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How We Planned Our 4 Days Masai Mara Safari Package from Zambia

Life & Style
Kenya has always been on our number one African safari bucket list. We’ve always wanted to see wildlife roaming freely in their natural habitats and experience the country’s cultural diversity. And what’s a better way to do this than to visit the infamous Masai Mara?Masai Mara is located southwest of Kenya and is famous for the […]

Kenya has always been on our number one African safari bucket list. We’ve always wanted to see wildlife roaming freely in their natural habitats and experience the country’s cultural diversity. And what’s a better way to do this than to visit the infamous Masai Mara?Masai Mara is located southwest of Kenya and is famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration, abundant wildlife, and its exceptional population of Africa’s “Big Five.” We had booked a 4 Days Masai Mara Safari package since we wanted to spend more time in the wild. Below we’ll share our itinerary and the highlights of our safari. 

4 Days Masai Mara Safari Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi

On arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, our designated driver guide was waiting with a large placard with our names.

He took us to a nearby 5-star hotel, our home for the afternoon and night. We took our lunch and a much-needed rest after the long and tiring flight.

We later decided to have a couple’s massage at the hotel’s spa. After an early dinner, we retired to bed since we had an early day tomorrow. 

4 Days Kenya Safari Day 2: Our Road Trip to The Mara

Although there was an option of taking a 45-minutes flight to the Mara, we opted to travel by road as we wanted to experience nature as much as possible during our 4 Days Masai Mara Safari. Our driver guide picked us up from our hotel by 8:00 AM, and we embarked on our journey. 

We had a brief stop to view the largest valley in the world, the Great Rift Valley, which offered such a scenic view. It was exciting to interact with the locals at the viewpoint. We also bought a beautiful locally made beaded piece of jewelry and some other collectibles.

We arrived at our tented camp a few minutes past 1 PM and could see monkeys playing outside our tent in the nearby trees. The breath of fresh air in the bush was relaxing. 

After freshening up, it was time to enjoy our lunch, which we served in the tents. We had an hour to rest before taking the evening game drive. 

Our First Evening Game Drive

Masai Mara feels like living in the Garden of Eden. There’s so much beauty that gives a very intimate feel with nature – and the first game drive of our 4 Days Kenya Safari was nothing short. 

Our driver got a call on the radio of a hunt happening nearby just ten minutes into our drive. We quickly drove there and experienced what felt like a real-life Nat Geo experience.

Three lions were taking down a giant buffalo. And after a successful kill, the lions started feasting on it as we watched. That up-close experience was not only incredible to watch, but it also rubber-stamped the power and brutality of the king of the jungle. We later also saw several gazelles, zebras, a herd of five elephants, among many other animals. 

Dinner was served under the mellow and radiant moon, with candles and lanterns to accentuate the romantic mood. After dinner, we gathered around the bonfire and interacted with other travelers while watching the Maasai warriors jump and dance to their traditional songs. 

The night was saturated with sounds of hyenas laughing, insects buzzing, and other grunts and snorts, which were quite helpful for sleeping.  

4 Days in Masai Mara Day 3: Game Viewing, Picnic Lunch, and a Maasai Village Visit

Truth be told: nothing beats the tranquility of the Masai Mara at Sunrise. It’s the best time to experience the real thrill of the chase, as most predators like to hunt before the sun gets too hot. 

We woke up by 5 AM, freshened up, and took our breakfast. Our morning drive started around 5:40 AM. Birds were calling and twittering as the subtle yellow rays of the sun shone on the vast plains of the Mara.  And we were hopeful that we would get to see all the big five.

During the second day of our 4 Days Masai Mara Safari, we saw herds of elephants, zebras, gazelles, wildebeest, giraffes, a rhino, and more lions. We even got to see several buffaloes grazing from a distance. 

An hour or so into our drive, we were lucky to see the infamous tano bora, a group of five male cheetahs, sleeping peacefully under a tree. Although cheetahs are usually solitary animals, our guide informed us that the tano bora formed a coalition to achieve better hunting success. 

Visiting a Maasai Village

After an exciting three-hour morning drive, we headed back to the lodge for snacks and some rest. We had requested to take a break from the safari and visit a Maasai village, scheduled at 11 AM.

Our experience at the Maasai village left us speechless. The cultural diversity was mind-boggling. 

A Maasai medicine man showcased to us his prowess in treating various illnesses using a wide range of roots, barks, stems, and leaves from different plants. He even knew the side effects of each of his treatments, if any. 

We also learned how Maasai built their houses using cow dung, grass, and tree branches, joined the Maasai warriors in their dances, and watched the villagers start a fire with sticks. 

Picnic Lunch in the Bush

After the visit, we had a short bushwalk not far away from the village. We then drove along the river, where we saw hippos and crocodiles. Our guide then took us to a nearby safe spot for our picnic lunch.

We had another afternoon game drive and headed back to our lodge. 

4 Days Masai Mara Safari Day 4: Hot Air Balloon Ride

We embarked on the last game drive of our 4 Days Masai Mara Safari at the break of dawn.  Floating over the forests, plains, and the rivers of the Mara while watching the majestic sunrise is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The aerial view gives a different perspective of the reserve’s landscape and is simply breathtaking.

The hardest part was saying goodbye, but it was now time to head back to Nairobi. What a lovely experience!