14-Day Kenya Safari and Beach Vacation

Flight Time: 1 hour · Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Take an early morning flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to Samburu’s dusty airstrip, where your safari vehicle awaits. The drive to your lodge reveals Samburu’s striking scenery, rust-colored plains dotted with twisted acacia trees and towering doum palms. Settle into Ashnil Samburu Camp, where elephants often wade through the river right past your luxury tent.

After lunch and a siesta, your first game drive introduces Samburu’s special residents, keep watch for the long-necked gerenuk antelope browsing on hind legs and the massive Grevy’s zebra with its precise stripes. As evening approaches, stop for sundowners overlooking the Ewaso Nyiro River, watching baboons descend the kopjes for their evening drink. Return to camp for dinner under the stars, accompanied by the sounds of hippos grunting in the river below.

Overnight at Ashnil Samburu Camp.

Full Day Game Drives · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Wake to the calls of hornbills in the riverside trees. Your morning drive focuses on finding Samburu’s “Special Five”, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, beisa oryx, and Somali ostrich. Watch elephants dig for water in dry riverbeds, a behavior special to northern Kenya. Visit a Samburu village, where warriors in bright beadwork share stories of life in this harsh but beautiful land.

Return to camp for lunch and a cool-off in your private plunge pool. The afternoon drive explores different terrain, from rocky kopjes where leopards rest to the lush river zones attracting countless birds. Your guide’s skilled tracking might reveal rarely seen striped hyenas or the tiny dikdik, Africa’s smallest antelope. Afterwards, return to the camp for dinner.

Overnight at Ashnil Samburu Camp.

Full Day Game Drives · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Start early with coffee delivered to your tent. Cross the river to Buffalo Springs Reserve, where different soil creates subtly changed habitats. Look for lions draped on granite outcrops and monitor lizards basking in morning sun. Visit the Ewaso Nyiro River’s permanent springs, watching crocodiles and water birds. Back at camp, enjoy a late breakfast watching elephants dust-bathe on the opposite bank.

The afternoon brings a chance to track leopards in the riverine forest or seek out the rare Vulturine Guineafowl with its striking blue breast. Spend time with your guide learning about medicinal plants and wildlife tracking. Return to camp for dinner, with a chance to be entertained by Samburu warriors sharing traditional dances around the campfire.

Overnight at Ashnil Samburu Camp.

Drive Time: 4 hours · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Leave Samburu’s arid scenery, watching the terrain shift from thorny scrub to green highlands. Arrive at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a pioneering wildlife sanctuary, in time for lunch at Sweetwaters Serena Camp. Your afternoon centers on the conservancy’s rhino program, track both black and white rhinos with expert rangers while learning about conservation efforts. Visit the chimpanzee sanctuary, meeting rescued chimps and hearing their stories. Later, spot northern white rhinos, the world’s last remaining individuals, with their 24-hour guards.

As night falls, search for nocturnal species like aardwolf and caracal on a night drive through the conservancy. Dinner features organic vegetables from the conservancy’s community farms, paired with stories from your guide about living alongside these remarkable creatures.

Overnight at Sweetwaters Serena Camp.

Full Day Activities · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Begin with an early morning game drive as Mount Kenya’s peaks emerge from the mist. Join rangers for lion tracking, using telemetry equipment to monitor the conservancy’s predators. After breakfast, take a mountain bike ride through the wilderness, passing plains game from a special perspective. Visit the K-9 anti-poaching unit for a demonstration of how dogs help protect wildlife.

The afternoon offers horse riding among zebras and giraffes, or a slower game drive focusing on smaller creatures and plant life. Stop at the local school and community projects that showcase conservation benefits. Tonight’s dinner in the bush features local Laikipia beef, while a conservation expert shares insights about the delicate balance between wildlife, cattle, and communities.

Overnight at Sweetwaters Serena Camp.

Drive Time: 5-6 hours · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Depart after breakfast for your journey to the world-famous Masai Mara. The drive takes you through the Great Rift Valley, with stops at scenic viewpoints overlooking vast valleys and lakes. Pass through traditional Maasai villages and rolling wheat fields before reaching the game-rich plains of the Mara. Arrive at your lodge, Mara Serena Safari Lodge or similar, perched on a hill with sweeping views of the savanna below.

After lunch and a short rest, set out for your first Mara game drive. Watch elephants moving across the plains, lions lounging in the grass, and perhaps spot the elusive leopard in scattered acacia trees. Your guide explains the intricacies of this remarkable habitat while tracking wildlife through the golden afternoon light. Return as the sun sets for dinner overlooking the vast Mara plains, listening to the sounds of the African night begin.

Overnight at Mara Serena Safari Lodge.

Full Day Game Drives · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Head out at dawn when animals are most active, exploring different areas of the Masai Mara. Track lion prides preparing for their morning hunt, or watch elephant herds moving across the plains to their favorite feeding grounds. Your guide reads the signs left by predators during the night, leading you to spots where big cats might be found with their young. Look for graceful giraffes browsing acacia trees and observe zebra and wildebeest grazing peacefully together. Enjoy a hearty bush breakfast set up under an umbrella acacia tree.

After lunch and a rest at the lodge, venture out again as the day cools. Search for cheetahs scanning the savanna from termite mounds, or spot hyenas emerging from their dens. Visit a traditional Masai village to learn about their way of life. Return to the lodge for dinner, sharing stories of the day’s sightings as the sun sets over the Mara plains.

Overnight at Mara Serena Safari Lodge.

Full Day Game Drives · Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Begin your day with an early morning game drive when predators are most active. Venture into different areas of the Masai Mara National Reserve, following the Mara River where hippos congregate and crocodiles bask on sandbanks. Your guide’s expertise leads you to prime wildlife viewing areas where you might witness lions on a hunt or a leopard draped over an acacia branch. During migration season (July to October), watch thousands of wildebeest making their dramatic river crossings. Enjoy a picnic breakfast under a lone acacia tree, surrounded by the sweeping savanna.

After lunch and relaxation at the lodge, your afternoon game drive explores new territories. Search for cheetahs scanning the plains from termite mounds, elephants stripping bark from trees, and giraffes browsing the acacia tops. As the sun sets, stop for sundowners overlooking the endless plains before returning to the lodge for dinner under the stars.

Overnight at Mara Serena Safari Lodge.

Flight Time: 2 hours (via Ukunda Airstrip) · Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Your final morning drive brings unexpected sightings, perhaps servals hunting in the long grass or tiny lion cubs emerging from their den. After a hearty breakfast, fly south to Diani’s Ukunda Airstrip, watching terrain shift from savanna to coastal forest. Arrive at Baobab Beach Resort & Spa or similar, where your suite features private ocean views and traditional Swahili décor.

The afternoon invites you to dip your toes in the warm Indian Ocean or lounge by the infinity pool watching black-and-white colobus monkeys swing through ancient baobabs. Walk the powder-white beach, rated among Africa’s finest, as traditional dhows glide past. End your first coastal day with sundowners at the beach bar followed by a candlelit dinner of fresh seafood and Swahili specialties on your private terrace.

Overnight at Baobab Beach Resort & Spa.

Full Day at Leisure · Meals: Breakfast

Begin with sunrise yoga on the beach or sleep late in your ocean-view suite. Join a morning snorkeling trip to the coral reef, where parrotfish and sea turtles glide through crystal waters. Return for a poolside lunch featuring local crab and mango salad.

The afternoon offers choices: try stand-up paddleboarding in the calm lagoon, visit the nearby Colobus Conservation Trust, or indulge in a massage using local coconut oil and spices. Walk through the coastal forest with a local guide spotting rare birds and butterflies. Sunset brings a dhow cruise along the coast, complete with traditional Swahili snacks and fresh coconuts. Dine at the hotel’s beachfront restaurant as local musicians play soft Swahili melodies.

Overnight at Baobab Beach Resort & Spa.

Full Day at Leisure · Meals: Breakfast

Start early with a trip to Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park, where resident dolphins play in crystal waters. Snorkel over pristine coral gardens before enjoying a traditional lunch on Wasini Island, learning about local marine conservation efforts. Back at your resort, relax in a private beach cabana or join a kitesurfing lesson, Diani’s steady winds make it perfect for beginners.

Late afternoon brings a guided walk through the ancient Kaya forests, sacred to local Mijikenda people, where rare birds and butterflies flit through the canopy. Return for a beachfront cooking class, learning to prepare local dishes like octopus curry and coconut rice. Dinner features your culinary creations paired with African wines under a ceiling of stars.

Overnight at Baobab Beach Resort & Spa.

Full Day at Leisure · Meals: Breakfast

Today offers deep-sea fishing in waters famous for sailfish and marlin, or explore underwater worlds with an introductory scuba lesson in the resort’s pool. Visit vibrant local markets, selecting fresh tropical fruits and traditional fabrics.

The afternoon welcomes you to a hidden creek for mangrove kayaking, spotting fish eagles and countless crabs. Stop at a local village to learn traditional palm weaving and sample fresh madafu (coconut water). Back at the resort, join a sunset beach volleyball game or simply stroll the endless white sand. Tonight features a special beach barbecue where fresh lobster and local fish are grilled to perfection as traditional dancers perform on the sand.

Overnight at Baobab Beach Resort & Spa.

Full Day at Leisure · Meals: Breakfast

Wake up to the sound of waves and African fish eagles calling. Head out for early morning big game fishing, or choose a glass-bottom boat trip to spot colorful fish without getting wet. Visit the inspiring Diani Children’s Village, seeing how tourism supports local education. Return for lunch at a legendary beach restaurant known for its fresh oysters and grilled prawns.

The afternoon offers a chance to explore the underwater world with a guided reef walk during low tide, finding starfish, sea cucumbers and tiny reef fish in warm pools. Take a tuk-tuk art tour, visiting local painters and woodcarvers in their workshops. Your final evening begins with sunset cocktails at a rooftop bar, followed by an intimate farewell dinner in a private beach cove, complete with personal butler service and the sound of gentle waves.

Overnight at Baobab Beach Resort & Spa.

Transfer Time: 1.5 hours to Mombasa Airport · Meals: Breakfast

Greet your last Indian Ocean sunrise with coffee on your terrace. Spend the morning at your own pace, perhaps a final swim in the warm ocean waters, beach yoga, or just soaking in the coastal atmosphere from your private lounger. Visit the local market for last-minute shopping, picking up colorful kangas, spices, or hand-carved trinkets.

Enjoy a leisurely lunch at the pool bar before your afternoon transfer to Mombasa’s Moi International Airport. The drive takes you past ancient baobab trees and traditional Swahili villages, offering final glimpses of coastal life. Your driver chooses a scenic route through historic Mombasa if time permits, passing the iconic Tusks and Old Town’s carved doors.