7-day Kenya Safari & Diani Beach

6:00 AM. Your driver-guide picks you up from your Nairobi hotel and you head west towards the Masai Mara. The drive of roughly five to six hours takes you through the fertile highlands before the landscape drops away at the Great Rift Valley escarpment — pause here for sweeping views of this enormous geological wonder. Descend through Narok town and continue across the Loita Plains into Maasai country, passing herdsmen wrapped in colourful shukas alongside their cattle. By late morning, the golden grasslands of the Mara open before you — flat-topped acacia trees stretching to the horizon. Collect your packed lunch and begin an extended afternoon game drive. The Mara's wildlife density is unmatched — wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle blanket the plains, while your guide tracks lions through the tall grass and watches for cheetah scanning from termite mounds. Check into your lodge as the African sun sets.

A full day exploring the Masai Mara — Africa's premier wildlife destination. Rise at 6:00 AM when predators are most active and the light is golden-soft across the savannah. Your guide reads the bush expertly, following fresh tracks and animal behaviour. Drive to the Mara River where enormous Nile crocodiles bask on the banks and hippo pods dominate the pools. Explore the Mara Triangle's rolling hills, spotting elephants in the riverine forest, topi standing sentinel on the ridgelines, and playful hyena cubs at their dens. During migration season, the wildebeest river crossings here are one of nature's most dramatic spectacles. Return for lunch at your lodge. The afternoon drive takes you to new sectors — perhaps tracking a leopard through the croton thickets along the Talek River, or watching a cheetah hunt unfold across the open grasslands as the golden hour light deepens.

Your final morning in the Mara. Rise early for a dawn game drive at 6:30 AM — the cool morning air carries the sounds of the bush waking up, and you may catch a lion pride returning from a night hunt. An optional hot air balloon safari lifts you silently above the savannah at sunrise, followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush. After returning to your lodge, pack up and transfer to the Mara airstrip by late morning. Fly to Wilson Airport in Nairobi, then connect to a domestic flight to Ukunda airstrip near Diani Beach — total flying time is roughly two hours. By mid-afternoon, you arrive at the coast. The transition from dusty red bush to tropical paradise is immediate — warm ocean air, coconut palms swaying overhead, and the turquoise Indian Ocean stretching to the horizon. Check into your beach resort and let the rhythm of the waves take over.

Your first full day on Diani Beach — Africa's leading beach destination. Wake to the sound of waves and tropical birdsong. The powder-white coral sand stretches endlessly before you, the Indian Ocean is bath-warm and crystal clear. Spend the morning swimming, floating on the gentle swell, or snorkelling right off the beach — the coral reef just offshore is home to parrotfish, angelfish, sea turtles, and colourful reef fish in stunning variety. After a leisurely lunch, explore what Diani has to offer: a glass-bottom boat ride over the reef, stand-up paddleboarding in the calm lagoon, or a visit to the Colobus Conservation Centre where endangered black-and-white colobus monkeys swing through the coastal forest canopy. As evening approaches, enjoy fresh seafood as the sun sets over the palm-lined shore and the ocean breeze carries the scent of frangipani.

Another day of Indian Ocean relaxation with options for adventure. For the more active, Diani is one of East Africa's premier kitesurfing destinations, and you can also try deep-sea fishing in the Pemba Channel where marlin, sailfish, and tuna run. Alternatively, take a half-day excursion to the Shimba Hills National Reserve — roughly an hour from Diani. This lush coastal rainforest is home to Kenya's only population of the magnificent sable antelope, plus elephants, leopards, and the beautiful Sheldrick Falls cascading through dense tropical vegetation. Return to your resort by mid-afternoon for pool time and beach relaxation. As the afternoon softens, a sunset dhow cruise along the coast offers the perfect way to end the day — sailing on a traditional wooden vessel as the sky turns gold over the Indian Ocean.

An optional full-day trip to Wasini Island and Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park — Kenya's finest marine excursion. Drive south to the sleepy fishing village of Shimoni and board a traditional dhow that sails across the turquoise channel. Watch for pods of bottlenose and spinner dolphins — sightings are virtually guaranteed in these waters. At Kisite Marine Park, snorkel above pristine coral gardens alive with tropical fish in crystal-clear visibility — butterflyfish, lionfish, parrotfish, and blue-spotted rays. A Swahili seafood feast on Wasini Island — fresh crab, grilled fish, coconut rice, and chapati — is served under the shade of mangrove trees by the water's edge. Return to Diani by late afternoon, salt-crusted and sun-warmed. Or simply spend the day at your resort — every hour on Diani's white sand is time well spent.

Your final morning on the Kenyan coast. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast with ocean views and one last barefoot stroll along Diani's white sand beach. Watch the local fishermen push their outrigger canoes into the morning tide, and feel the warm sand between your toes one final time. Depending on your departure schedule, you might squeeze in a last swim or browse the beach vendors for Swahili spices, kikoy fabrics, or carved soapstone keepsakes. Transfer to Moi International Airport in Mombasa or Ukunda airstrip for your flight to Nairobi and onward connections. Seven days that took you from the lion-filled grasslands of the Masai Mara to the turquoise paradise of the Indian Ocean — the ultimate Kenya bush and beach holiday.