Wildlife on open African plains
Africa · Kenya

Kenya

The Masai Mara, Kilimanjaro seen from Amboseli, and white-sand beaches on the Indian Ocean — all within one country and a short internal flight of each other.

Flight8h 30m direct · NBO
Stay10–14 nights
Best monthsJul–Oct, Jan–Feb
Guide pricefrom £2,899pp

Safari and beach without changing country

Kenya is the one East African destination where both halves are a domestic flight apart.

The Masai Mara to Diani Beach is about two hours by air, with no border, no second visa and no international connection. That makes Kenya a simple version of the safari-and-beach trip, and often cheaper. The Mara is also smaller and more concentrated than the Serengeti, which means shorter drives between sightings — a real advantage on a first safari, particularly with children.

What to do

Plains, elephants under a mountain, and a coral coast.

The Masai Mara

The northern extension of the Serengeti. July to October brings the migration and the Mara River crossings. Concentrated, so drives are short.

Amboseli

Big elephant herds with Kilimanjaro behind them, when the cloud lifts. Best light at dawn, and the mountain is often hidden by ten.

Tsavo

Vast, red-earthed and far less visited than the Mara. Red elephants, coated in dust, and the man-eaters' history.

Diani Beach

White sand and a reef offshore, an hour south of Mombasa. The beach half, and among the best in East Africa.

Lake Nakuru

Flamingos, rhino and Rothschild's giraffe in a compact park. Easy to add between Nairobi and the Mara.

Lamu

A Swahili island town of coral-stone houses and donkeys, UNESCO-listed. Check FCDO advice — the region has restrictions.

Where to stay

Safari, then the coast. A domestic flight between them.

Masai Mara

Main safari

Private conservancies allow off-road driving and night drives; the national reserve doesn't. Worth the difference.

Amboseli & Tsavo

Add-ons

Elephants under Kilimanjaro, and vast red wilderness. Both easy to combine with the Mara.

Diani & the south coast

Beach

White sand and a reef, an hour from Mombasa. The usual beach half.

Watamu & Malindi

Quieter coast

Further north. A marine park, turtles, and fewer big resorts.

Five things worth knowing

When to go

July to October for the migration, January and February for the dry season and good general game viewing.

July to October is the classic window — dry, and the Mara River crossings happen between roughly July and September. January and February are dry and quieter, with excellent general game viewing. The long rains in April and May close some camps and make tracks difficult. The coast is hot and humid year-round, driest from December to March.

Practical

Flights

8h 30m direct to Nairobi (NBO). Mombasa (MBA) serves the coast.

Internal flights

Light aircraft from Nairobi's Wilson airport to the Mara, about an hour. Strict luggage limits — soft bags only.

Visa

An eTA applied for online in advance. Not issued on arrival.

Health

Antimalarials advised, and yellow fever certificates may be required depending on your routing. Travel clinic six to eight weeks ahead.

Currency

Kenyan shilling. Carry cash for tips; M-Pesa dominates local payments and cards work in lodges.

Getting around

Drives on the left. Light aircraft between camps is normal and saves long hours on rough roads.

Tell us your dates

We'll build safari and beach as one trip, pick the right conservancy, and write the payment plan out in full.

Questions people ask

Kenya or Tanzania?

Kenya is cheaper, more compact and easier to combine with a beach domestically. Tanzania has the Serengeti and Ngorongoro and feels wilder. Both are excellent.

When are the river crossings?

Roughly July to September in the northern Mara. They're unpredictable — herds can mass on a bank for days. Nothing is guaranteed.

Is it suitable for children?

Many camps set minimum ages of six or eight. The Mara's short drives help. Malaria precautions are needed, which some families weigh carefully.

Do we need two visas?

No — one country, so one eTA. Tanzania with Zanzibar is also a single visa; it's Kenya plus Zanzibar that needs two.

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Kenya packages

Flights, accommodation and transfers as one package. Every one can be reshaped — different dates, different board, a different airport, or a stopover on the way.

7 nights in Kenya

Full board · Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb
  • Return flights and private transfers
  • Full board throughout
  • What protection applies, confirmed in writing before you pay
from £2,499per person

10 nights in Kenya

Full board · Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb
  • Return flights and private transfers
  • Full board throughout
  • The extra nights cost proportionally less — fixed costs don't change
from £3,299per person

14 nights in Kenya

Full board · Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb
  • Return flights and private transfers
  • Full board throughout
  • Best value per night
from £4,049per person

Guide prices, per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, accommodation and transfers. They indicate what a holiday of this type has typically cost and are not an offer or a quotation. Your price depends on dates, party, board basis, departure airport and availability, and is confirmed in writing before any payment is taken.

Packages that include Kenya

Ready-built itineraries with flights, transfers and internal hops booked as one package. Financial protection is confirmed in writing before you pay, and every one can be reshaped around your dates.

See all 33 multi-centre itineraries →