5-Day Kenya Maasai Mara Migration Safari
A focused Maasai Mara trip timed around the Great Migration.
Go beyond the expected.
A shorter itinerary built entirely around the Maasai Mara, with three full days of game driving — ideal for travellers with limited time who want to prioritise migration season.
- Three full days of game drives in the Maasai Mara
- Migration river crossings (seasonal)
- Optional sunrise hot air balloon safari
- Maasai cultural visit
What's included
Included
- All accommodation as specified
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with driver-guide
- Reserve entrance fees
- Meals as specified in the day-by-day itinerary
Not included
- International flights
- Visa or eTA fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Hot air balloon safari (optional add-on)
- Personal expenses
Confirm current park fees, permit availability, accommodation and pricing before booking, since these can change with season and demand.
Day by day
Day 1 Arrival in Nairobi
Nairobi
Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and transfer to your hotel.
Day 2 Drive to the Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara
Drive west to the Maasai Mara, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive.
Day 3 Full day game drives
Maasai Mara
A full day exploring the reserve, timed where possible around the migration herds and any river crossing activity.
Day 4 Maasai cultural visit and game drives
Maasai Mara
A morning community visit followed by further game drives across a different part of the reserve.
Day 5 Return to Nairobi and departure
Nairobi
Drive back to Nairobi in time for your onward flight.
On this safari
Places you will visit
Travel Guide
Knowledge connected to this page
Read planning and destination stories connected to this Offmap entity.
Kenya Behind the Safari National Parks
Masai Mara National Reserve: River Crossings, Cats and Camps
River crossings, big cats and quiet conservancies in Kenya.
East Africa Gorilla Trekking Multi-Country Safaris
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda Gorilla Safari: Routes and Planning
Plains, craters and gorillas across three countries.
East Africa Gorilla Trekking Multi-Country Safaris
Great Migration and Gorilla Safari: Plan Both in One Trip
Where the herds are each month and how to add the gorillas.
East Africa Planning a Safari When to Visit
Great Migration by Month: Where the Herds Are and When
Where the herds usually are, month by month.
East Africa Adventure Planning a Safari
Masai Mara Hot Air Balloon Safari: What to Expect
The flight, the breakfast and what to ask before you book.
East Africa Multi-Country Safaris Planning a Safari
Tanzania or Kenya Safari: How to Choose Fairly
A fair comparison of the migration, scenery, crowds and logistics.
Ready to plan this Safari?
Start with the places and experiences that matter to you. We will shape the Safari around them.
Plan This Safari →Need to know?
Questions about 5-Day Kenya Maasai Mara Migration Safari
Can I combine a Kenya safari with the coast?
Yes. Pairing a Maasai Mara or Amboseli safari with a few days on the Kenyan coast (Diani, Watamu or Lamu) is a well-established combination, giving a wildlife-then-beach structure to the safari.
Photo Gallery
Do I need a visa to visit Kenya?
Most nationalities need an eTA (electronic travel authorisation) for Kenya, applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so confirm current guidance for your passport ahead of your safari.
Photo Gallery
How many days do I need for a Kenya safari?
A focused Maasai Mara safari can work in 3–4 days, while combining the Mara with Amboseli, another park or the coast generally calls for 7–10 days. We shape the length around what you want to include.
Photo Gallery
How many national parks does Kenya have?
Kenya protects its wildlife across more than sixty national parks and reserves, an unusually extensive network for a single country: from the Maasai Mara and Amboseli in the south to Samburu and the arid northern reserves, each holding a somewhat different range of species.
Photo Gallery
What wildlife can I expect to see in Kenya beyond the migration?
Kenya’s parks hold resident wildlife year-round regardless of migration timing; the Maasai Mara and Amboseli both offer strong odds of the Big Five, along with healthy cheetah populations and, in Amboseli, some of Africa’s most reliable large elephant herds.
Photo Gallery
When is the best time to see the wildebeest migration in Kenya?
The migration’s presence in Kenya’s Maasai Mara is most likely from around July to October, when large herds typically cross from Tanzania’s Serengeti, though exact timing shifts year to year with rainfall patterns.
Photo Gallery