Brief Description
As for how long is a Safari game drive is, typically in Kenya, the drives last 2 to 3 hours per drive in the morning and afternoon hours, with morning timings usually scheduled from 6.30am to 9am and afternoon timings being 3.30pm to 6.30pm, though travelers may sometimes opt for a full day game drive generally from 10am to 4pm, in which case the excursion will include a packed picnic lunch to be had inside the Maasai Mara reserve at a designated picnic spot, during lunch hours anytime from 12.30pm to 2.30pm.
Most road safaris include private safari game drives while Fly~In tour packages, where game drives are provided by the Camp, will usually have non-private game drives, meaning other travelers may also occupy the same vehicle. Seating capacity of the vehicles is usually a maximum of 8 passengers so not too large a group. Private game drives nonetheless have their advantages as you have a higher level of personal freedom and flexibility in terms of timings and convenience. Tourists with special interests such as Photography or Bird Watching are advised to opt for private drives. 
Night Game drives are also always a curiosity for many visitors to Maasai Mara. Note that night drives are not permitted inside the main Maasai Mara National Reserve and only happen on private or group conservancies which border the main Reserve. Timings range from 7pm to 9pm, varying depending on which camp or lodge offers these night excursions to their guests.
Lastly, we often get asked about the difference between a Safari and a Game drive. Well, a Safari is an entire Tour that may include many game drives at various locations and parks, while a game drive is just that, a single game drive while on a Safari.
