9-Day Classic Kenya Safari & Diani Beach Retreat

Your adventure begins with a warm welcome in Nairobi, either at your hotel or upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. After a short safari briefing, embark on a scenic drive through the Great Rift Valley towards Lake Nakuru National Park, a drive that takes approximately 3 hours. Enjoy a brief stop at a viewpoint to admire the vast escarpment before continuing to the park. You will arrive in time for lunch at your lodge or camp, and relax before heading for an afternoon game drive. Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya’s most treasured national parks, home to both white and black rhinos, endangered Rothschild's giraffes, and an abundance of birdlife, including flamingos, pelicans, and fish eagles. Keep an eye out for lions, buffalo, and even leopards lurking in the woodlands. After your game drive, return to your lodge for dinner and a relaxed evening surrounded by nature.

After an early breakfast, check out and begin your drive to the world-renowned Masai Mara National Reserve, passing through varied landscapes including Maasai villages, rolling hills, and the Loita Plains. The drive takes about 5 to 6 hours. You’ll arrive in the Masai Mara in time for lunch and a short rest at your tented camp. In the late afternoon, set out on your first Mara game drive. This reserve is teeming with wildlife, including the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino—as well as cheetahs, hyenas, and numerous plains game. Watch the golden sunset over the savannah before heading back to Enkorok Mara Camp for dinner.

Wake up early for a full day of exploration in the Masai Mara. After breakfast, set off on morning and afternoon game drives, or opt for a full-day safari with a packed picnic lunch. The park is a photographer’s dream, with its rolling grasslands, acacia trees, and incredible wildlife. You'll follow the migration paths (seasonal), track big cats, observe elephants herding their young, and possibly witness a kill in action. The Mara River, which cuts through the reserve, is home to large pods of hippos and Nile crocodiles. You'll have an option to enjoy a hot-air balloon safari at sunrise, followed by a champagne bush breakfast (both optional, at an extra cost). Alternatively, if you wish, you can visit a nearby Maasai village for cultural immersion (optional, at an extra cost). After an exciting day, return to your camp for dinner and storytelling around the campfire.

Enjoy an early breakfast before departing the Masai Mara for Nairobi, where you may stop for lunch depending on your travel arrangements. From Nairobi, continue your journey south toward Amboseli National Park, located near the Kenya-Tanzania border. The journey will take approximately 4 to 5 hours. Arrive in the late afternoon and check in at Ol Tukai lodge, which offers incredible views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak. If time permits, enjoy a short afternoon game drive before dinner.

Today is dedicated to exploring Amboseli National Park, one of Kenya’s most scenic reserves. Known for its large elephant herds and unobstructed views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli offers excellent game viewing. After breakfast, embark on a morning game drive to explore the open plains, swamps, and acacia woodlands. Apart from elephants, look out for lions, cheetahs, buffalos, zebras, giraffes, and a variety of birds. Later, visit Observation Hill, a lookout point that provides panoramic views of the entire park and swamps below, where elephants often bathe. You will return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation, followed by an afternoon game drive. Cap off your day with dinner under the stars.

After breakfast, check out and begin your journey to Diani Beach. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your beach hotel along the sparkling Indian Ocean coast. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, relaxing on the white sandy beach, swimming in the ocean, or lounging by the pool. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at the hotel.

Enjoy a full day in paradise. Take a relaxing beach stroll, indulge in a Swahili spa treatment, sip cocktails by the sea, or explore the lively Diani shopping arcades and art galleries. Alternatively, organize a local cultural tour to experience the coastal communities and Swahili culture (optional, at an extra cost). On these days, if you wish, you can also opt for activities such as glass-bottom boat rides, kite surfing, jet skiing and deep-sea fishing (all optional, at an extra cost). Your beach hotel offers multiple dining options, evening entertainment, and peaceful surroundings to soak in your final full day in Kenya. Breakfast, dinner and your overnight stay will be at Diani Sea Resort.

After breakfast, check out and transfer to the Ukunda Airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi Wilson Airport. Upon arrival, a driver will meet you for your final transfer either to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your international flight or to a hotel if you're extending your stay in Nairobi. Bid farewell to magical Kenya with unforgettable memories of wildlife, landscapes, and coastal bliss.