11-Day Best of Kenya; Urban, Bush to Beach Safari

After all the time you've spent planning and dreaming about going on safari, this is where it finally starts. Your guide will meet you at the airport and explain everything you need to know and answer any questions you might have. Then, you'll go out on safari together. You’ll be transferred to your hotel, where you’ll relax after your long journey. Nestled in Westlands, this new hotel is easily accessible in 20 minutes from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport via the new expressway. Situated in the business district, the hotel is steps away from the popular Sarit Mall for shopping and entertainment. In the afternoon, you'll enjoy a refreshing visit to the Giraffe Centre for an encounter with the tallest species and leisure time to rest or enjoy a fine dinner in the city. Tonight sets the tone for the adventure ahead.

You'll depart Nairobi after breakfast and set out on a scenic drive via the Great Rift Valley with a brief stopover for photography of the breathtaking views. You'll proceed to the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve, approximately a 5-hour drive, and arrive at your lodge just in time before lunch. After check-in, you'll relax shortly, then proceed to an afternoon game drive that offers your first glimpse of the Mara’s magic — perhaps even a lion basking in the golden light. You'll return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Today, you'll enjoy an early morning game drive as the savannah awakens. With expert guidance, you'll track the Big Five and witness Africa’s wildlife in action. With packed lunch boxes, you'll spend the rest of the day in the savannahs and rolling plains coming across different species of wildlife, including black-manned lions, cheetahs, leopards, elands, impala, zebras, wildbeests, Thomson's gazelles, but also numerous elephants, experiencing different scenes. The Mara River traverses from North to South. This course is a natural barrier crossed each year by the large migratory herds of wildebeest, Thomson's gazelles, and zebras en route to the crocodile-infested Mara River, coupled with predatory cats. You will have the opportunity to walk across the Mara River bridge accompanied by armed park rangers. A picnic lunch will be served under an acacia tree. You'll end your day with an evening game drive and return to your lodge at sunset before dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast, you'll check out of your lodge. Then, you'll proceed to a visit to the Masai Village nearby to learn firsthand about their culture and traditions. Upon arrival, you can expect to be welcomed with happiness, excited children. You will be invited to try dancing and have the opportunity to interact with the Masai people right in their dwellings. Thereafter, you'll transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park carrying your lunch boxes. Famed for its rhino sanctuary and picturesque lake rimmed with flamingos. You'll enjoy a game drive inside this beautiful wildlife haven. In the evening, you'll continue to Lake Naivasha and check into your beautiful resort on the lakeshore. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort.

Today, after breakfast, you'll explore Hell’s Gate National Park, a dramatic landscape of lava cliffs and geothermal steam. You can walk or bike past zebras, gazelles, and towering gorges. In the afternoon, you will return to your lodge before lunch. Then, you'll unwind with a boat safari on Lake Naivasha, spotting hippos and waterbirds, followed by a guided walk on Crescent Island. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort.

You'll depart early for Amboseli National Park, arriving in time for lunch and a game drive. This park offers up-close views of large elephant herds. On a clear day, Mount Kilimanjaro towers in the background. You'll enjoy your evening by the lodge’s campfire or terrace before dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast, you'll drive to the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, bordering Tsavo West. You'll check in at the iconic Salt Lick Safari Lodge, where rooms are raised on stilts overlooking busy animal watering holes. You'll enjoy an afternoon game drive and nighttime wildlife viewing from your balcony before dinner and an overnight stay.

After a final morning game drive and leisurely breakfast, you'll journey to Kenya’s breathtaking south coast. You'll arrive at Diani Beach, renowned for its powder-soft white sands and turquoise waters. You'll check into your beachfront resort, where swaying palms and ocean breezes welcome you. Today, you'll bid farewell to your safari driver and jeep. You'll spend the afternoon unwinding with a swim in the Indian Ocean or a barefoot stroll along the shores. The evening is yours to enjoy, savor fresh coastal cuisine, or relax to the sound of waves under starry skies.

These two days are yours to unwind and soak up the coast. You'll relax by the pool, sip cocktails, or indulge in a massage. Optional activities include snorkeling, diving, dhow sailing to Kisite Marine Park (includes dolphin spotting), or even visiting the enchanting Shimba Hills.

Transition from Diani’s serene shores to the vibrant energy of Mombasa Beaches. You'll explore the soul of Kenya’s coast in Mombasa’s UNESCO-listed Old Town. You'll wander past Arab-influenced architecture. Then, you'll delve deeper with an optional spice market tour or sunset dhow cruise along the harbor. You'll return to Voyager for an optional Swahili cultural night or relax by the resort’s freeform pools overlooking the Indian Ocean.

You'll enjoy a relaxed morning at Voyager Beach Resort with time for one final swim or beach stroll. (Choose how to spend your morning: join a guided tour of Old Town's historic Swahili architecture, visit Haller Park's wildlife sanctuary (extra cost), or unwind at the resort's pools.) After lunch, you'll arrange a seamless transfer to Mombasa Moi International Airport for your afternoon local flight to Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. It's a pity that it has to end, but this is where your safari will draw to a close. We're sure that you will return home with so many exciting and happy memories. We hope that you will join us again on safari sometime in the future.