The Mara Express Safari

Safari Information

The Mara Express Safari

Saruni Mara & Saruni Wild

An exhilarating 3 nights/4 days safari of a lifetime to the most wildlife populous and naturally rich wilderness in the world.

This is the ultimate safari to the most remarkable wilderness in Africa, where you will encounter the rare, the timeless and the spectacular.

Experience secret corners of Africa’s most thrilling, awe-inspiring conservation area, the iconic Masai Mara ecosystem, in total exclusivity and luxury. Delight in the teeming open plains and endless horizons alive with activity – the savannah and the river systems that support the highest density of predators and plains wildlife on earth. Celebrate nature in all frames and forms, and encounter the most enthralling natural spectacle on the planet – the Great Migration, on this soul filling journey through classic Africa.

Included:

• All-inclusive accommodation (full-board accommodation including soft drinks, beers, house wines and select non-luxury spirits), one complimentary Back & Neck massage (30 min.) per room per stay at our Wellbeing Space, limited laundry service, shared day & night game drives in 4x4 vehicles, guided bush walks, bush meals, sundowner & picnic excursions, Warriors Academy (where available and upon request in advance), local cultural visits transfers, all internal flights and return airstrip transfers, airport assistance, temporary Flying Doctors cover, daily conservation fees, VAT & taxes.

Excluded:

• Exclusive use of vehicle, premium drinks (champagne, luxury spirits and special wines), additional Wellbeing Space treatments, any payable extra activities, entry fees to local cultural visits, childcare, transport & entry fees to the Masai Mara National Reserve in the Mara, gratuities to staff & guides, own private guides & drivers, any payable extra services, anything of a personal nature, international flights & visa fees, late departure fees, and all statutory increases beyond our control.

Saruni Mara

• Saruni Mara has one family villa, one private villa and five elegant cottages, and is the only small boutique lodge in the Mara, making it very intimate and The beautifully decorated themed rooms have a luxurious and classic safari feel. The lodge is tucked away in a secluded valley in the private Mara North Conservancy, a prime and private game viewing area, which borders the Masai Mara National Reserve – the most renowned wildlife park in Africa. Enjoy the Italian-inspired cuisine and being immersed in nature from your private veranda, the Maasai Wellbeing Space and the open lounge and dining area. Maasai warriors will guide you throughout your stay, sharing their ancient wisdom and local knowledge of the area and the animals, their way of life and their secret corners of the most loved wildlife reserve in Kenya. Activities and amenities: day and night game drives, bush meals, guided walks, birdwatching, Maasai Wellbeing Space treatments (payable extra), picnics, library, balloon safaris (payable extra), Saruni Shop.

Saruni Wild

• Saruni Wild is a tented camp elegantly and comfortably furnished with all the necessary luxuries of a wild yet classic safari. The camp is located in the heart of the Masai Mara plains, on the border between Lemek Conservancy and Mara North Conservancy. Surrounded by tens of thousands acres of pristine, untouched wilderness, the camp has the most classic Masai Mara setting. The wildlife thrive right next to its tents. Enjoy endless views, fire-lit meals under the vast African sky, guided game drives led by Maasai warriors. Activities and amenities: day and night game drives, bush meals, guided walks, birdwatching, Maasai Wellbeing Space treatments (payable extra), picnics, library, balloon safaris (payable extra).

Sample itinerary

Day 1 – Saruni Mara / Saruni Wild

• Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where a Saruni vehicle will transfer you to Wilson Airport for your flight to the Masai
• Depart Nairobi in the morning*, arriving in the Masai Mara an hour later where your Saruni guide will be waiting for you.
• Game drive with a picnic lunch to enjoy under an acacia tree or by the river next to a pod of hippos, or head to Saruni Mara or Saruni Wild for some rest and relaxation.
• Game drive later in the afternoon in both
• Lemek conservancy and Mara North Conservancy (MNC) – over 30,000 acres of plentiful, protected land bordering the Masai Mara National Reserve. Enjoy a completely different and less-explored corner of the Mara ecosystem in total privacy, brimming with wildlife.
• Weather permitting, experience a bush dinner in the middle of the wilderness under the vast African sky, with Maasai warriors singing and dancing around the fire.

Day 2 – Saruni Mara / Saruni Wild

• Early morning game drive to look for the big cats and other predators of the Masai Mara, returning to the lodge or camp for lunch and treatments at the Maasai Wellbeing Space surrounded by teeming wildlife in a classic Masai Mara setting.
• In the afternoon, a game drive will take you to a special area where the largest tower of giraffe can be seen, followed by dinner back at the lodge or camp and an optional night game drive.

Day 3 – Saruni Mara / Saruni Wild

• Walk through the valleys and plains surrounding Saruni Mara, accompanied by a vehicle, or a game drive up to the top of Kilileoni, the highest mountain in the Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem - led by your skillful and knowledgeable Maasai guides.
• Following lunch, in the afternoon you will discover more of Mara North and its surrounding conservancies and experience first-hand what makes the Mara one of the most exciting wildernesses in the world, overlooking the immense plains surrounding you before heading back to the lodge or camp for a hearty dinner.

Day 4 – Departure

• Visit the rhino sanctuary on the way to the airstrip and once again admire the hippos and the crocodiles of the Mara River.
• Transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with Saruni. Depending on the time of your international flight, stop at the Talisman or Carnivore restaurant for dinner.

Note:

• The Saruni Sales and Reservations team can modify and tailor this itinerary to suit your personal preference. Baggage allowance on internal flights is 15kg per person, preferably in small, soft bags without wheels. Seats on the schedule flights are subject to availability at confirmation. Rates with children or single occupancy are available upon request.
• *Flight times and durations may vary depending on airline and routing, and are subject to change.