The Masai Mara is the stage for the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth. From July to October, more than 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebra pour across the Mara River in a dramatic display of survival. The river crossings are chaotic, with crocodiles waiting in the water and panicked hooves scrambling up the far bank. This 7-day Masai Mara safari is designed for travellers who want to witness this extraordinary event. You will spend five nights in the Mara, staying in a private conservancy that offers off road driving and night drives. You will have four full days of game driving, with your guide positioning you at the most active crossing points. Unlike shorter itineraries that leave too much to chance, this 7-day Masai Mara safari gives you the time you need. The river crossings are unpredictable. They can happen on any day, at any time. With five nights on the ground, you have a reasonable statistical probability of witnessing at least one crossing. This 7-day Masai Mara safari is ideal for photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to experience the Migration at its most dramatic.
This 7-day Masai Mara safari focuses exclusively on the Masai Mara National Reserve and its surrounding private conservancies. You fly from Nairobi to the Mara on day one, avoiding the long road transfer. You stay in a private conservancy bordering the reserve, giving you access to the reserve for river crossings while enjoying the exclusivity of the conservancy for daily game drives. You have four full days of game viewing, with your guide monitoring crossing points in real time. You also enjoy night drives and walking safaris in the conservancy, activities not permitted in the national reserve. On day seven, you fly back to Nairobi for your departure.
| Day | Destination | Activities | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nairobi to Masai Mara | Fly to Mara, afternoon game drive | Mara Conservancy Camp |
| 2 | Masai Mara | Full day game drive, river crossing search | Mara Conservancy Camp |
| 3 | Masai Mara | Full day game drive, river crossing search | Mara Conservancy Camp |
| 4 | Masai Mara | Morning game drive, afternoon night drive | Mara Conservancy Camp |
| 5 | Masai Mara | Full day game drive, river crossing search | Mara Conservancy Camp |
| 6 | Masai Mara | Morning game drive, afternoon at leisure | Mara Conservancy Camp |
| 7 | Masai Mara to Nairobi | Morning game drive, fly to Nairobi | – |
Your 7-day Masai Mara safari begins at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. A Nomara Safaris representative will greet you and transfer you to Wilson Airport, the hub for domestic charter flights. You take a morning flight to the Masai Mara, approximately 45 minutes. The flight offers stunning views of the Great Rift Valley and the savannah below. Upon arrival at the Mara airstrip, your guide will meet you. You transfer to your camp in a private conservancy, such as Mara North, Olare Motorogi, or Naboisho. After lunch and a brief rest, you depart for your afternoon game drive. Your guide will begin the search for the Migration herds. You drive to the Mara River, where the crossings occur. Even if you do not see a crossing on your first afternoon, you will see plenty of wildlife. The conservancies are home to lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo. You return to camp before dark. Overnight at your Mara conservancy camp.
Today is your first full day of Migration hunting on this 7-day Masai Mara safari. You wake before dawn, have a quick coffee, and depart by 6:00 AM. The early morning is the best time to find predators returning from their night hunts. You drive toward the Mara River, where the wildebeest herds are massing. Your guide is in radio contact with other guides across the conservancy and the reserve. When a crossing is reported, you move toward that location. The wait can be long. Herds gather on the banks, milling and hesitant. A false start sends them running back. Bring patience. Your vehicle has a cooler with drinks.
When the crossing happens, it happens quickly. Wildebeest plunge from high banks. Crocodiles strike. The far bank becomes a scramble of panicked hooves. The entire spectacle lasts perhaps fifteen minutes. After the crossing, you continue your game drive, stopping for a picnic lunch at a scenic spot. You return to camp in the late afternoon. Overnight at your Mara conservancy camp.
Your 7-day Masai Mara safari continues with another full day of game driving. The herds may have moved overnight. The crossing points shift. Your guide will have gathered intelligence from the guide network and will position you accordingly. Some days produce multiple crossings. Other days produce none. The key is persistence. You return to the Mara River, searching for herds gathering on the banks. Between crossing attempts, you explore other parts of the conservancy and the reserve. You may find a leopard resting in a tree, a cheetah hunting on the plains, or a pride of lions sleeping in the shade. Your guide will interpret the behaviour you are seeing. You return to camp in the late afternoon. Overnight at your Mara conservancy camp.
On day four of your 7-day Masai Mara safari, you have a morning game drive followed by a rest period, then an afternoon drive and night drive. You depart at dawn, heading toward the river. The morning light is perfect for photography. The animals are active. You continue your search for crossing opportunities. By late morning, you return to camp for breakfast and rest. The middle of the day is the hottest period, when most large mammals seek shade. You can swim, read, edit photos, or have a massage. In the late afternoon, you depart again. The golden hour before sunset offers spectacular light. You continue to monitor crossing points. After sunset, you continue your drive with spotlights. Night drives offer a different world. You may see hyenas hunting, leopards stalking, or a serval cat crossing the track. You return to camp for dinner. Overnight at your Mara conservancy camp.
This is your final full day of crossing hunting on this 7-day Masai Mara safari. You have one more chance to witness the river crossings. You depart at dawn, heading toward the most promising crossing points based on overnight intelligence from the guide network. The herds may have shifted dramatically. Your guide will adjust the plan accordingly. Even without a crossing, the Mara delivers. The wildlife density is extraordinary. You will see elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, and a dozen antelope species. The birding is exceptional, with lilac breasted rollers, secretary birds, and fish eagles. Your guide will ensure you have the best possible experience, whether the crossings happen or not. In the late afternoon, you return to camp for a farewell dinner. Overnight at your Mara conservancy camp.
After several days of intense crossing hunting, day six of your 7-day Masai Mara safari is more relaxed. You have a morning game drive, focusing on areas you may have missed earlier. You can explore different parts of the conservancy. You may do a walking safari with an armed ranger, learning about tracks, plants, and the smaller wonders of the bush. The afternoon is at leisure. You can relax at the camp, enjoy the pool, or edit your photos. In the evening, you have a farewell dinner at the camp. Overnight at your Mara conservancy camp.
Your 7-day Masai Mara safari concludes today. You have one last morning game drive. The early morning light is perfect for final photographs. You may catch a crossing if the herds are active. After breakfast, you transfer to the airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi. The flight takes approximately 45 minutes. Upon arrival at Wilson Airport, you are transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your departure flight. If your flight is in the evening, you may have time for a day room or a visit to the Giraffe Centre. Your guide will assist you with check in and bid you farewell.
For travellers booking a luxury 7-day Masai Mara safari, Nomara Safaris recommends the following properties. Angama Mara is perched on the Oloololo Escarpment with breathtaking views of the savannah. The lodge has tented suites with floor to ceiling glass windows and open sided vehicles. Mahali Mzuri, Sir Richard Branson’s camp in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, offers twelve tented suites and a swimming pool. Sanctuary Olonana is a luxury tented camp on the banks of the Mara River with a swimming pool and spa. Prices range from USD 800 to USD 1,500 per night.
For travellers booking a mid range 7-day Masai Mara safari, Nomara Safaris recommends the following properties. Kicheche Mara Camp in the Mara North Conservancy offers comfortable tents and excellent guiding. Rekero Camp on the Talek River is known for its exceptional leopard sightings. Eagle View Camp in the Naboisho Conservancy offers walking safaris and a swimming pool. Prices range from USD 400 to USD 700 per night.
This 7-day Masai Mara safari includes the following:
This 7-day Masai Mara safari excludes the following:
The best time for this 7-day Masai Mara safari is from July to October, when the wildebeest herds are in the Masai Mara. The peak crossing months are August and September, but this is also the busiest and most expensive time. September and early October offer the best combination of crossing activity and manageable crowds. The herds typically begin arriving in July and start moving back to the Serengeti in October. For travellers who want to avoid the peak crowds, late October can still deliver crossings. The dry season from June to October also offers the best weather conditions for game drives, with sunny days and clear skies. This 7-day Masai Mara safari is designed for this peak season, but the Migration is the main attraction.
The cost of this 7-day Masai Mara safari depends on accommodation level and season. A mid range safari costs approximately USD 3,500 to USD 5,000 per person. A luxury safari costs approximately USD 6,000 to USD 9,000 per person. These prices are based on double occupancy. Single travellers pay a supplement. Nomara Safaris provides a detailed quotation based on your specific travel dates and preferences.
With five nights in the Masai Mara, your chances of seeing a river crossing on this 7-day Masai Mara safari are good, but not guaranteed. The crossings are unpredictable. Some weeks produce multiple crossings daily. Other weeks produce none. Your guide will use real time intelligence from the guide network to position you at the most active crossing points. A five night stay gives you a reasonable statistical probability of witnessing at least one crossing. A shorter itinerary leaves too much to chance.
Yes, a private conservancy is worth the extra cost for this 7-day Masai Mara safari. Private conservancies offer off road driving, night drives, and lower vehicle density. You will rarely share a sighting with more than one other vehicle. In the national reserve, you may share a lion sighting with twenty vehicles. The private conservancy experience is superior for witnessing river crossings and predator action. Nomara Safaris recommends conservancy based accommodation for all our Mara safaris.
Yes, you can add a hot air balloon safari to this 7-day Masai Mara safari. The balloon launches at dawn, drifting over the plains as the herds move below. After landing, a champagne breakfast is served in the bush. The cost is approximately USD 450 to USD 500 per person. Nomara Safaris can arrange this as an optional add on.
For this 7-day Masai Mara safari, pack neutral coloured clothing (khaki, olive, brown), a fleece jacket for cool mornings, a waterproof jacket for rain, comfortable closed toe shoes for game drives, a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars, and a camera with extra batteries and memory cards.
The Masai Mara offers the ultimate Great Migration experience. This 7-day Masai Mara safari gives you the time and positioning you need to witness the dramatic river crossings. At Nomara Safaris, we design custom safaris that match your interests and budget. Contact Nomara Safaris to begin planning your 7-day Masai Mara safari. Tell us your preferred travel dates and group size. We will create a custom itinerary for you.