For Kenya safari and beach holidays, the best order is the safari first and the beach last. Spend your first week on game drives in the Maasai Mara and one or two other parks, then finish with three to five nights on the coast, most easily at Diani Beach, so you reach the sea rested rather than rushed.
The part that needs planning is the transfer, because the Mara and the Indian Ocean sit on opposite sides of the country. Below: the order that works, three ways to reach the coast, how the beaches compare, the best months and the cost.
Planning this trip? Get a free quote in 6 hours →
Kenya safari and beach holidays at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Best for | First-time visitors, couples and families who want big game and a proper rest on the same trip |
| How many days | 10 to 14 days. Plan at least three nights on the beach and a travel day between safari and sea |
| Best months | July to October for dry weather in both places and the Mara migration season; December to early March for dry-season game viewing and the best beach weather |
| Beach choices | Diani (the easiest), Watamu, Lamu or Zanzibar |
| From-price | From USD 5,850 per person for the 14-Day Kenya Safari & Diani Beach Holiday. Prices depend on season, group size and lodge choice |
| Getting there | Fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi, where our team meets you. You reach the coast by road, by light aircraft or both |
| Not in the price | International flights, your Kenya eTA, travel insurance and tips |
Why safari first and beach last
This order works best for four practical reasons.
- You rest when you are most tired. Safari days start early and end late, and the beach is where you recover from them.
- The route ends near a runway. From Diani you take a short scheduled flight to Nairobi for your flight home, or we drive you to Mombasa if your international flight leaves from there.
- Delays cost you less. A late flight on the way to the coast costs you a beach afternoon, not a game drive.
- The wildlife sets your dates. Mara weather and migration timing matter more than beach timing, so choose the safari dates first and fit the beach around them.
You can reverse the order if you have a reason to, such as international flights that land in Mombasa. Tell us and we will plan it that way.
Three ways to get from the Mara to the coast
This decision shapes the whole trip. These are the realistic options.
| Option | How it works | What it means for your days | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road loop | Private Land Cruiser from Nairobi to the Mara, then back through the Rift Valley, Amboseli and Tsavo to the coast | Most driving days run 4 to 7 hours. The last leg, Tsavo East to Diani, is 220 km (about 137 miles) and takes 5 to 6 hours | Travelers who want more wildlife on the way and do not mind the road. Our 14-day trip works this way |
| Fly via Nairobi | Light aircraft from the Mara to Wilson Airport in Nairobi, then a scheduled flight to the Ukunda airstrip near Diani | Two flights and a connection, so treat it as a travel day with no game drive | Trips of 8 to 10 days, and anyone who would rather spend hours on the sand than in a vehicle |
| Direct flight, where one runs | Mombasa Air Safari lists daily scheduled flights from the Ukunda airstrip at Diani to the Masai Mara | The fewest steps. Check the current schedule and fares, because timetables can change | Anyone short on time. We check what is flying when we price your dates |
Pack in soft bags, because light aircraft have small luggage allowances and the Diani flight has a limit.
To skip the roads entirely, our 10 Days Best of Kenya Flying Package links Amboseli, the Lumo Conservancy and Diani by light aircraft. It does not include the Mara, but it shows how a fully flown route works.
How many nights to give each half
A sound rule is at least three nights in the Mara and three at the beach, because every transfer day takes time from one or the other. This table shows how our trips divide the nights. Each can be reshaped.
| Trip | Safari nights | Beach nights | Getting to the coast | From, per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-Day Kenya Safari & Diani Beach Holiday | 10 (Nairobi 1, Mara 3, Rift Valley lakes 2, Amboseli 2, Tsavo 2) | 3 at Diani | Road through Tsavo; flight back to Nairobi | USD 5,850 |
| 12 Day Bush and Beach Honeymoon Safari | 7 (Nairobi 1, Lake Nakuru 2, Mara 3, Lake Naivasha 1) | 4 on Zanzibar | Flight from Wilson Airport in Nairobi | USD 4,440 |
| 10 Days Best of Kenya Flying Package (no Mara) | 6 (Nairobi 1, Amboseli 2, Lumo Conservancy 3) | 3 at Diani | Light aircraft all the way | USD 5,605 |
| Short Mara and coast (tailor-made) | About 4 (Nairobi 1, Mara 3) | 3 at Diani | Flights both ways | Quote on request |
For the day-by-day road route, with distances and drive times, read our 14-day Kenya safari and Diani Beach itinerary.
Two bush-and-beach trips to start from
- 14-Day Kenya Safari & Diani Beach Holiday: the road loop through the Mara, Amboseli and Tsavo, then three nights at Diani. Suits first-time visitors who want range. From USD 5,850 per person.
- 12 Day Bush and Beach Honeymoon Safari: Lake Nakuru, the Mara and Lake Naivasha, then four nights on Zanzibar. Suits couples who want a longer beach stay. From USD 4,440 per person.
Diani, Watamu, Lamu or Zanzibar: which beach?
All four work after a Mara safari. They differ in how easy they are to reach and what you do there.
| Beach | Best for | Getting there after the Mara | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diani | The easiest add-on: white sand, coral reefs, dhow trips to Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park, kitesurfing | Ukunda airstrip, by road through Tsavo or a short flight | Magical Kenya also lists the Colobus Conservation monkey project as a visit in Diani. Some resorts close for maintenance in April and May |
| Watamu | Snorkeling and marine life in a protected reef lagoon | The Kenya Wildlife Service says to fly from Nairobi to Malindi Airport; Watamu is about 28 km south of Malindi | The KWS says the seasonal humpback whale migration here coincides with the wildebeest migration on land |
| Lamu | Culture and quiet. UNESCO calls Lamu Old Town the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa | Lamu is about 350 km north of Mombasa, so plan a flight | Government travel advice names parts of Lamu County, so read it first (see below) |
| Zanzibar | A longer, more resort-style stay, with Stone Town and spice farms | A flight from Nairobi, as in our 12-day trip | Part of Tanzania, so it has its own visa and insurance rules |
Start with Diani unless you have a reason not to
Diani is the simplest to reach, needs no extra paperwork and has enough to do for a three-night stay. If the beach is the smaller part of your trip, this is the one we suggest. Watamu is worth a look if snorkeling and marine life are the point, and because the KWS says the whale migration coincides with the wildebeest migration, a July to October trip can pair the two.
Check your own government’s advice before choosing Lamu. The UK government advises against all travel to Lamu County except Lamu Island and Manda Island, and the Government of Canada draws the same line, asking for a high degree of caution on the two islands.
Zanzibar: worth the extra paperwork?
Our 12 Day Bush and Beach Honeymoon Safari ends with four nights on Zanzibar. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so most travelers need a Tanzanian visa. The UK government says you can apply for an e-visa online, or get a single-entry visa on arrival. It also says visitors need Tanzanian inbound travel insurance, which must come from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation if Zanzibar is your first stop.
The best time to combine the Mara and the coast
The trip crosses two climates, so timing matters. Kenya’s embassy in Rome puts the wildebeest migration at the Mara from July to October. The Government of Canada describes Kenya’s rainy seasons as usually October to November and March to mid-June, though the timing shifts from year to year, and warns that flooding can hamper overland travel.
| Months | Mara and parks | Coast | Our view |
|---|---|---|---|
| July to October | Dry, with the migration in the Mara; busy | Dry; busy | The strongest overall match, at peak-season prices. The short rains can start in October |
| November | Short rains begin; green country and usually brief showers | Showers likely | Quieter, with more weather risk |
| December to early March | Hot and mostly dry, with good game viewing | The best beach weather. Kitesurfing is best in the windy seasons, December to March and June to September | A strong second choice. Christmas and New Year dates may carry lodge supplements |
| April and May | Long rains: heavy showers and muddier tracks. The rains can start in March | Wet, and some resorts close for maintenance | Better value, wettest weather |
| June | Usually drier and cooler than April and May | Usually drier and cooler than April and May | Low-season prices with better odds of dry days |
For a month-by-month view of the safari half, see our guide to the best time to visit Kenya for safari.
What a Kenya safari and beach holiday costs
Our prices are per person, for two people sharing, and each “from” price is a starting point: the 14-day trip is from USD 5,850, the 12-day Zanzibar trip from USD 4,440 and the 10-day flying trip from USD 5,605. Where you land above that depends on the season (July to October costs more than April to June), your group size and the lodge level you choose. Park and conservancy fees are included, and your quote itemizes everything.
The price does not include international flights, your Kenya eTA, travel insurance or tips. The Mara hot-air balloon flight is an optional extra at USD 550 per person, and it needs booking in advance.
Related safari guides
- Two Weeks in Kenya: 14-Day Safari and Diani Beach Itinerary
- Kenya Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday: Three Ways to Combine
- Amboseli Safari Packages: How Many Days and What It Costs
Get your free safari quote in 6 hours
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. A planner in our Nairobi office replies within 6 hours with a day-by-day itinerary, the camps we suggest and a fully itemised price. No payment is needed to enquire.
Prefer to talk? WhatsApp or call +254 799 871 255.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for a Kenya safari and beach holiday?
Ten days is the practical minimum for a relaxed pace: about five safari nights, three beach nights and a night in Nairobi. Two weeks adds a second safari area, such as Amboseli, without cutting the beach short.
Is Diani or Zanzibar better after a safari?
Diani suits most travelers because it is quick to reach and needs no extra visa. Zanzibar gives you a longer, more resort-style stay and Stone Town, but it is part of Tanzania, with its own visa and insurance rules, and it adds a flight.
Can I combine a short Mara safari with a few days at the beach?
Yes. Three nights in the Mara and three at the coast fit into about eight or nine days if you fly both ways, at a faster pace. We would build that as a tailor-made quote rather than a fixed trip, so send your dates and we will price it.
Do I need a visa or other documents?
Most visitors need a Kenya eTA instead of a visa, and each traveler needs their own. Apply only on the official eTA site, where the fee starts at USD 30 and processing generally takes three business days. The UK government says local authorities recommend applying at least two weeks before departure, that your passport should be valid for six months after arrival with two blank pages, and that from 5 October 2026 eTA applicants must buy travel health insurance as part of the application. The insurance rule is recent, so confirm the current position on the official eTA site and in your own government’s advice before you pay.
Do I need malaria tablets for the coast?
Ask your doctor. The CDC says malaria transmission occurs in all areas of Kenya below 2,500 meters (8,200 feet), which includes the coast and the game parks. A travel clinic can advise on your route, and the UK government advises checking vaccine recommendations at least eight weeks ahead. If you are flying on to Zanzibar, also ask about yellow fever, because Tanzania requires proof of vaccination from travelers arriving from countries listed as a transmission risk, and your doctor can say whether your route counts.
Comments are closed