Mara Weekend Escape
A Friday-to-Sunday safari for residents and short-stay visitors: hippo boat ride at Naivasha, then a full day in the Mara.
Built for people who only have a weekend. You leave Nairobi on Friday morning, take a boat out among the hippos at Naivasha in the afternoon, and spend all of Saturday in the Masai Mara before heading home on Sunday.
It is deliberately unhurried for a short trip — one long game-driving day beats two rushed half-days.
Trip at a glance
Highlights
- Hippo boat safari on Lake Naivasha
- A full uninterrupted day of Mara game driving
- Departs Friday, home Sunday evening
- Excellent value for Kenya residents and expats
What's included
Included
- Park and reserve entrance fees for all listed parks
- Transport in a 4×4 pop-up-roof safari land cruiser or minivan
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Full-board accommodation (breakfast, lunch, dinner) as per itinerary
- Unlimited bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- All game drives as described
- Government taxes and levies
- Flying-doctor emergency evacuation cover
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for your driver-guide and lodge staff
- Drinks, laundry and items of a personal nature
- Optional activities (balloon safari, cultural village visits)
- Accommodation before and after the safari
- Any increase in park fees or government taxes
Day-by-day itinerary
Nairobi → Lake Naivasha
Late-morning departure. Lunch at Naivasha, then an afternoon boat safari among hippos and fish eagles. Dinner and overnight.
Naivasha → Masai Mara
Early transfer to the Masai Mara, arriving mid-morning for a full day of game driving with a picnic lunch. Dinner and overnight.
Masai Mara → Nairobi
Morning game drive and breakfast, then the drive back to Nairobi with a lunch stop at Narok. Evening arrival.
Where you'll be
Good to know
Before you travel
- Passport valid 6+ months beyond your return date
- Kenya eTA or the East Africa Tourist Visa ($100, covers 3 countries)
- Yellow fever certificate if arriving from an endemic country
- Antimalarials — speak to a travel clinic 6 weeks out
- Travel insurance covering cancellation and medical repatriation
Booking & payment
- 30% deposit secures your dates; balance due 30 days before departure
- Card, M-PESA and Airtel Money via Pesapal; bank transfer on request
- Confirmation and receipt by e-mail within minutes
- Free changes up to 21 days before departure
- Track your booking any time with your reference number
On safari
- Pop-up-roof 4×4 with a guaranteed window seat for everyone
- Neutral clothing; avoid dark blue and black (tsetse flies)
- Binoculars, a 200mm+ lens and a power bank earn their place
- Light aircraft transfers cap luggage at 15kg in a soft bag
- Flying-doctor evacuation cover included at no extra charge
After your trip
- We e-mail a short feedback form — we read every one
- Returning guests get priority on peak-season dates
- Photos shared with us may feature in our gallery, with credit
- Any concern raised within 28 days gets a reply in 14
$640 is per person sharing a twin or double room, in USD. Solo travellers pay a single supplement. Children under 12 sharing with two adults pay $400. Rates are held for 30 days from the date we quote you and are subject to availability.
Park fees are set by the relevant wildlife authority and occasionally change without notice; where that happens we pass on the difference at cost and never mark it up. Peak-season dates (July–October and Christmas/New Year) may carry a supplement, which we will always state in writing before you pay. Full terms are in our Terms & Conditions.
Questions about this safari?
Ask us anything — dates, lodges, whether it suits your family. We reply within 24 hours.
