11-Day Best of Kenya African Safari and Diani Beach Holiday
Overview
Overview
This 11-Day Best of Kenya African Safari and Diani Beach Holiday takes you through Kenya’s most iconic national parks and reserves, including the world-famous Masai Mara, before concluding with pristine white sandy beaches at Diani Beach. Your Kenya African Safari begins in bustling Nairobi and ventures through diverse ecosystems, from the Great Rift Valley lakes to the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro views in Amboseli. Experience the authentic Kenya African Safari magic as you witness the Big Five, the Great Migration, flamingo spectacles, and countless other wildlife species in their natural habitats.
This carefully crafted Kenya African Safari itinerary showcases the country’s incredible biodiversity across multiple national parks and conservation areas. You’ll traverse the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve, famous for its abundant wildlife and annual wildebeest migration, followed by visits to Lake Nakuru’s flamingo haven and Lake Naivasha’s hippo-filled waters. Your Kenya African Safari continues through Amboseli National Park with its massive elephant herds and stunning Kilimanjaro backdrop, then ventures into the rugged wilderness of Tsavo West National Park. Each destination offers unique landscapes, from acacia-dotted savannahs to volcanic craters, ensuring your Kenya African Safari provides unforgettable memories and photographic opportunities.
The Kenya African Safari adventure concludes with three days of pure relaxation at Diani Beach, consistently ranked among the world’s most beautiful coastal destinations. After days of exciting game drives and wildlife photography, unwind on pristine coral sand beaches lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Your Kenya African Safari experience transitions seamlessly from bush to beach, allowing you to snorkel in coral reefs, enjoy water sports, or simply relax under swaying palm trees. This perfect combination of wildlife adventure and coastal bliss makes this Kenya African Safari the ideal choice for travelers seeking both excitement and relaxation in one comprehensive East African journey.
Tour Highlights
Day 1: Arrival and pick up from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi
Day 2: Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve via the Great Rift Valley
Day 3: Proceed to full day game viewing in Masai Mara with Big Five tracking
Day 4: Continue with morning game drive and transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park
Day 5: Proceed to Lake Naivasha for boat safari and Crescent Island walking safari
Day 6: Transfer to Amboseli National Park with Mount Kilimanjaro views
Day 7: Continue with full day Amboseli game drives and elephant photography
Day 8: Proceed to Tsavo West National Park via Mzima Springs
Day 9: Transfer to Diani Beach for coastal relaxation and water activities
Day 10: Continue with beach leisure, snorkeling, and optional dhow cruise
Day 11: Proceed to final beach relaxation and transfer to Nairobi for departure
Price Includes
Price Includes
Park fees for all national parks and reserves (Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, Tsavo West)
All activities as mentioned in the itinerary
Ground transport per 4WD custom safari vehicle with pop-up roof for game viewing
Bottled water in the safari vehicle throughout the journey
Full board accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary (safari lodges and beach resort)
Service of an English-speaking professional driver-guide
Driver allowances and accommodation
All mentioned activities except for the optional ones
Boat safari at Lake Naivasha
Crescent Island walking safari
Game drives in all mentioned parks
Price excludes
Price Excludes
Kenya Visa fees
International and internal flights
Personal needs such as gratuities, beverages, etc.
Visa processing costs
Air ticket expenses
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary (dhow cruises, diving, etc.)
Laundry fees at accommodations
Tips for guides, drivers, and lodge staff
Life insurance coverage
Other drinks apart from water (alcoholic and soft drinks)
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Personal shopping and souvenirs
Medical expenses and vaccinations
Itineraries
Day 1Arrival and pick up from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi
Your Kenya African Safari adventure begins with arrival and pick up from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where our professional English-speaking guide will warmly welcome you to Kenya. The transfer from the airport to your comfortable Nairobi hotel takes approximately 30 minutes covering 18 kilometers through Kenya's vibrant capital city streets. This first day of your Kenya African Safari allows you to rest, recover from international travel, and receive a comprehensive briefing about the incredible wildlife experiences ahead. Your Kenya African Safari guide will review the detailed itinerary, answer questions, and ensure you're fully prepared for tomorrow's departure to the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve.
Day 2Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve via the Great Rift Valley
Transfer to Masai Mara National Reserve marks the official beginning of your Kenya African Safari wildlife adventure, departing Nairobi at 7:00 AM for Africa's most famous game reserve. The scenic 280-kilometer journey takes approximately 5 hours through the dramatic Great Rift Valley, offering spectacular viewpoints and opportunities to interact with local Maasai communities. Upon arrival at Masai Mara, your Kenya African Safari experience truly begins as you witness vast savannahs teeming with wildlife, from grazing zebras and wildebeest to prowling predators. The afternoon game drive provides your first taste of this incredible Kenya African Safari destination, with possibilities of encountering lions, elephants, and the famous resident cheetah population.
Day 3Proceed to full day game viewing in Masai Mara with Big Five tracking
Proceed to an intensive full day of game viewing in Masai Mara National Reserve, the crown jewel of your Kenya African Safari experience. Early morning and late afternoon game drives offer optimal wildlife viewing opportunities, as this is when the Kenya African Safari Big Five are most active and visible. The reserve's 1,510 square kilometers encompass rolling grasslands, acacia woodlands, and the life-giving Mara River, creating diverse habitats that support incredible wildlife concentrations. Your Kenya African Safari guide will navigate to prime locations for photographing lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, rhinoceros, cheetahs, hyenas, and the spectacular wildebeest migration if visiting during the season.
Day 4Continue with morning game drive and transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park
Continue with an early morning game drive in Masai Mara before beginning your transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park, transitioning to a different but equally spectacular phase of your Kenya African Safari. This final Masai Mara game drive provides last opportunities to spot any wildlife species you may have missed, ensuring your Kenya African Safari experience in this legendary reserve is complete. The 260-kilometer journey to Lake Nakuru takes approximately 4 hours through scenic Kenyan highlands, passing through the market town of Narok and numerous traditional Kikuyu farming communities. Your Kenya African Safari continues as you arrive at Lake Nakuru, famous worldwide for its massive flamingo populations and being a critical black rhinoceros sanctuary.
Day 5Proceed to Lake Naivasha for boat safari and Crescent Island walking safari
Proceed to Lake Naivasha after an early morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, continuing your diverse Kenya African Safari experience with freshwater lake ecosystems. The morning Lake Nakuru game drive focuses on spotting the park's famous white and black rhinoceros, Rothschild's giraffes, and millions of lesser flamingos that create pink carpets across the alkaline lake. Your Kenya African Safari journey continues with a 90-minute drive covering 65 kilometers to Lake Naivasha, Kenya's highest freshwater lake situated at 1,884 meters above sea level. Upon arrival, your Kenya African Safari transforms into a boat safari experience, gliding across calm waters to observe hippos, waterbucks, and over 400 bird species including fish eagles, pelicans, and cormorants.
Day 6Transfer to Amboseli National Park with Mount Kilimanjaro views
Transfer to Amboseli National Park begins early morning, taking your Kenya African Safari adventure toward Kenya's most photographed national park with stunning Mount Kilimanjaro backdrops. The 280-kilometer journey from Lake Naivasha takes approximately 4.5 hours, passing through traditional Maasai lands and offering glimpses of Africa's highest peak on clear days. Your Kenya African Safari guide will make strategic stops at scenic viewpoints and local markets, providing cultural insights and opportunities to purchase authentic Maasai handicrafts and beadwork. Upon arrival at Amboseli, your Kenya African Safari immediately rewards you with incredible elephant sightings, as this park hosts some of Africa's largest tusker populations against the magnificent Kilimanjaro backdrop.
Day 7Continue with full day Amboseli game drives and elephant photography
Continue with intensive full-day game drives throughout Amboseli National Park, focusing on elephant photography and Mount Kilimanjaro scenic views that define this Kenya African Safari destination. Early morning game drives offer the clearest Kilimanjaro views before clouds obscure the peak, providing perfect opportunities for iconic Kenya African Safari photography with elephants silhouetted against Africa's highest mountain. The park's 392 square kilometers encompass diverse habitats including permanent swamps fed by Kilimanjaro's melting snow, acacia woodlands, and open savannahs that support large wildlife populations. Your Kenya African Safari experience in Amboseli includes encounters with large elephant families, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, buffalo, and numerous plains game species like zebras, wildebeest, and gazelles.
Day 8Proceed to Tsavo West National Park via Mzima Springs
Proceed to Tsavo West National Park for the next phase of your Kenya African Safari, exploring one of Kenya's largest and most diverse wilderness areas. The 200-kilometer journey from Amboseli takes approximately 3 hours through increasingly arid landscapes, showcasing Kenya's ecological diversity as your Kenya African Safari transitions from mountain views to semi-desert terrain. Upon arrival, your Kenya African Safari continues with an afternoon game drive featuring visits to Mzima Springs, where crystal-clear waters emerge from underground rivers and support hippos, crocodiles, and diverse fish species. Tsavo West's 9,065 square kilometers offer rugged beauty with volcanic landscapes, natural springs, and diverse wildlife that make this Kenya African Safari segment uniquely memorable and photographically rewarding.
Day 9Transfer to Diani Beach for coastal relaxation and water activities
Transfer to Diani Beach marks the transition from wildlife adventure to coastal paradise, beginning the relaxation phase of your Kenya African Safari and beach holiday combination. The 350-kilometer journey from Tsavo West takes approximately 5 hours, descending from highland wilderness to the tropical Indian Ocean coast with its palm-fringed white sandy beaches. Your Kenya African Safari adventure seamlessly blends into beach luxury as you arrive at one of the world's most beautiful coastal destinations, consistently rated among the top 10 beaches globally. The afternoon allows immediate beach relaxation, swimming in warm turquoise waters, and reflecting on the incredible wildlife experiences from your Kenya African Safari adventure while enjoying tropical cocktails and fresh seafood.
Day 10 Continue with beach leisure, snorkeling, and optional dhow cruise
Continue with full beach leisure at Diani Beach, enjoying the perfect culmination to your Kenya African Safari adventure with pristine coastal relaxation and optional water activities. Morning options include snorkeling in vibrant coral reefs, dolphin watching boat trips, or simply lounging on powder-white sand beaches beneath swaying coconut palms. Your Kenya African Safari memories provide perfect conversation topics while enjoying beachside massages, fresh tropical fruits, and the laid-back atmosphere of Kenya's premier coastal destination. Afternoon activities might include visiting nearby Shimba Hills National Reserve for elephant viewing, traditional dhow sailing trips, or exploring local markets, ensuring your Kenya African Safari experience concludes with diverse cultural and recreational opportunities
Day 11Proceed to final beach relaxation and transfer to Nairobi for departure
Proceed to your final morning of beach relaxation before beginning the transfer back to Nairobi, concluding your comprehensive Kenya African Safari and beach holiday experience. Morning hours provide last opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and souvenir shopping at local Diani Beach markets offering authentic Kenyan crafts and artwork. Your Kenya African Safari guide will collect you for the 450-kilometer journey back to Nairobi, taking approximately 6 hours with a lunch stop in Mombasa city for final coastal views and cultural exploration. The journey back to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport provides time to reflect on your incredible Kenya African Safari experiences, from Big Five encounters to pristine beaches, ensuring memories that will last a lifetime.
