Destination: Tsavo East National Park Diani Beach
Bush first, then the Indian Ocean: wildlife and a coastal stay in one holiday.
The journey
Combine a Kenyan wildlife experience with a coastal stay for a varied holiday that balances safari adventure with time beside the Indian Ocean.
At a glance
Photographs
In more detail
Many travellers want both: the drama of a safari and the stillness of a beach. This six-day, five-night holiday joins the two in a single plan, beginning in the bush with early starts and game drives and ending beside the Indian Ocean, where the only schedule is the tide. It is a good fit for couples, families and friends who would like a varied holiday without arranging two separate trips, and for anyone who expects to be ready for a rest after a safari.
The sample itinerary spends two nights in Tsavo East, a large and open park whose red earth colours the elephants that cross it. Guided wildlife viewing is led by a driver-guide, with attention to birdlife, landscapes and the river country as well as the larger animals. Tsavo East lies on the way to the coast, which keeps the journey between safari and beach more manageable. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and the quality of a safari depends as much on patience and conditions as on the route. Read more on the Tsavo East destination page.
The last three nights are beside the sea at Diani, on Kenya's south coast, with white sand, a reef-sheltered lagoon and a relaxed resort atmosphere. Tides, weather and sea conditions shape what is possible each day, and optional coastal activities are priced separately and depend on operator availability and safety conditions. Our Diani Beach destination page and the guide to choosing between Kenya's coastal destinations give more detail.
The transfer on day three is the key logistical step, and it can be arranged in more than one way. Depending on the configuration, it may be by road, by rail where timetables suit, by a domestic flight, or by a combination of services. The final itinerary must specify which applies, and no specific connection is promised until schedules and arrangements are confirmed. Each option has different journey times and costs. For wider planning ideas, see our guide to planning a multi-destination Kenya holiday.
Safari and coastal combinations have different transport and accommodation costs, so this holiday is offered in alternative configurations. The sample route can be changed to pair the coast with Amboseli, Tsavo West or the Maasai Mara, for example, and each variant is priced for its own transport and lodging. The starting price shown is illustrative and is not a confirmed offer. The final price depends on:
The exact itinerary, price, options and inclusion list are confirmed in a written quotation before anything is booked. To compare configurations, plan your trip or talk to our team, and see the shorter 4-Day Diani Beach Escape or the 5-Day Amboseli and Tsavo Safari if you prefer to keep the two apart.
Day by day
Travel to the confirmed safari destination, Tsavo East in this sample, and check in at the selected accommodation. Lunch is taken on arrival or on the road, where included. Enjoy an afternoon activity, such as a first game drive, if it is included and conditions permit. Dinner and an overnight stay follow at the lodge or tented camp.
Enjoy guided wildlife viewing according to the confirmed itinerary, with the open landscape, river country and birdlife of the park as a backdrop. Game drives are led by the driver-guide and follow park rules and conditions. Between drives there is time to rest at the accommodation. Return to the lodge or camp for dinner and the night.
Complete any included morning safari activity, then check out and transfer toward the coast using the confirmed transport plan. The final itinerary must specify whether the transfer is by road, rail, air or a combination of services, and no specific connection is promised until schedules and arrangements are confirmed. Depending on timing, the night is spent at the coastal accommodation or at an arranged stopover. Breakfast and lunch are included where listed in the package.
Check in at the selected coastal accommodation if this was not completed the previous evening. Enjoy leisure time and the beach where tides and conditions permit, with the swimming pool and shoreline close to hand. There is no fixed schedule today, which makes it a good time to recover from the road and settle into coastal pace. Breakfast and dinner are taken at the hotel or resort where included.
Enjoy a day at leisure or choose an optional coastal activity, such as a snorkelling outing, dhow cruise or forest walk. The prices and availability of optional activities are stated separately and depend on weather, tides, operator availability and safety conditions. If you prefer to stay put, the beach and the resort are all you need, with breakfast served where included.
Check out and transfer to the confirmed departure point. Timings depend on the departure arrangement you have chosen, whether that is a flight, a train or a road journey, so allow generous time and avoid tight connections. Breakfast is taken at the hotel where included before you leave the coast.
The details
Before you go
Two nights in a safari lodge or tented camp, then three nights in a beachfront hotel or resort on the coast. Properties, room types and meal plans are confirmed in the written quotation, and no accommodation is reserved until a quotation has been accepted.
Road transport with a driver-guide for the safari. The transfer to the coast may be by road, rail, air or a combination, and the final itinerary specifies which. Journey times depend on road conditions, schedules and stops, and no connection is promised until arrangements are confirmed.
Departure is normally from an agreed location in Nairobi, with time and place set out in your quotation and reconfirmed before travel. Other departure points can be quoted. Transfers at the coast are included only where the quotation says so.
This is one sample configuration. Safari and coastal combinations have different transport and accommodation costs, so alternative configurations are available, and the exact itinerary, price, options and inclusions are set for each package in the written quotation. The price shown is an illustrative starting price per person, not a confirmed offer. Prices, inclusions, accommodation and dates are confirmed in a written quotation before anything is booked. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and no transport connection is promised until schedules are confirmed.
Pricing and booking terms
Starting price Illustrative
KES 125,000 per person
Illustrative starting price per person, confirmed before booking. The final price depends on the configuration, transport, group size and season.
Check what is and is not included before comparing prices.
Read our cancellation policy for how changes and cancellations are handled.
Questions
It depends on the configuration. The transfer may be by road, by rail where timetables suit, by a domestic flight or by a combination. The final itinerary specifies which applies, and no connection is promised until schedules and arrangements are confirmed. Each choice has different journey times and costs, so tell us your preference when you enquire.
Yes, alternative configurations are possible. The safari part can be placed in Amboseli, Tsavo West or the Maasai Mara, for example, though the transport to the coast and the accommodation costs differ. The exact itinerary, price and inclusions for the version you choose are confirmed in a written quotation.
The sample itinerary has two nights on safari and three on the coast, with the transfer on day three. Other configurations may balance the stay differently, depending on transport and accommodation. If you would like more time on safari or on the beach, we can propose a different split and quote it.
Optional coastal activities are treated as extras unless your quotation lists them as included. Their prices and availability are stated separately and depend on weather, tides, operator availability and safety conditions. The days on the coast are designed so that you can rest completely or add an outing as you prefer.
The main factors are the safari destination, the coastal resort, the way you travel between them, group size, room types and season, plus whether park fees, meals and transfers are included. The starting price shown is illustrative. A written quotation sets out the confirmed price and inclusions before anything is booked.
Something else on your mind? Ask us about this tour.
Keep exploring
Other itineraries that share a destination, category or travel style with this one.
Enjoy a coastal break with time to relax on Diani's white-sand beaches, experience the Indian Ocean coastline and choose optional activities that suit your pace.
Spend three memorable days in the Maasai Mara, with guided game drives, wide-open savannah landscapes and time to experience the atmosphere of Kenya's famous safari country.
Combine the open landscapes of Amboseli with the varied wilderness of Tsavo on a multi-day safari through two distinctive Kenyan safari regions.
Before you travel
Kenya has no single best month. This guide explains the general pattern of dry and rainy seasons, what each means for wildlife, the coast and the mountain, and how to choose dates with open eyes.
Pack for the cold, dusty hour before breakfast rather than the warm afternoon. A practical checklist covering bags, clothing, footwear, sun and insect protection, kit, documents, and what to leave at home.
Diani, Watamu and Lamu share warm water and palm-fringed shores but offer very different holidays. A comparison of their moods, practical matters common to all three, and how to pair the coast with a safari.
Something different
If this itinerary is close but not quite right, tell us what you would change. Share your dates, the pace you prefer and who is travelling, and we will take it from there.
