This 11-day East African journey seamlessly transitions from Kenya’s bustling capital to its legendary national parks, tranquil freshwater lakes, famous savanna reserves, and warm Indian Ocean beaches. The route begins with a night in Nairobi before driving south to Amboseli National Park for two nights beneath Mount Kilimanjaro. You then journey into the Great Rift Valley for a night at Lake Naivasha, venture west into the Masai Mara National Reserve for three nights of wilderness game drives, and fly directly to the tropical coast of Mombasa for a three-night seaside finale.
Touch down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, where your private driver-guide greets you and transfers you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, spend the afternoon visiting the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to learn about elephant rescue efforts or feeding Rothschild giraffes at the Giraffe Centre. In the evening, unwind at a local restaurant or relax at your hotel ahead of your safari departure. Overnight: Nairobi.
Depart Nairobi in the morning for a scenic drive south across the Athi Plains into Amboseli National Park, famous for its massive elephant herds and views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Arrive at your safari lodge in time for lunch before heading out on your first afternoon game drive across the acacia-dotted plains. As the sun sets, watch herds of elephants cross the dusty swamp beds against the backdrop of snow-capped Kilimanjaro. Overnight: Amboseli National Park.
Spend a full day exploring Amboseli's diverse ecosystems, starting with an early morning game drive when Mount Kilimanjaro is most clear of clouds. Drive up to Observation Hill for a panoramic vantage point over the Enkongo Narok swamps, where hippos and elephants wallow in the marshlands year-round. Spend the afternoon tracking lions, cheetahs, zebras, and giraffes across the dry lake beds before returning to your lodge for dinner. Overnight: Amboseli National Park
Leave Amboseli after breakfast and travel north through the Great Rift Valley, descending past scenic viewpoints down to the shores of Lake Naivasha. Check into your lakeside lodge by mid-afternoon and take a private boat safari across the freshwater lake to view pods of resident hippos and diverse bird species. Conclude the afternoon with a guided walking safari on Crescent Island, walking alongside wild giraffes, wildebeests, and waterbucks in a predator-free sanctuary. Overnight: Lake Naivasha
Journey west past the extinct Longonot volcano into the open savanna grasslands of the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve. Check into your luxury safari camp and enjoy lunch before embarking on a late-afternoon game drive across the rolling hills of the reserve. Search for the Big Five lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos before returning to camp for dinner around a safari campfire under the stars. Overnight: Masai Mara National Reserve.
Dedicate a full day to game viewing in the Masai Mara, setting out with a packed picnic lunch to explore remote sections of the reserve. Drive down to the Mara River to spot basking crocodiles and resident hippos, tracking large prides of lions and solitary cheetahs hunting in the open grass. Optional morning activities include a sunrise hot air balloon safari over the plains followed by a champagne bush breakfast. Overnight: Masai Mara National Reserve
Spend another full day immersing yourself in the Mara ecosystem, focusing on tracking elusive predators like leopards resting in riverine acacia trees. In the afternoon, visit a traditional Maasai village to learn about the community's ancestral customs, cultural dances, and pastoral lifestyle directly from local warriors. Return to your camp in time for a sundowner drink looking out across the vast savanna horizon. Overnight: Masai Mara National Reserve.
Enjoy a final morning game drive across the Mara before transferring to the local airstrip for a direct flight to the Kenyan coast. Touch down at Ukunda or Mombasa Airport, where a private transfer takes you directly to your beachfront resort along the Indian Ocean. Spend the late afternoon relaxing on the white sand beaches of Diani or Bamburi, listening to the waves of the warm ocean. Overnight: Mombasa (Coastal Region)
Spend a full day relaxing on the tropical coast, soaking up the sun on private beach loungers or swimming in the ocean. Take an optional glass-bottom boat tour out to the coral reefs for snorkeling, or try water sports like windsurfing, kayaking, and deep-sea fishing. In the evening, enjoy a seafood dinner featuring fresh local catch prepared with Swahili coastal spices. Overnight: Mombasa (Coastal Region)
Enjoy another day on the coast, balancing quiet beach relaxation with local cultural exploration. Take an optional day trip into Mombasa Old Town to visit the 16th-century Portuguese fortress of Fort Jesus and wander through narrow Swahili market alleyways filled with spice vendors. Conclude your evening with a sunset dhow cruise along the coastline, enjoying drinks and music as the sun dips below the horizon. Overnight: Mombasa (Coastal Region)
Spend your final morning enjoying breakfast with views of the ocean before transferring to Mombasa Airport or the SGR Railway station for your connection back to Nairobi. Arrive in Nairobi in time to do last-minute souvenir shopping or enjoy dinner before your international transfer home.
Frequently Asked Questions
The overall best time for this combined safari and coastal trip is during the dry season from July to October. During these months, dry weather brings thin vegetation and draws wildlife toward central rivers and waterholes, making big game easy to spot in Amboseli and the Masai Mara. This period also coincides with the legendary Great Migration in the Masai Mara, where millions of wildebeests and zebras cross from the Serengeti. Another excellent window is January to February, which offers warm, sunny beach weather in Mombasa alongside clear skies and dry game viewing inland.
All international visitors (including infants and children) require an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) prior to boarding their flight to Kenya. The official application must be submitted online at etakenya.go.ke at least two to three weeks before departure. There is no visa-on-arrival option, and airlines will deny boarding if you do not have an approved digital or printed eTA document.
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for entry if you are traveling from or transiting through a country with Yellow Fever transmission risk. While not mandatory for direct travelers from non-risk areas, the Yellow Fever vaccine and Malaria prophylaxis (such as Malarone or Doxycycline) are strongly recommended by medical health professionals due to mosquito exposure in game reserves and coastal regions. Always consult a certified travel health clinic four to six weeks prior to your trip to stay up to date on recommended booster shots.
Packing in layers is essential for a Kenya trip. Open savannas like Amboseli and the Masai Mara can feel quite chilly during early morning game drives, requiring light jackets, sweaters, and long trousers. Neutral-toned clothing (khaki, beige, tan, olive) works best for safari, while bright colors like blue and black should be avoided in bush zones because they can attract tsetse flies. For Mombasa, lightweight linen, swimwear, shorts, and breathable cotton clothing are ideal for the tropical heat.
If you choose to take a domestic bush flight from the Masai Mara to Mombasa rather than driving back to Nairobi, strict luggage restrictions apply. Light aircraft operating out of bush airstrips enforce a maximum weight limit of 15 kg (33 lbs) per passenger, including hand luggage. Soft-sided duffel bags without rigid frames are strictly required so that baggage can fit into the small cargo pods beneath the aircraft. Excess luggage can usually be stored at your hotel in Nairobi for a small fee if needed.
