3 days · Budget
3-Day Amboseli Budget Safari
Elephant herds and Kilimanjaro views on two full days of game drives, with a simple lodge or tented camp.
From $550 ppView trip
Plan your safari
Share your dates and what you want to see. Our consultants will send a route, lodges and price.
Prefer to talk? WhatsApp or call +254 711 547299
Short on time
3 Day Kenya Safari Tours
The classic short safari is three days, and for most people that means the Masai Mara: two nights in the park, a full day of game drives and a real chance of the big cats and the Big Five. Every trip is private, from budget to luxury.
- Your own 4x4, guide and dates
- Drive to save money or fly to save time
- From $550 per person
Fully private
Your own vehicle and guide
Kenya-born guides
20+ years in the field
Nairobi pickups
Plus city stays if you arrive early
Nairobi-based team
Cianda House, Koinange Street
Top picks
Our 3 day Kenya safaris
Prices are per person for a private safari. Add a fourth day for a balloon flight over the Mara.
At a glance
A 3-day Kenya safari with us costs from $550 per person in Amboseli, $600 in the Masai Mara by road and $1,350 if you fly to the Mara. You get one full day and two half days of game drives.
- Price from
- $550 per person
- Best for
- A first taste of safari, or a short add-on to a beach or business trip
- Masai Mara
- 5 to 6 hours by road from Nairobi, or a short flight
- Park fees
- Masai Mara: $200 per adult per day from July to December, $100 from January to June (non-resident rates for 2026). Amboseli and Lake Nakuru: $90 per adult per day.
Park fees are set by Kenya Wildlife Service and the county governments and can change; we confirm them when we quote.
3 days · Budget
3-Day Masai Mara Budget Safari
The shortest road trip to the Mara from Nairobi, with a full day of game drives and a comfortable tented camp.
From $600 ppView trip
3 days · Mid-range
3-Day Mid-Range Masai Mara Safari
Two nights in a mid-range Mara lodge with morning and afternoon drives in a private Land Cruiser.
From $1,000 ppView trip
3 days · Luxury
3-Day Luxury Masai Mara Safari
A lodge inside the reserve, private drives and time at the Mara River, all in two nights.
From $1,400 ppView trip
3 days · Fly-in
3-Day Masai Mara Flying Safari
A short flight from Nairobi instead of a five to six hour drive, so you land in time for an afternoon game drive.
From $1,350 ppView trip
4 days · Mid-range
4-Day Masai Mara & Lake Nakuru Safari
Rhinos and flamingos at Lake Nakuru, then two nights for the big cats in the Masai Mara.
From $1,200 ppView trip
4 days · Luxury
4-Day Masai Mara Balloon Safari
Three nights in the Mara, with the option of a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the plains.
From $1,700 ppView trip
Prices are per person in US dollars and exclude international flights. The final price depends on group size, travel month and the lodges you pick, and we confirm it in writing before you pay a deposit.
Compare 3 and 4 day safaris
| Safari | Length | Style | From (per person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Amboseli Budget Safari | 3 days | Budget | $550 |
| 3-Day Masai Mara Budget Safari | 3 days | Budget | $600 |
| 3-Day Mid-Range Masai Mara Safari | 3 days | Mid-range | $1,000 |
| 3-Day Luxury Masai Mara Safari | 3 days | Luxury | $1,400 |
| 3-Day Masai Mara Flying Safari | 3 days | Fly-in | $1,350 |
| 4-Day Masai Mara & Lake Nakuru Safari | 4 days | Mid-range | $1,200 |
| 4-Day Masai Mara Balloon Safari | 4 days | Luxury | $1,700 |
Read before you book
Other ways to see Kenya
Since 2015
private safaris from Nairobi
Why travel with us
A Kenyan team that plans and runs your trip
01
Kenya-born guides
Our guides grew up here and have years in the field. They read animal behaviour, so you are in place before the action starts.
02
Your own vehicle
A private 4×4 with a pop-up roof for your group only. You decide how long to stay at every sighting.
03
One clear price
Park fees, accommodation, meals and transfers are in your quote. If something is extra, we tell you before you book.
What's included
Fully private and all-inclusive
We handle all the logistics between parks, so you aren’t managing anything on the ground.
Included
- Lodges and camps matched to your budget
- All meals on safari
- Park entry fees
- Game drives with your own guide and driver
- A private 4x4 for the whole trip
- Airport transfers in Nairobi
- Transfers between parks
Not included
- Domestic flights (included on fly-in safaris)
- International flights
- Travel insurance (we can help arrange it)
- Tips and spa treatments
Reviews
From our travellers
★★★★★
“The trip completely exceeded our expectations, even despite it not being ‘peak season’ we were able to tick off Africa’s Big 5 on the very first game drive. This was in no small part down to our guide, Bonnie…”
CCameron M
Couple · 6-day luxury safari
Couple · 6-day luxury safari
★★★★★
“Stanley Gichuki crafted the journey of dreams… Samburu was our favorite in terms of landscape. We stood in awe in Samburu as reticulated giraffes swept across the horizon…”
AAnouchka905
Samburu and the Mara
Samburu and the Mara
★★★★★
“Our guide Samuel was fantastic – incredible wildlife knowledge and spotted animals from miles away. We saw the Big Five, including a pride of lions with cubs in the Maasai Mara.”
SSam G
7-day safari
7-day safari
How to book
- 1Contact our consultantsThrough the form on this page, WhatsApp or email.
- 2Agree your route and lodgesWe add any domestic flights once the route is set.
- 3Reserve with a 30% depositThe balance is due 60 days before travel.
Best time to go
Jun to OctLong dry season. Wildlife is concentrated and easiest to spot.
Late Jul to OctThe wildebeest migration pushes into the Mara from the Serengeti.
Jan to FebShort dry season with strong game viewing.
Other monthsQuieter parks, lower lodge rates and greener scenery after the rains.
Planning your 3 day Kenya safari
Three days is short, so the trick is not to spread it thin. One park well done is better than two parks rushed. A typical trip runs like this: you depart Nairobi on the first morning and arrive at camp for lunch and an afternoon drive, the second day is spent on game drives all day, and a final morning drive is followed by a return on day three. Fly in rather than drive and you get more time to see the wildlife.
On a short trip, the park you select is more important than on a long trip, so select for what you most want to see.
The Masai Mara is the default, and for good reason. By road it takes about 5-6 hours from Nairobi, or 45 minutes by light aircraft. The open grassland allows sightings to be easily made, the big cats are resident year round, and from late July to October the wildebeest migration is in the reserve in large numbers. Choose it if three days is all you have and this is your first safari.
Amboseli is for anyone who is interested in elephants and the Kilimanjaro background. It takes about four hours from Nairobi, the herds are big and accustomed to cars, and on a clear morning the mountain behind them is as good as safari scenery gets. Fewer predators than Mara, but the best big elephant photos in the country.
If you are coming from the coast and not Nairobi, Tsavo East or West is a good choice as it is located between the two. Large, wild, quieter than the Mara, elephants with red dust in the east, more varied terrain in the west.
Drive or fly?
The cost is kept down by driving and the Great Rift Valley is seen en route, stopping at the escarpment viewpoint. Flying is more expensive but it saves time: a 45-minute flight versus a half-day drive each way, which is a significant advantage on a three-day trip. We quote both so you can weigh it up. See our 3-day Masai Mara flying safari for how that works.
What every 3 day trip includes
All of our 3 day safaris are private and all inclusive: park fees, accommodation, all meals on safari, game drives with a dedicated guide and driver and airport or hotel transfers. We take care of everything from Nairobi to the park, you take care of nothing on the ground. International flights, your Kenya eTA (approx USD 30, takes about 3 working days), tips and drinks are not included. A hot air balloon ride over the Mara is an optional extra we can add.
When to go
The best time to see wildlife is during dry months (June to October and January to February). Migration is in the Mara from approximately July to October, with the highest river crossings occurring July to September, which is the most expensive and busiest time of year, so book early if dates are set. Outside those months the parks are less crowded, the country is green following the rains and many lodges offer reduced rates. We have a month-by-month guide to visiting Kenya, which breaks down each season.
Getting there
Most guests fly into Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and start the safari from there. We organise the pick-up and can book a hotel in Nairobi if you arrive a day early or finish in the city before you fly home.
Not sure how many days you need?Tell us what you want to see and we’ll suggest a length and route.
Last updated: 13 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is 3 days enough for a Kenya safari?
Yes, for one park. Three days gives you two nights and a full day of game drives, which is plenty for strong sightings in the Masai Mara. It’s not enough to combine parks, so we keep a short trip to one.
Which park is best for a 3 day safari?
The Masai Mara for a first safari and the best all-round game viewing, Amboseli for elephants and Kilimanjaro, or Tsavo if you’re starting from the coast.
Should we drive or fly?
Driving is cheaper and shows you the Rift Valley on the way. Flying costs more but saves roughly half a day each way, which counts for a lot on a three-day trip. We quote both.
Are these 3 day safaris private?
Private, every one. Your vehicle carries only your party, and the itinerary is yours to adjust.
How much does a 3 day Kenya safari cost?
Our 3 day trips start at $550 per person, and the final price depends on your season, group size and lodge level. Send us your dates and party size and we’ll quote it exactly, usually within 24 hours.
Can we see the Big Five in 3 days?
Often, though never guaranteed. The Mara holds lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo reliably; rhino are the hardest of the five to find there.
Let us help plan your safari
Tell us your dates and the parks you’re interested in. Our consultants will put together a private itinerary and an all-inclusive quote.