KENYA // THE GRAND TOUR
20 Days Grand Kenya Safari and Diani Beach
Every major region of Kenya in one unhurried journey. The wild north, the Rift Valley lakes, the Masai Mara, Amboseli and the two Tsavos, then three nights on the coast at Diani.
20 Days / 19 Nights
DURATION
$3,700
FROM, PER PERSON
North, Rift Valley, Mara, South, Coast
DESTINATIONS
2 to 6
GROUP SIZE
ABOUT THIS SAFARI
About This 20 Day Grand Kenya Safari
This 20 day Kenya safari is the most complete way to see the country. Over nineteen nights you travel from Meru, Samburu and Ol Pejeta in the north, through the Rift Valley lakes and the Masai Mara, south to Amboseli, Tsavo West and Tsavo East and finish with three nights at Diani Beach.
With two nights in most parks, the pace is relaxed and every region gets proper time. You see the Samburu Special Five, rhino in Meru, Ol Pejeta and Nakuru, flamingo and hippo in the Rift Valley, the big cats of the Mara, Amboseli’s elephants beneath Kilimanjaro, Mzima Springs and Lugard Falls, before swimming in the Indian Ocean.
You travel in a private 4×4 Land Cruiser with your own driver guide, with full board on safari and at the beach, all park and conservancy fees, the Lake Naivasha boat trip, the Crescent Island walk and the transfer to the coast included. The flight from the coast back to Nairobi is booked separately to match your onward plans.
AT A GLANCE
Trip Summary
| Detail | This safari |
|---|---|
| Price from | USD 3,700 per person |
| Duration | 20 days / 19 nights |
| Safari style | Wildlife, Birding and Beach |
| Countries | Kenya |
| Parks visited | Meru, Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo West, Tsavo East and Diani |
| Starts | Nairobi |
| Ends | Nairobi, by flight or SGR train from the coast |
| Group size | Private departure. Typically 2 to 6 guests per vehicle |
| Best time to go | Jun to Oct and Jan to Feb |
| Difficulty | Easy |
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Your Route, Day By Day
| Day | Route | Overnight | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nairobi to Meru National Park | Safari camp, Meru | L, D |
| 2 | Full Day in Meru | Safari camp, Meru | B, L, D |
| 3 | Meru to Samburu | Lodge, Samburu | B, L, D |
| 4 | Full Day in Samburu | Lodge, Samburu | B, L, D |
| 5 | Samburu to Ol Pejeta | Tented camp, Ol Pejeta | B, L, D |
| 6 | Ol Pejeta to Lake Nakuru | Lodge, Lake Nakuru | B, L, D |
| 7 | Full Day at Lake Nakuru | Lodge, Lake Nakuru | B, L, D |
| 8 | Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha | Lodge, Lake Naivasha | B, L, D |
| 9 | Lake Naivasha to the Masai Mara | Lodge, Masai Mara | B, L, D |
| 10 | Full Day in the Masai Mara | Lodge, Masai Mara | B, L, D |
| 11 | Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha | Lodge, Lake Naivasha | B, L, D |
| 12 | Lake Naivasha to Amboseli | Lodge, Amboseli | B, L, D |
| 13 | Full Day in Amboseli | Lodge, Amboseli | B, L, D |
| 14 | Amboseli to Tsavo West | Lodge, Tsavo West | B, L, D |
| 15 | Tsavo West to Tsavo East | Lodge, Tsavo East | B, L, D |
| 16 | Full Day in Tsavo East | Lodge, Tsavo East | B, L, D |
| 17 | Tsavo East to Diani | Beach resort, Diani | B, L, D |
| 18 | Diani at Leisure | Beach resort, Diani | B, L, D |
| 19 | Diani at Leisure | Beach resort, Diani | B, L, D |
| 20 | Diani to Nairobi | Departure | B |
B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner. Accommodation is shown by type and area. We confirm the exact camp or lodge in writing with your quote.
DAY BY DAY
The Full Itinerary
Your driver guide collects you from your Nairobi hotel or the airport in the morning. You drive north past Embu and around the eastern side of Mount Kenya to Meru National Park, about five hours, arriving for lunch.
Your afternoon game drive follows the park’s palm lined rivers, looking for lion, buffalo, elephant, hippo and crocodile.
Activities: Drive to Meru, afternoon game drive along the rivers
Meals: Lunch and dinner · Overnight: Safari camp, Meru
A full day in Meru with morning and afternoon drives through palm forest, grassland and riverine bush.
You visit the rhino sanctuary for black and white rhino and look for lesser kudu, gerenuk and reticulated giraffe.
Activities: Morning and afternoon game drives, Meru rhino sanctuary
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Safari camp, Meru
After breakfast you drive through Isiolo to the Samburu National Reserve, about three hours, arriving for lunch.
The afternoon drive follows the Ewaso Ng’iro river, where elephant herds drink and leopard rest in the trees.
Activities: Drive to Samburu, afternoon river game drive
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Samburu
A full day in Samburu with a packed lunch, searching for the Special Five: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, beisa oryx, gerenuk and Somali ostrich.
Lion and cheetah also hunt here. A Samburu village visit can be added in the afternoon.
Activities: Full day game drive with packed lunch, optional Samburu village visit
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Samburu
You drive south past Mount Kenya to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, about three hours, arriving for lunch.
The afternoon drive looks for black and southern white rhino and visits the northern white rhino enclosure and the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
Activities: Drive to Ol Pejeta, afternoon game drive, northern white rhino enclosure, chimpanzee sanctuary
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Tented camp, Ol Pejeta
After a morning drive you head south west through Nyahururu, crossing the equator, and descend into the Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru National Park, about four hours.
Your afternoon game drive follows the lake shore for buffalo, waterbuck, pelican and, in some seasons, flamingo.
Activities: Morning game drive at Ol Pejeta, drive to Lake Nakuru, afternoon game drive
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Lake Nakuru
A full day in Lake Nakuru National Park for black and white rhino, Rothschild’s giraffe, lion and leopard.
You stop at Baboon Cliff for the view over the lake and at Makalia Falls in the south of the park.
Activities: Full day game drive, Baboon Cliff and Makalia Falls
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Lake Nakuru
A short drive of about one and a half hours brings you to Lake Naivasha, where a boat trip takes you among hippo pods and fish eagles.
In the afternoon you explore Hell’s Gate National Park on foot or by bicycle, between tall cliffs and steam vents.
Activities: Drive to Lake Naivasha, boat trip, Hell’s Gate by bicycle or on foot
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Lake Naivasha
After breakfast you drive through Narok to the Masai Mara National Reserve, about five hours, arriving for lunch.
Your evening game drive heads out as the lion prides wake and cheetah hunt on the plains.
Activities: Drive to the Masai Mara, evening game drive
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Masai Mara
A full day in the Mara with a picnic lunch, including the Mara River and its hippo and crocodiles. From July to October the wildebeest migration fills the plains.
A balloon flight at sunrise and a Maasai village visit can be added at an extra cost.
Activities: Full day game drive with picnic lunch, Mara River, optional balloon flight and Maasai village visit
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Masai Mara
A morning game drive on your way out of the Mara, then the drive back to Lake Naivasha, about four hours.
In the afternoon you walk among giraffe, zebra and wildebeest on Crescent Island, a private sanctuary on the lake shore.
Activities: Morning game drive, drive to Lake Naivasha, Crescent Island walk
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Lake Naivasha
An early start for the drive south past Nairobi to Amboseli National Park, about six hours, arriving for a late lunch.
Your evening game drive heads to the swamps, where elephant families drink beneath Kilimanjaro.
Activities: Drive to Amboseli, evening game drive to the swamps
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Amboseli
A full day in Amboseli with a picnic lunch. On clear mornings Kilimanjaro rises above the elephant herds.
You climb Observation Hill for a wide view over the swamps and the plains.
Activities: Full day game drive with picnic lunch, Observation Hill walk
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Amboseli
After breakfast you drive east past the Chyulu Hills into Tsavo West National Park, about three hours, arriving for lunch.
In the afternoon you visit Mzima Springs to watch hippo and fish from the underwater viewing chamber, and the black rock of the Shetani lava flow.
Activities: Drive to Tsavo West, Mzima Springs, Shetani lava flow
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Tsavo West
A morning drive in Tsavo West, then you cross via the Tsavo River and Voi into Tsavo East National Park, about two hours, arriving for lunch.
Your afternoon game drive explores the open plains around Aruba Dam, home of Tsavo’s red elephants.
Activities: Morning game drive in Tsavo West, drive to Tsavo East, afternoon game drive at Aruba Dam
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Tsavo East
A full day in Tsavo East with a picnic lunch. You follow the Galana River to Lugard Falls, a series of rapids through a rocky gorge, and pass Mudanda Rock, where elephants gather at the natural pool.
Look for lesser kudu, gerenuk and the large herds of buffalo on the open plains.
Activities: Full day game drive with picnic lunch, Galana River, Lugard Falls, Mudanda Rock
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Tsavo East
After breakfast you travel to the coast, by road in about three to four hours or on the Madaraka Express train from Voi to Mombasa, with a transfer to Diani on the Dongo Kundu southern bypass.
You check in at your beach resort on Diani Beach in the afternoon, with time to swim and watch the sunset from the sand.
Activities: Transfer to the coast by road or train, afternoon at Diani Beach
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Beach resort, Diani
A free day at Diani. You can rest on the beach or join a dhow trip to Wasini Island and Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park for snorkelling, often with dolphins.
In the evening the resort’s restaurants and beach bars are close by.
Activities: Free day at Diani Beach, optional dhow trip to Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Beach resort, Diani
A second free day for snorkelling, a camel ride along the sand, or a visit to Colobus Conservation, which protects the Angolan colobus monkeys of the Diani forest.
Diving, kitesurfing and spa treatments can also be arranged at the resort.
Activities: Free day at Diani Beach, optional camel ride or Colobus Conservation visit
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Beach resort, Diani
A relaxed breakfast before check out.
You are transferred to Ukunda airstrip or Moi International Airport in Mombasa for your flight to Nairobi, or to the Madaraka Express terminus in Mombasa for the train.
Activities: Transfer for your flight or train to Nairobi
Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: Departure
THE ROUTE
Where This Safari Takes You
Nairobi → Meru → Samburu → Ol Pejeta → Lake Nakuru → Lake Naivasha → Masai Mara → Amboseli → Tsavo West → Tsavo East → Diani → Nairobi by flight or SGR train. Roughly 2,600 km of driving in total.
How To Get There
This safari starts in Nairobi. Fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) and we collect you from the airport or your hotel on day 1. It ends on the coast, where you fly home from Mombasa (MBA) or return to Nairobi by domestic flight from Ukunda or Mombasa, or by the Madaraka Express train.
The safari is by road in a private 4×4 Land Cruiser, roughly 2,600 km in total. Most legs take three to five hours. The longest days are Nairobi to Meru, Naivasha to Amboseli and the Mara to Naivasha, each about four to six hours.
The flight or train from the coast to Nairobi is not included, so we can time it with your international flight. Ask about it in your free quote.
WHAT IS COVERED
Included and Not Included
Included
- All park, reserve and conservancy fees
- Professional English speaking driver guide
- 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Full board accommodation as specified
- Lake Naivasha boat trip and Crescent Island walk
- Mzima Springs visit
- Transfer to the coast by road or SGR train
- Bottled drinking water throughout
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Diani to Nairobi flight
- Travel insurance
- Soft and alcoholic drinks
- Balloon flight and optional excursions
- Tips and gratuities
GOOD TO KNOW
20 Day Grand Kenya Safari FAQs
Meru, Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Hell’s Gate, the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo West and Tsavo East, followed by Diani Beach. It covers every major safari region in Kenya.
You stay two nights in most parks, so many days have no long drive at all. The travel days are mostly three to five hours, and each ends with a game drive.
Your Diani resort is on full board, with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Activities such as snorkelling trips and dhow cruises are paid locally.
June to October and January to February are the driest months. Travelling from July to October also brings the wildebeest migration to the Masai Mara.
This safari starts from $3,700 per person. The price depends on the season, the lodges and your group size. Use our Kenya safari cost calculator or request a free quote.
Yes. Every trip is private, so we can drop a region, add flights or swap Diani for Zanzibar. See the 11 Days Meru to Masai Mara Safari for a shorter version of the first half.
NO OBLIGATION
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TAILOR MADE SAFARI
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