Maasai Mara Budget Camping Safari | Friends International Limited

Overview

A 3-day budget journey to Maasai Mara. Good wildlife, camps and lodges at a value price.

For residents. Your trip starts with pick-up from your home or our head office, and ends with drop-off. There is no need to go to the airport. Resident park rates apply on safaris.

Duration3 days / 2 nights

StyleBudget

Best forGroup travel

RouteMaasai Mara

PriceOn request

Included

2 nights accommodation
Full board
Park fees and transfers
Trip briefing and WhatsApp support

Not included

Travel insurance
Drinks and tips
Optional activities

See the full included / not included list →

Highlights

Morning and afternoon game drives (Big Five country)
Mara River crossing viewing (Great Migration, roughly July–October)

About the destinations & activities

Activities marked included are covered by the package price. Activities marked optional are available in that destination for an extra cost.

Kenya

Maasai Mara 2 nights

Kenya's most famous reserve, in the south-west of the country and joined to the Serengeti across the Tanzanian border. Rolling grassland is home to lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and buffalo, and the Great Migration crosses the Mara River between roughly July and October. The Maasai people live on the reserve's edges and in nearby conservancies.

Included in Maasai Mara

2 nights: Mara Simba Lodge or similar
Meals: Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Park / reserve entry fees
Morning and afternoon game drives (Big Five country)
Mara River crossing viewing (Great Migration, roughly July–October)
Full-day game drive with picnic lunch

Not included in Maasai Mara

Maasai village cultural visit (extra cost, paid locally)
Hot air balloon safari at sunrise with champagne breakfast (extra cost, about $450–$500 per person)
Guided bush walk with a Maasai ranger (conservancies) (extra cost)
Drinks, unless stated
Tips and personal items

Activities in Maasai Mara

Morning and afternoon game drives (Big Five country)included
Mara River crossing viewing (Great Migration, roughly July–October)included
Full-day game drive with picnic lunchincluded
Maasai village cultural visitoptional · extra cost, paid locally
Hot air balloon safari at sunrise with champagne breakfastoptional · extra cost, about $450–$500 per person
Guided bush walk with a Maasai ranger (conservancies)optional · extra cost

Day-by-day itinerary

Day1

Pick-up and travel to Maasai Mara

We collect you from your home or our head office in Nairobi early in the morning and travel to Maasai Mara in your safari vehicle, with comfort stops on the way. Check in and enjoy your first activities.

Morning and afternoon game drives (Big Five country)included
Full-day game drive with picnic lunchincluded
Hot air balloon safari at sunrise with champagne breakfastoptional · extra cost, about $450–$500 per person

Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) Mara Simba Lodge or similar

Day2

Maasai Mara

Mara River crossing viewing (Great Migration, roughly July–October)included
Maasai village cultural visitoptional · extra cost, paid locally
Guided bush walk with a Maasai ranger (conservancies)optional · extra cost

Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) Mara Simba Lodge or similar

Day3

Return to Nairobi and drop-off

After breakfast, check out and drive back to Nairobi with comfort stops. We drop you at your home or our head office in Nairobi.

Breakfast

Accommodation

Budget-friendly camps, lodges and hotels such as those below, or similar based on availability.

Maasai Mara 2 nights

Meals: Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner). Your hotel will be one of:

Mara Simba LodgeSekenani Gate area, Maasai Mara$100–$180
Mara Explorers CampNear Talek Gate, Maasai Mara$110–$200
Basecamp Masai MaraNear Talek Gate, Maasai Mara$120–$220

Journey details

Start point	Pick-up from your home or our head office in Nairobi
End point	Drop-off at your home or our head office in Nairobi
Duration	3 days / 2 nights
Transport	Shared safari van or 4x4 with a pop-up roof (max. 7 guests). Every guest has a window seat.
Internal flights	Not included. All travel is by road in your safari vehicle from pick-up to drop-off.
Who it is for	Residents (pick-up from your home or our head office)
Group size	Small group (max. 7 per vehicle) or private on request
Meals	Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Fitness	Suitable for most ages; some long drives.

Your trip starts and ends with pick-up and drop-off, so you don't need to go to the airport.

What's included and not included

Budget: Smart EssentialsWe cover the core of your trip (stay, transport, listed meals and fees) so you keep control of the extras.

Included

2 nights accommodation (budget camps and lodges)
Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) during the safari
Shared safari vehicle with window seats
National park and reserve entry fees
Game drives as listed in the itinerary
Pick-up and drop-off from your home or head office (no airport transfer needed)
Park and reserve fees at resident rates (bring your valid resident ID or work permit)
Pre-trip WhatsApp support and a trip briefing

Not included

Travel and medical insurance
Drinks (water, soft drinks, alcohol) unless stated
Tips for guides, drivers and staff
Meals not listed in the itinerary
Laundry, phone and Wi-Fi
Single-room supplement
Baggage and airport fees
Optional activities

How the three travel levels compare

	BudgetThis package	Mid-range	Luxury
Return international airfare	Not needed (road trip)	Not needed (road trip)	Not needed (road trip)
Travel & medical insurance	✕ Not included	✕ Not included	✓ Included
Visa assistance	Not needed	Not needed	Not needed
Tips & gratuities	✕ Not included	✕ Not included	✓ Included
Drinks	Pay as you go	Daily bottled water	Premium drinks with meals
Pick-up	Home or head office	Home or head office	Private chauffeur from home
Support	WhatsApp + trip briefing	Planning call + WhatsApp	24/7 personal concierge

Optional activities (extra cost)

Maasai village cultural visit (Maasai Mara, extra cost, paid locally)
Hot air balloon safari at sunrise with champagne breakfast (Maasai Mara, extra cost, about $450–$500 per person)
Guided bush walk with a Maasai ranger (conservancies) (Maasai Mara, extra cost)

Optional activities can be added before or during your trip and are paid for separately. Ask us for a current quote.