged for drinking water, tea, or coffee during meals. It wasn’t a big deal, but having clarity on that from the start would’ve been helpful.Overall, it was a smooth and enjoyable safari. The team was dependable, the schedule was well planned, and we felt taken care of from start to finish. I’d absolutely recommend Johnbow to anyone planning a private safari in Kenya.
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Alain V profile picture
Alain V
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A great experience, a must for everyone who reads this Jonbow, our driver who has the same name as the agency, took very good care of us. He was on time for the appointment. Once on the road he was super attentive. In the park he was always the first to spot the game. He gave us very good explanations about all the animals we saw. No effort was too much to make us spot all the game. Super friendly and helpful guy. He operates from Mombasa/Diani Beach. He made sure that our safari will remain unforgettable.
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winnie a
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Dubai tour 2024 was a birthday gift to my son who turned lucky number seven. I writing to thank you for coordinating our trip to UAE, dubai. Everything was perfect; the flight, the hotel was clean and all staff were friendly and professional. Special thanks to Mary Gathua as she was the one who coordinated everything for us.The tour guides were excellent! They made things as easy for us as possible. I really appreciate these and that indicate the quality services that they provide.We had dubai town tour and our guide, Mr. Albert did exceptionally well. We learnt about the origin of UAE and the important features in dubai. We had dhow cruise with dinner, and the dessert safari with dinner.Desert safari was the best of the trip (the driver , Mr . Zaheer was very professional, and the overall experience was thrilling and amazing). The desert safari remains in my priority to do list when I visit dubai next.I would certainly recommend Johnbow Tours and travel to anyone wanting to visit Dubai. Thank you again and look forward to plan our next vacation with you.
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maryanne o
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Awesome Best tour company ..travelled to Dubai in Emirates .Booked the best hotel in Dubai..Johnbow staff are friendly and accommodatve I rate them10/10 they're affordable too .
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M A
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Superb service Happy New Year! Eunice managed our travel plans superbly, and I’m grateful. Our stay at Pride Inn was delightful; the staff’s service, food, attention, and entertainment made our holiday special and memorable. Thanks again for your excellent services.
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gladys n
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Efficient Eunice of John Bow ,was pretty helpful from getting us a hotel to SGR tickets, and transfers to the hotel.She also called to ensure we arrived safely.I loved the seamless process and especially because we chat on whatsapp mostly. Johnbow tours keep their word! I would choose them again.
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Christine N profile picture
Christine N
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Awesome experience This travel company was very efficient. I engaged them on whatsapp in the morning and by afternoon they had finalised everything including the sgr tickets. Their staff Eunice was readily available even at night because we did night travel. And early morning at 4 am, she called to find out if the driver had picked us. I would recommend them anytime
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Sabina M
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It was a time of relaxation and fun. The trip was well planned from Nairobi to Maasai Mara. We had so much fun and took so many photos. We saw lions, cheetahs, elephants and other animals. If we could do it again, we would still chose Johnbow tours and travel.
info@johnbowtoursandtravel.com
Kenya Cinema Plaza, 3rd Floor Room 3-8. Moi Avenue, Nairobi