7 days
Overview
The Ultimate Kenya Safari and Indian Ocean Beach Finale is the most complete and satisfying single itinerary in the Nina Safa collection, combining the three most celebrated Kenya wildlife destinations with the countrys premier beach destination in a single seamless seven day journey that has become the benchmark Kenya itinerary for international travellers. Beginning in the Maasai Mara, the greatest wildlife reserve in Africa, guests enjoy two nights and two full days of intensive Big Five game viewing on the open savanna that hosts the Great Wildebeest Migration. Amboseli National Park follows with two nights of the most iconic elephant and mountain photography experiences in the world, where tusker elephants move through swamp reeds against the glacial summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The second half of the safari then pivots dramatically to the Kenya coast where Diani Beach delivers two nights of tropical luxury on a pristine Indian Ocean beach fringed by ancient coral reef. The contrast between the dust red savanna and the turquoise Indian Ocean lagoon is one of the most satisfying sensory transitions in all of travel. Diani Beach is consistently rated one of the finest beaches in Africa, with crystal clear warm water, an offshore coral reef teeming with marine life and the ancient coastal forest providing a green backdrop of extraordinary beauty. This seven day itinerary delivers the complete Kenya experience in the most efficient and rewarding sequence available.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Nairobi to Maasai Mara
The ultimate Kenya journey begins with a scheduled morning flight from Nairobi Wilson Airport to the Maasai Mara. The 45 minute flight over the Rift Valley delivers you to the world famous reserve in time for an immediate afternoon game drive across the Mara Triangle, the section of the reserve managed by the Mara Conservancy where wildlife concentrations are among the highest in the ecosystem. The first afternoon typically delivers lion, elephant, cheetah and buffalo within hours of landing.
Morning flight from Nairobi to Maasai Mara, Mara Triangle afternoon game drive, immediate Big Five encounter, hippo pool circuit, Mara River sunset
Day 2
Full Day Maasai Mara Including Mara North Conservancy
A full day exploring both the national reserve and the adjacent Mara North Conservancy provides the most comprehensive Maasai Mara experience possible in a single day. The conservancy morning begins before dawn with off road driving to a resident cheetah family, followed by a bush breakfast on the open plains. The national reserve afternoon covers the central plains and Mara River circuit with lion, leopard and the extraordinary wildebeest river crossing experience during the Migration season from July to October.
Pre dawn Mara North off road cheetah drive, bush breakfast on the plains, Mara Triangle full circuit, central plains big cat tracking, Mara River crocodile and hippo, wildebeest crossing in season
Day 3
Maasai Mara to Amboseli National Park flying
The transition from the Mara to Amboseli by road passes through the Maasai community lands bordering the Tanzanian boundary, where traditional homesteads and grazing cattle share the landscape with wild animals in the ancient coexistence that has defined this ecosystem for millennia. Late afternoon arrival at Amboseli allows for an immediate encounter with the iconic elephant and Kilimanjaro combination at the Observation Hill and swamp circuit.
Morning Mara departure game drive, road transfer through Maasai heartlands, Maasai cultural encounter optional, first Kilimanjaro views, Amboseli afternoon entry, Observation Hill panoramic viewing
Day 4
Full Day Amboseli Under Mount Kilimanjaro
Dawn in Amboseli as the mist lifts from the swamp to reveal Mount Kilimanjaro and the elephant herds simultaneously is a moment of extraordinary natural beauty and one of the most photographed scenes in African wildlife photography. The full day format with a bush picnic allows exploration of all four major swamp systems and the southern open plains where cheetah, lion and wild dog hunt zebra and wildebeest. The late afternoon light on Kilimanjaro is the photographers reward for a patient full day in the park.
Sunrise Kilimanjaro mist clearing over elephants, full swamp circuit, four major swamp systems, cheetah and lion on southern plains, bush picnic lunch, afternoon elephant photography golden hour
Day 5
Amboseli to Diani Beach via Tsavo East
After a final Amboseli morning drive the road east passes through the Tsavo East corridor en route to the coast, with an optional late morning stop at Aruba Dam in Tsavo East for the red elephant and crocodile spectacle before continuing southeast to the Kenya coast. The transition from savanna to tropical coastal forest as the road descends to sea level signals the arrival of the beach phase of the journey. Diani Beach arrival in the late afternoon is greeted by the Indian Ocean breeze and the extraordinary blue of the Kenyan coastal waters.
Final Amboseli morning drive, road transfer east through Tsavo East corridor, optional Aruba Dam stop, road descent to coast, Diani Beach arrival, sundowner dhow cruise on the Indian Ocean
Day 6
Full Day Diani Beach and Reef Snorkelling
A full day on Diani Beach with the Indian Ocean and the offshore coral reef entirely at leisure. The Kisite Mpunguti Marine National Park reef is accessed by a morning boat excursion, with snorkelling over the coral formations revealing sea turtles, dolphins, reef sharks, octopus, parrotfish and hundreds of tropical reef fish species in water of exceptional clarity. The afternoon is dedicated to pure beach relaxation, swimming in the warm lagoon and the Colobus Conservation forest walk for those who prefer a terrestrial wildlife experience.
Morning Kisite Marine Park reef snorkelling, sea turtle and dolphin encounter, tropical reef fish diversity, afternoon leisure at Diani Beach, Colobus Conservation forest walk, beach dinner
Day 7
Diani Beach Departure
A leisurely final morning at Diani Beach before transferring to Ukunda Airstrip for the scheduled flight to Nairobi or Mombasa. The short coastal flight provides a final aerial view of the Kenya coast and the vivid blue of the Indian Ocean before the seven day ultimate Kenya experience concludes with private transfers to the international airport.
Final morning beach walk and swimming, checkout and transfer to Ukunda Airstrip, scheduled flight to Nairobi or Mombasa, private airport transfer for all international departures
What's Included
Included
- Return airport transfers in a private safari vehicle
- All game drives in a customised 4x4 safari Land Cruiser with a pop up roof
- Full board accommodation throughout (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Professional English speaking Kenya Wildlife Service certified safari guide
- All national park and conservation area entry fees
- Bottled mineral water throughout the safari
- Flight between destinations where indicated in the itinerary
- Complimentary airport meet and greet service
- All government taxes and levies
- Sea to shore dhow sunset cruise at Diani Beach
- Snorkelling equipment for reef exploration at Diani
Not Included
- International flights to and from Nairobi
- Visa fees (available on arrival for most nationalities at USD 51 per adult)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Optional hot air balloon safari at the Maasai Mara (USD 480 per adult)
- Alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages beyond water
- Personal shopping and laundry
- Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers and lodge staff
- Any activities not specified in the itinerary
- Single supplement surcharge where applicable
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