3-Day Kenya Safari Tours

4.6/5 – 995 Kenya Reviews

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.

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5 Questions About 3-Day Kenya Safaris

Expert

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

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.”

Where 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.”

What accommodation can I expect on a 3-day safari in Kenya?

“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. ”

Which animals can I see on a 3-day safari in Kenya?

“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. ”

How much does a 3-day safari cost in Kenya?

“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.”

Kenya Reviews

4.6/5 995 Reviews

Expert

Kim Wildman –

Kim is a travel writer who authored and updated over 15 guidebooks, including Lonely Planet's South Africa and Bradt's Tanzania guides.

Out of Africa

5/5

It’s a cliché I know, but you can’t get more Out of Africa than Kenya. The setting for the Karen Blixon’s 1937 novel of the same name - made even more famous by a certain Academy Awarding winning Hollywood movie starring Robert...

Full Review

Expert

Stuart Butler –

Stuart is a travel writer and author of numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.

East Africa’s Most varied Nation

5/5

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...

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Tobias –

Reviewed: Dec 8, 2022

Fantastic National Parks - a one in a lifetime experience!

5/5

I went to Masai Mara (3 days / 2 nights) and the wildlife and natural scenery is simply amazing! I can warmly recommend Masai Mara to everyone. Some of our group just stayed one night, but this was too short as you cannot drive deep in the...

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Richard M Rubin –

Reviewed: Dec 7, 2022

Kenya has a mild climate (in October), complex and varied wildlife and engaging, helpful people.

5/5

My brother Musa and I, both septuagenarians, had an 11-day tour that included the Samburu and Masai Mara National Reserves, the Amboseli National Park, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, and the Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha. The Mufasa Tours...

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Miles –

Reviewed: Dec 7, 2022

Beautiful country with abundant wildlife, and cities with large wealth disparities.

4/5

Kenya is a must-travel destination if you enjoy wildlife tourism. Masai Mara is an expansive, well managed safari, with an abundance of fauna, though tour operators vary in their knowledge of details about the animals. The roads are...

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Cameron Clarke –

Reviewed: Dec 6, 2022

'Budget' felt like luxury

5/5

We had a fantastic 4 day safari in Masai Mara. There was no shortage of wildlife - elephants, rhino, giraffe, leopards, zebra, lions, antelope, gazelle, hippos... And we were able to get quite close, too, for some great shots. I definitely...

Full Review

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3-Day Kenya Safari Tours

3-Day Bigmark Masai Mara 4x4 Jeep Luxury Safari

3-Day Masai Mara Classic Safari with Mara Bush Camp

3-Day Group Joining Trip

3-Day Adventure in Masai Mara

3-Day Best of Masai Mara Joining Group

3-Day Maasai Mara Mid Range Lodge Tour

3-Day Masai Mara Daily Join Group Budget Safari

3-Day Masai Mara Mid Range Private Tour

3-Day Tsavo West & East Economical Drop Beach

3-Day Big Five of Masai Mara

3-Day Tsavo East /West

3-Day The Famous Mara - Luxury

3-Day 2 Night Group Camping Safari Using 4×4 Landcruiser

3-Day Best of Masai Mara Fly-in Safari

3-Day Amboseli -Tsavo East -Mombasa Midrange Safari

3-Day Amboseli, Land of Kilimanjaro Road Safari

3-Day Masai Mara Budget Shared by Jeep

3-Day Wilderness Joined Tour-Budget Offer

3-Day Amboseli Mid Range Safari

3-Day Budget Masai Mara Wild Adventure

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5 Questions About 3-Day Kenya Safaris

Answered by

Ariadne van Zandbergen

5 Questions About 3-Day Kenya Safaris

Is a 3-day safari in Kenya worthwhile?

Where should I go on a 3-day safari in Kenya?

What accommodation can I expect on a 3-day safari in Kenya?

Which animals can I see on a 3-day safari in Kenya?

How much does a 3-day safari cost in Kenya?

Kenya Reviews

Out of Africa

East Africa’s Most varied Nation

Fantastic National Parks - a one in a lifetime experience!

Kenya has a mild climate (in October), complex and varied wildlife and engaging, helpful people.

Beautiful country with abundant wildlife, and cities with large wealth disparities.

'Budget' felt like luxury