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3-Day Kenya Safari Tours
An African safari, even for three days, is a dream come true for many people. This incredible experience was pioneered by Kenya, which still ranks as one of the top safari countries today. With its long history of catering for the safari industry, Kenya has something to offer everyone. Whether you’re embarking on your first trip into Africa, or you’re a seasoned traveler feeling the call of Africa over and over again. A 3-day safari is short, but you’ll no doubt make some precious memories. The key to a successful trip is to plan your time carefully and not be overambitious with what you want to achieve. Avoid too much driving from place to place. It’s better to have one in-depth experience than to try to tick off a checklist of highlights.
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3-Day Masai Mara Flying Safari
$1,221 to $1,760 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tour
Mid-range Tented Bush CampYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Trav-Interactive
4.9/5 – 39 Reviews
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Best Seller
3-Day Short Fly in Safari to Masai Mara National Reserve
$2,552 to $3,977 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLuxury+Tented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Tekko Tours and Travel
4.9/5 – 136 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day The Famous Mara - Mid-Range
$1,130 to $1,370 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tour
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Spirit of Kenya
4.9/5 – 545 Reviews
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3-Day Amboseli Group Joining Safari 2023 - 2025
$350 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Bienvenido Kenya Tours and Safaris
4.7/5 – 101 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Mid-Range Jambo Masai Mara Shared Safari
$594 to $1,056 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)
Mid-range ResortYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Jocky Tours and Safaris
4.9/5 – 1,810 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Masai Mara Classic Wildlife Safari Adventure
$402 to $627 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Jungleroam Safaris
4.9/5 – 225 Reviews
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3-Day Amboseli National Park Small Group Tour
$341 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Kenya Bush Expeditions
4.8/5 – 95 Reviews
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Best Seller
3-Day Masai Group Joining Safari on 4x4 Landcruiser Jeep
$457 to $677 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Lenchada Safaris
4.9/5 – 865 Reviews
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3-Day Safari from Mombasa Tsavo East, Saltlick Lodge
$847 to $979 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Mombasa (Start), Tsavo East NP, Taita Hills WS, Mombasa (End)
Back of Africa Adventure
4.8/5 – 84 Reviews
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3-Day Masai Mara Fly in Safari Tour
$2,783 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLuxuryTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Okoa Africa Tours
4.2/5 – 83 Reviews
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3-Day Heart of Masai Mara
$638 to $930 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourBudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi Airport (End)
Destination Connect
4.8/5 – 31 Reviews
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3-Day Samburu National Reserve & Ol Pejeta
$990 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tour
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Samburu NR, Sweetwaters (Chimp Sanctuary), Nairobi (End)
Live In Love Kenya Tours And Travel
5.0/5 – 12 Reviews
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3-Day Thrilling Masai Mara Jeep Safari Spectacle
$529 to $760 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Super Eagles Travel and Tours
4.8/5 – 304 Reviews
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3-Day Masai Mara Budget Safari
$875 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourBudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
African Bush Explorers
5.0/5 – 11 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Incredible Amboseli Safari with Balloon Ride- Jeep
$1,615 to $2,038 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Morning Star Tours & Travel
4.8/5 – 305 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Safari Landcruiser Masai Mara Joining Group
$374 to $594 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Axis Africa Expedition & Safaris
4.9/5 – 1,357 Reviews
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3-Day Taste of Masai Mara Safari
$979 to $1,540 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tour
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Beacon Safaris
4.9/5 – 301 Reviews
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3-Day Classic Adventure Safari to the Great Masai Mara
$1,176 to $3,461 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tour
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Apodiformes Adventures
4.5/5 – 238 Reviews
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3-Day Kilimanjaro Views & Wildlife Safari
$1,034 to $1,265 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Banok Safaris
5.0/5 – 15 Reviews
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3-Day Fly in Package to Amboseli NP
$1,966 to $2,292 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLuxuryTented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Jastro Safaris
4.3/5 – 67 Reviews
5 Questions About 3-Day Kenya Safaris
Answered by
Ariadne van Zandbergen
Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert and photographer. She and her husband form a team who write and update many travel guides. She first visited Kenya 25 years ago. Since then she has been back many times to explore the country’s parks and reserves.› More about Ariadne
5 Questions About 3-Day Kenya Safaris
Is a 3-day safari in Kenya worthwhile?
“Although a 3-day safari in Kenya is quite short, it is definitely worthwhile. If you have the option, I would recommend adding a few extra days though. Additional time gives you a chance to get into the rhythm of the bush and settle in. However, if time or budget constraints allow only a short trip, you should still go. You can see a lot on a 3-day safari, and you’ll have an opportunity to get a feel for what it is all about. Hopefully you’ll be able to return one day to spend more time on safari. However much time you have available, try not to cram too much into your itinerary. With only 3 days, you might be tempted to race between destinations. But remember that less is often more, and there is no point in spending most of your safari traveling between places rather than taking time to savor them. As long as you are practical about what you can achieve on a 3-day safari, it is certainly worth going.”
1Where should I go on a 3-day safari in Kenya?
“Many 3-day safari packages are on offer in Kenya, giving you a variety of options on where to go on your trip. As you will be away for only two nights, I would recommend sleeping both nights in the same place. The most popular option for a 3-day Kenyan safari is the Masai Mara National Reserve. The flight from Nairobi gets you there in about 45 minutes, but a road safari is also feasible. With an early start, you should be in the Mara in time for an afternoon game drive. A 3-day safari to Amboseli National Park, at the base of Mt Kilimanjaro, is also a good option. While the Mara is best for big cats, you can expect elephant sightings in Amboseli. And on clear days, Kilimanjaro creates a perfect backdrop for your photographs. Another option is to head for the highlands of Laikipia Plateau. There are several excellent private reserves worth visiting here, but Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a great choice. It’s home to all the Big Five, and offers easy encounters with both black and white rhino. People on a beach holiday around Mombasa or elsewhere on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline often opt to add a short safari to their itinerary. The most popular choices for this are Tsavo East or West National Parks, which together form the largest protected area in Kenya. The vast open spaces of Tsavo give an opportunity to see far and wide. Elephant and giraffe are usually within sight.”
2What accommodation can I expect?
“Kenya, with its established tourism industry, has accommodation options to suit everybody’s needs. For a 3-day safari, you can choose from camping or high-end luxury accommodation, and everything in between. For the budget-conscious, camping is a popular option. The campsites are often in prime locations and you’ll feel totally in tune with nature. If camping isn’t your thing, you can also opt for a budget lodge tour. These usually use lodges that are located just outside the parks, which can be an effective base for game drives. You can spend a bit more for mid-range accommodation, offering more comfort with great locations inside or outside the parks and reserves. When it comes to luxury lodgings, the sky is the limit, especially where food and service are concerned. Some of Kenya’s most exclusive lodges are rustic in feel and blend into the bush with a minimal footprint. Others are more conventionally luxurious with all the mod cons including air-conditioning and swimming pools. These high-end lodgings are usually booked on a fly-in safari package. ”
3Which animals am I likely to see?
“Which animals you’re likely to see on a 3-day Kenyan safari depend on which parks or reserves you visit. Kenya offers incredible wildlife viewing. The Masai Mara NR is home to all of the Big Five. You’ll see lots of lion in the Mara, and leopard sightings are quite common too. Rhino are more difficult to find. To see rhino in Kenya, you should consider going to one of the reserves in Laikipia. Amboseli NP is great for elephant, giraffe and buffalo, but big cat sightings are less common here and rhino is absent. Tsavo is an amazing wilderness area with all of the Big Five present, but wildlife densities are lower. Even so, you’re likely to see elephant, giraffe, several antelope species and maybe lion. ”
4How much will this safari cost?
“Expect a starting price of US$400 per person for a 3-day Kenyan budget camping tour, going up to US$700 per person for a mid-range lodge tour. Luxury tours start at around US$900 per person. The price of a 3-day safari in Kenya depends on a lot of factors. The level of accommodation has a big influence on the overall cost. Most cost-effective is a camping safari, but there are budget lodge safari options too. A high premium is paid for top-of-the-range luxury lodgings on a fly-in safari. Road safaris are generally cheaper than fly-in safaris. The price will also depend on whether you go on a group safari where costs are shared, or a private safari. A great way to save costs is to visit out of the high season. The shoulder months are often a good compromise, but you can even choose to go in the low season, which corresponds with the rains. Although wildlife is harder to find at that time, it’s a beautiful season and you might even have the place to yourself. It’s always a good idea to get a few quotations from a variety of operators before making a decision.”
5Kenya Reviews
Nana is a travel writer and author of multiple guidebooks, including the Lonely Planet guides to Africa, Zambia & Malawi and South Africa.
From game-packed hotspots to little known wilderness
Kenya’s stunning landscapes include rainforest, beaches, deserts and mountains, but it’s the first class wildlife watching that keeps so many visitors flocking back. Not only is it one of the best places in Africa to see the Big Five,...
Stuart is a travel writer and author of numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including 'Kenya', 'Rwanda' and 'Tanzania'.
East Africa’s Most varied Nation
Kenya is the original home of the safari. This is the land of the world renowned Masai Mara National Reserve where tawny coloured lions feast off the hundreds of thousands of wildebeest that annually migrate into the country from...
Trip of a Lifetime
We booked a four day three night safari and it was a breath taking experience. Everything was meticulously arranged and it really took the guess work out of figuring out every detail of our trip. Our guides were very knowledgeable,...
Magic
Our recent 5-day private safari through Kenya’s Amboseli, Tsavo East, and Tsavo West National Parks was nothing short of spectacular. Despite traveling during the rainy season, our experience far exceeded expectations, thanks to the...
a beginners guide to east africa
from the masai mara to amboseli, the south of kenya is a wildlife enthusiasts heaven. i had never been to east africa before and this was my first trip into the dark continent. i realised very quickly it was'nt going to be a matter of just...
Beautiful culture, fantastic animals!
My partner and I travelled to Kenya for our first ever safari and were not disappointed. Paul from Ways of Africa was very friendly and helpful to create a bespoke package for us to meet our travel needs and budget. The scenery was fabulous...