Private safari · 7 days / 6 nights · Coast to Nairobi
From the beaches of Mombasa and Diani to Nairobi, through five of Kenya's best parks: red elephants in Tsavo East, Kilimanjaro views in Amboseli, two Rift Valley lakes and the Masai Mara.
The trip
The ideal safari after a beach holiday: start on the coast, finish in Nairobi, and see five completely different parks on the way.
You leave Mombasa or Diani for Tsavo East, home of the famous red-dusted elephants, then cross to Amboseli for big elephant herds with Mount Kilimanjaro behind them. The route climbs into the Great Rift Valley for hippos on Lake Naivasha, a morning in Hell's Gate and rhinos and flamingos at Lake Nakuru, before two nights in the Masai Mara.
It is a full week with plenty of driving, but every stop is different, and travelling in your own Land Cruiser with a private guide means you can take it at your own pace.
A full week on the road: drives range from about 1.5 to 7 hours, with game drives along the way.
Day by day
Times and game-drive routes are a guide. Your driver-guide adjusts each day to the weather, the season and where the animals are.
Day 1Your driver-guide collects you from your Diani Beach resort or Mombasa hotel and heads inland on the Mombasa–Nairobi highway (via the Likoni ferry from Diani). After lunch in Tsavo East, enjoy an afternoon game drive looking for the park's famous red-dusted elephants, lions, giraffes and zebras.
Day 2Leave Tsavo East in the morning and drive west to Amboseli. In the afternoon, head out among the big elephant herds that Amboseli is known for, often with Mount Kilimanjaro rising behind them when the sky is clear.
Day 3Rise early for a sunrise game drive, the best time for clear views of Kilimanjaro. Then drive north, with a lunch stop in Nairobi, and continue into the Great Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha, where you can end the day with a boat ride among hippos and waterbirds.
Optional: Lake Naivasha boat safari (extra cost).
Day 4Spend the morning in Hell's Gate National Park, one of the few Kenyan parks you can explore by bike or on foot, among cliffs, gorges and grazing zebras. At midday drive to Lake Nakuru for an afternoon game drive looking for black and white rhinos, flamingos, pelicans, lions and giraffes.
Day 5A last early game drive at Lake Nakuru, then the drive south-west to the Masai Mara. Arrive in time for your first afternoon game drive in Kenya's most famous reserve, in search of the Big Five.
Day 6A whole day of unlimited game drives across the plains, with a picnic lunch by the Mara River, where hippos and crocodiles gather. From July to October, watch for the herds of the Great Migration and their dramatic river crossings.
Optional extras: sunrise hot-air balloon flight or a Maasai village visit (extra cost).
Day 7Head out for a last game drive before breakfast, when the cats are most active. After breakfast, drive back to Nairobi, arriving in the late afternoon for a drop-off at your hotel or the airport.
Where you'll go
Dry red-earth bush, swamps under Kilimanjaro, Rift Valley lakes and the open Mara plains: this route shows how varied Kenya is.
Kenya's largest wilderness, famous for its red-dusted elephants.
Read our Tsavo East guide →
Huge elephant herds with Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop.
Read our Amboseli guide →
Hippos, fish eagles and the cliffs of Hell's Gate.
Read our Lake Naivasha guide →
A rhino sanctuary with flamingos and pelicans on the shore.
Read our Lake Nakuru guide →
Big cats, open plains and the Great Migration from July to October.
Read our Masai Mara guide →The price
One clear price for your private safari, with park fees already included.
Where you'll stay
The itinerary is the same at every level. Pick the style of camp or lodge you prefer and we will match it to your dates.
BudgetClean, well-run camps and lodges with en-suite rooms, hot showers and hearty meals.
From US$2,725 pp
Mid-rangeSpacious tents or rooms, a lounge and campfire, attentive staff and great food. Our most popular choice.
Quote on request
LuxuryStylish suites, beautiful views, fine dining and spa touches in prime locations.
Quote on requestPhotos show the style of each level. Your exact camps or lodges are confirmed in your quote.
On your game drives
With five different parks, this route gives you some of the best chances in Kenya to see the Big Five and much more. Every sighting is wild and never guaranteed.
Read our park guides: Tsavo East, Amboseli, Naivasha, Nakuru and the Masai Mara.
Seasons
This safari runs all year. Dry months give the best game viewing in every park, and July to October adds the Great Migration in the Mara.
Be ready
You go from the hot coast and Tsavo to cool Rift Valley mornings, so pack light clothes plus a warm layer. Soft bags fit best in the vehicle.
Questions
Can't find your answer? Our Nairobi team replies quickly on WhatsApp.
Ask on WhatsAppor call +254 793 815 813It starts with a pickup from your hotel in Mombasa or Diani Beach and ends in Nairobi on Day 7, with a drop-off at your hotel or the airport. This makes it ideal after a beach holiday on the Kenyan coast.
Yes, this is a road safari covering five parks, so some days have long drives, the longest being about 7 hours from Amboseli to Lake Naivasha via Nairobi. Most drives pass through scenic country, and your guide will stop for breaks and photos.
All five are possible on this route: elephants and buffalo are seen in most parks, rhinos are very likely at Lake Nakuru, and lions and leopards are found in Tsavo East and the Masai Mara. Wildlife is wild, so no sighting can be guaranteed.
Kilimanjaro is best seen from Amboseli early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the clouds clear. On many days it is visible, but in cloudy weather it can stay hidden.
It runs all year. June to October and January to February are dry with excellent game viewing. July to October is Great Migration season in the Masai Mara, while April and May bring the long rains and the lowest prices.
Yes. You travel in your own private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and your own English-speaking driver-guide for the whole week.
You can book online or ask for a free quote first. A 30% deposit confirms your safari, and we confirm your camps or lodges for each night before you pay.
Ready when you are
Book online in minutes, or tell us your dates and group size and we will send a free, no-obligation quote.
Other options
Shorter options covering parts of this route.
