Majestic Kenya Safaris

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7 Days Masai Mara Safari & Diani Beach Escape

  • Visit: Masai Mara NR, Diani Beach
  • 7 Days
  • Private
  • Budget
Crane spotted in Amboseli National Park
Herd of elephants and their calves in Amboseli National Park
Leopard sighting
Rhinoceros spotted in Lake Nakuru
Starts from

$2,250 pp (USD)

Overview

This seven-day trip combines three nights in the Masai Mara with three nights on Diani Beach. It’s a straightforward bush-and-beach option that works well for first-time visitors on a budget.

The Mara part is the same as more expensive safaris – you’re in the same park seeing the same wildlife, just staying at simpler camps. Game viewing is solid year-round. If you’re there July to October you might catch migration river crossings, but plenty of animals stay in the Mara permanently so you’ll see lions, elephants, and the rest regardless of when you visit.

After three days of early starts and dusty roads, the beach section gives you time to do nothing. Diani has proper white sand and decent swimming most of the year. The budget hotels sit right on the beach and include most meals, so you can just show up and relax.

Getting from the Mara to the coast uses a mix of road and a short flight to avoid the 12-hour drive. Keeps costs reasonable while saving you a full day in a vehicle.

Accommodations:

  • Masai Mara: Miti Mingi Eco Camp or Enchoro Wildlife Camp (3 nights)
  • Diani Beach: Diani Sea Resort or Papillon Lagoon Reef (3 nights)

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Nairobi to Masai Mara National Reserve

    Drive Time: Approximately 5-6 hours

    Meals: Lunch & Dinner

    Pickup from your Nairobi hotel or the airport around 7:30 AM. The drive to the Mara takes most of the morning - you'll stop at the Rift Valley viewpoint for photos, then continue through Narok town where the tarmac ends. Roads get rough for the last stretch but nothing terrible.

    You'll reach camp around lunchtime. Miti Mingi and Enchoro are both budget camps with simple tents, either shared facilities or basic en-suites depending on which one you're at. Nothing fancy but perfectly adequate. After lunch you've got a few hours rest before heading out for your first game drive around 4:00 PM.

    First impressions of the Mara are usually good. Lots of animals spread across the plains - lions sleeping in the shade, elephant families crossing the road, zebra and wildebeest everywhere. Your guide knows where to look and which areas are producing lately. Budget camps use exactly the same roads as the expensive lodges, you're just sleeping in a simpler bed at night.

    Dinner and overnight at Miti Mingi Eco Camp or Enchoro Wildlife Camp.

  • Day 2: Full Day in Masai Mara National Reserve

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

    Up early for a 6:30 AM start. Morning light is better for photos and predators are more active before it gets hot. You'll spend three or four hours out, covering different parts of the reserve. Lions are pretty much guaranteed - the Mara has healthy populations and they're not hard to find. Leopards are trickier but show up regularly enough, usually in trees near the rivers. Cheetahs prefer the open grassland away from cover.

    Back to camp around 10:30 or 11:00 for breakfast and a break during the heat of the day. Some people sleep, others sit under the trees and watch whatever wanders past camp. Out again around 4:00 PM until dark.

    If you're visiting between July and October, the migration will be the main event. Huge herds of wildebeest moving through, river crossings when they decide to go. It's unpredictable though - they might cross three times in a day or sit at the riverbank for a week doing nothing. Your guide stays in touch with other drivers by radio so you'll get there if something's happening, but there's no guarantees with wildlife.

    Dinner and overnight at Miti Mingi Eco Camp or Enchoro Wildlife Camp.

  • Day 3: Full Day in Masai Mara National Reserve

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

    Another full day, same pattern as yesterday. Some people do a packed lunch and stay out all day to cover more ground. Others prefer coming back to camp at midday. Your choice.

    Spend some time at the Mara River even if nothing's crossing. Hippos in the pools, big crocodiles on the banks, different birds along the water. It's worth an hour just watching.

    This is your last full day so your guide will try to find anything you've missed. Seen lions and elephants but no cheetahs yet? He'll focus on the open plains where they hunt. Looking for rhinos? There are a few around but they take more effort to locate.

    Dinner and overnight at Miti Mingi Eco Camp or Enchoro Wildlife Camp.

  • Day 4: Masai Mara to Diani Beach

    Travel Time: Drive to Nairobi (5-6 hours), Flight to Mombasa (1 hour), Drive to Diani (1.5 hours)

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

    Quick early drive before breakfast if there's time, otherwise just breakfast and pack up. Long drive back to Nairobi, arriving early afternoon. Transfer to the domestic terminal for your flight to Mombasa - usually leaves around 3:00 or 4:00 PM.

    Land in Mombasa, pick up your bags, then it's about 90 minutes south to Diani. You'll reach the beach hotel early evening with enough time to check in, have dinner, maybe walk down to the water.

    The shift from dusty safari camps to ocean breeze and palm trees is fairly abrupt. First shower in a proper bathroom for a few days usually feels good.

    Dinner and overnight at Diani Sea Resort or Papillon Lagoon Reef.

  • Day 5: Diani Beach

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

    Beach day. Wake up when you want, no 6:00 AM alarm. Diani stretches for kilometers in both directions - clean white sand, water that's actually swimmable. The reef offshore keeps it calm most of the time, though you need to watch the tides.

    If you want to do something there are snorkeling trips out to the reef, dhow sailing, kite surfing lessons, stand-up paddleboards to rent. Or drive to Shimba Hills if you want to see forest elephants. But most people who've just done three days of early mornings and game drives just want to lie on the beach and read a book.

    Both hotels have beach bars serving cold beer and decent food. Pool if you don't feel like sand. Not much more to it than that.

    Dinner and overnight at Diani Sea Resort or Papillon Lagoon Reef.

  • Day 6: Diani Beach

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

    Another day doing whatever you feel like. The beach doesn't get crowded even in peak season, so there's always space. Water's warm, sand's clean, plenty of places to get lunch or a drink without going back to the hotel.

    If you didn't try any activities yesterday and you're getting restless, now's the time. Otherwise just more of the same - swim, read, sleep, repeat.

    Sunset's worth watching from the beach. Grab a Tusker from the bar and find a spot on the sand. Better way to end the day than sitting in your room.

    Dinner and overnight at Diani Sea Resort or Papillon Lagoon Reef.

  • Day 7: Diani Beach to Mombasa/Nairobi - Departure

    Drive Time: Approximately 1.5 hours to Mombasa Airport

    Meals: Breakfast

    Last morning depends on when your flight leaves. If it's afternoon you've got time for a final swim and late breakfast. Earlier departures mean packing up and heading out.

    Transfer back to Mombasa airport, then you're either flying straight out international or connecting through Nairobi. Timing varies but afternoon flights from Mombasa to Nairobi generally work fine with evening international departures.

Accommodation

Muthu Keekorok Lodge accommodation unit
Muthu Keekorok Lodge
Muthu Keekorok Lodge room
Muthu Keekorok Lodge
Flamingo Hill Tented Camp in Lake Nakuru
Flamingo Hill Tented Camp
Amboseli Sopa Lodge accommodation
Amboseli Sopa Lodge

Rates

Season2 Pax3 Pax4 Pax5 Pax6 Pax
Jan - Jun$2,400$2,100$1,900$1,800$2,100
Jul - Dec$2,900$2,550$2,350$2,200$2,100

Includes & Excludes

  • Masai Mara park fees
  • Accommodation (6 nights)
  • All meals
  • Game drives in Masai Mara
  • Driver-guide in the Mara
  • Road transport Nairobi-Mara-Nairobi
  • Flight Nairobi-Mombasa
  • Transfers Mombasa Airport-Diani-Airport
  • Government taxes
  • International flights
  • Kenya eVisa
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips (around USD $10-15 per person per day)
  • Drinks at camps and hotels
  • Personal expenses
  • Beach activities (snorkeling, water sports, excursions)
  • Single room supplement

A Family Safari to Remember

Our Kenya safari exceeded expectations! Expert guides, comfortable accommodations, and unforgettable wildlife sightings. Highly recommend!

Kenya safari testimonial - The smiths

The Smiths

USA

An Unforgettable Solo Adventure

Solo traveler, felt safe and well-cared for. Guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Beautiful scenery and wildlife.

Mark Davis testimonial of our Kenya safaris

Mark Davis

Australia

Honeymoon Paradise in Kenya

Honeymoon was a dream come true! Luxurious accommodations, personalized service, and romantic atmosphere. Perfect!

The Harris Testimonial

David & Emily Harris

UK

Budget-Friendly Safari Adventure

Budget-friendly safari with incredible wildlife sightings. Knowledgeable guides and comfortable accommodations. Highly satisfied!

Family-Safari-Review (1)

Théo Martin

France

A Luxury Safari Experience

Best safari experience ever! Saw the Big Five, learned about Maasai culture, and enjoyed delicious food. Amazing!

Jennifer Lee Testimonial

Jennifer Lee

Canada

Luxury Honeymoon in the Wild

Our Kenya safari was unforgettable! Expert guides, luxurious accommodations, and incredible wildlife sightings. Highly recommend!

Testimonial by David and Emily Johnson

David and Emily Johnson

United States

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