Africa · Safari & beach: Maasai Mara, Amboseli & Diani
Big cats in the Maasai Mara, elephants under Kilimanjaro, then white sand and dolphins on the Indian Ocean.
Overview
Kenya is the classic safari destination, and it's naturally car-free: on safari you are always driven by a professional driver-guide in a pop-up-roof 4×4. You start in Nairobi with baby elephants at the Sheldrick orphanage and giraffes at eye level. Then you fly in a small plane over the Rift Valley to the Maasai Mara, famous for lions, cheetahs, leopards and, from July to October, the Great Migration river crossings. Next comes Amboseli, with huge elephant herds in front of Kilimanjaro. The trip ends on Diani's palm-fringed beach, with a dhow trip to see dolphins. It's an expensive trip (park fees and camps), but truly once-in-a-lifetime.
Scorecard
Tap a criterion to see why it got that score.
Average of 19 criteria
Good food at camps and on the coast (Swahili seafood, nyama choma), but not a food trip.
Little built heritage on this route (Mombasa's Fort Jesus, Swahili ruins).
Savannah, the Rift Valley, Kilimanjaro views and a tropical coast.
Diani is a beautiful white-sand beach with a coral reef; seaweed in some months.
The Big Five, the Great Migration, elephants, dolphins and turtles: world-class.
Walking safaris, cycling in Hell's Gate, snorkelling, diving and kitesurfing in Diani.
Camp evenings around the fire; some beach bars in Diani and bars in Nairobi.
Early game drives, siestas at camp, then days on the beach.
Savannah, lakes, mountain views and the Indian Ocean coast.
≈ 10–13 h with one stop (Doha, Istanbul, Addis Ababa, Amsterdam), with almost no jet lag.
Safaris are always with a driver-guide; small planes and the SGR train link the parks and coast.
English is widely spoken, and the safari industry is very well organised; an eTA is needed.
Only +1 h (summer) / +2 h (winter) from Geneva.
Expensive: park fees of USD 100–200 per person per day in the Mara, safari camps at CHF 250–800+ per night.
Mild on the highlands (25°C days, cool nights) and hot on the coast; two rainy seasons.
Parks and camps are very safe; take care in Nairobi (petty crime, don't walk at night).
Malaria prevention is recommended (especially on the coast); yellow fever vaccine recommended.
Wonderful tented camps and beach lodges, from simple to ultra-luxury.
Mara river crossings attract many vehicles in peak season; conservancies are much quieter.
When to go
For the migration, go July–September and accept the higher prices. For value, choose January–February or June. Avoid April–May.
Getting there
There's no nonstop flight from Switzerland. Fly into Nairobi (NBO) with one stop, via Doha, Istanbul, Dubai, Amsterdam (Kenya Airways/KLM) or Addis Ababa (Ethiopian flies nonstop from Geneva). That's 10–13 h in total. Fly home from Mombasa (MBA), 1h30 from Diani, as an open-jaw ticket.
| Routing | Airline | Stops | Travel time | Return, economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GVA → ADD → NBO Nonstop Geneva–Addis Ababa; often the best value, and it also serves Mombasa. | Ethiopian Airlines | 1 | 10h–12h | CHF 600–950 |
| GVA → DOH → NBO Also flies Mombasa → Doha for the return. | Qatar Airways | 1 | 12h–14h | CHF 700–1100 |
| GVA → IST → NBO | Turkish Airlines | 1 | 11h–13h | CHF 650–1000 |
| GVA → AMS → NBO | KLM / Kenya Airways | 1 | 11h–12h | CHF 750–1200 |
Itinerary
Pick a trip length. Day 1 is arrival day and the last day is departure day; the overnight flights are extra. Each transfer lists every option, with the recommended one first.
Nairobi, three nights in the Maasai Mara, two in Amboseli, the train to the coast, and three nights on Diani beach.
Land in Nairobi, settle into a garden hotel in Karen, and visit the baby elephants of the Sheldrick orphanage and the Giraffe Centre.
45–90 min depending on traffic.
Baby elephants rescued from poaching come for their milk and a mud bath (11:00–12:00; book online). You can foster one.
Feed endangered Rothschild giraffes from a raised platform.
A small plane over the Rift Valley to the Mara. Your camp's guide meets you at the airstrip and you go straight into an afternoon game drive.
Lions, elephants, giraffes and zebras from the first afternoon.
Dawn game drive to find the big cats, a picnic breakfast under an acacia, and an afternoon drive to the Mara River.
Lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, hippos and crocodiles at the Mara River. From July to October: the wildebeest migration and river crossings.
An optional sunrise balloon flight with a champagne breakfast, a visit to a Maasai village, and an afternoon game drive.
An hour floating over the savannah at sunrise, followed by a bush breakfast.
Meet a Maasai community: jumping dance, homes, a fire-making demonstration. Choose a community-run visit through your camp.
A second chance at leopards and cheetahs.
A last morning drive, then a bush flight to Amboseli. Afternoon game drive among elephant herds.
Families of elephants crossing the swamps, with Kilimanjaro appearing from the clouds at sunset.
A dawn drive for the clearest views of Kilimanjaro, Observation Hill over the swamps, and time for the elephants.
Kilimanjaro is usually clearest at dawn. See elephant families, hippos in the swamps, lions, flamingos and birds.
A transfer to Emali station and the Madaraka Express to Mombasa, then a shuttle to Diani in time for sunset.
A swim in the warm Indian Ocean and dinner on the sand.
A traditional dhow from Shimoni to see dolphins and snorkel on a protected reef, with a Swahili seafood lunch on Wasini island.
Bottlenose and humpback dolphins, turtles and colourful reef fish, then crab and fish lunch on Wasini.
A slow day: the beach, a visit to the Colobus Conservation centre, and a massage or kitesurf lesson.
Short guided walk to see the rare Angolan colobus monkeys and learn about the 'colobridges' over the road.
Diani is one of East Africa's best kitesurf spots (Dec–Mar and Jun–Oct); dives on the reef.
A morning on the beach, then the transfer to Mombasa airport for the flight home.
Breakfast on the beach and a final dip.
Drive through the Rift Valley via Lake Naivasha's hippos on the way to the Mara.
Land in Nairobi, settle into a garden hotel in Karen, and visit the baby elephants of the Sheldrick orphanage and the Giraffe Centre.
45–90 min depending on traffic.
Baby elephants rescued from poaching come for their milk and a mud bath (11:00–12:00; book online). You can foster one.
Feed endangered Rothschild giraffes from a raised platform.
A drive down into the Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha. Boat ride among hippos and fish eagles, and a walking safari on Crescent Island.
Hippos, pelicans and fish eagles from the boat, then walk among giraffes, zebras and wildebeest (no predators).
Cycle past zebras and giraffes between red cliffs, then walk into the gorge.
A long but scenic drive across Maasai country to the Mara, with a game drive on the way into your camp.
Your first Mara sightings on the way to camp.
Dawn game drive to find the big cats, a picnic breakfast under an acacia, and an afternoon drive to the Mara River.
Lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, hippos and crocodiles at the Mara River. From July to October: the wildebeest migration and river crossings.
An optional sunrise balloon flight with a champagne breakfast, a visit to a Maasai village, and an afternoon game drive.
An hour floating over the savannah at sunrise, followed by a bush breakfast.
Meet a Maasai community: jumping dance, homes, a fire-making demonstration. Choose a community-run visit through your camp.
A second chance at leopards and cheetahs.
A last morning drive, then a bush flight to Amboseli. Afternoon game drive among elephant herds.
Families of elephants crossing the swamps, with Kilimanjaro appearing from the clouds at sunset.
A dawn drive for the clearest views of Kilimanjaro, Observation Hill over the swamps, and time for the elephants.
Kilimanjaro is usually clearest at dawn. See elephant families, hippos in the swamps, lions, flamingos and birds.
A transfer to Emali station and the Madaraka Express to Mombasa, then a shuttle to Diani in time for sunset.
A swim in the warm Indian Ocean and dinner on the sand.
A traditional dhow from Shimoni to see dolphins and snorkel on a protected reef, with a Swahili seafood lunch on Wasini island.
Bottlenose and humpback dolphins, turtles and colourful reef fish, then crab and fish lunch on Wasini.
A slow day: the beach, a visit to the Colobus Conservation centre, and a massage or kitesurf lesson.
Short guided walk to see the rare Angolan colobus monkeys and learn about the 'colobridges' over the road.
Diani is one of East Africa's best kitesurf spots (Dec–Mar and Jun–Oct); dives on the reef.
A morning on the beach, then the transfer to Mombasa airport for the flight home.
Breakfast on the beach and a final dip.
Adds Tsavo West and East between Amboseli and the coast, with the train from Voi.
Land in Nairobi, settle into a garden hotel in Karen, and visit the baby elephants of the Sheldrick orphanage and the Giraffe Centre.
45–90 min depending on traffic.
Baby elephants rescued from poaching come for their milk and a mud bath (11:00–12:00; book online). You can foster one.
Feed endangered Rothschild giraffes from a raised platform.
A drive down into the Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha. Boat ride among hippos and fish eagles, and a walking safari on Crescent Island.
Hippos, pelicans and fish eagles from the boat, then walk among giraffes, zebras and wildebeest (no predators).
Cycle past zebras and giraffes between red cliffs, then walk into the gorge.
A long but scenic drive across Maasai country to the Mara, with a game drive on the way into your camp.
Your first Mara sightings on the way to camp.
Dawn game drive to find the big cats, a picnic breakfast under an acacia, and an afternoon drive to the Mara River.
Lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, hippos and crocodiles at the Mara River. From July to October: the wildebeest migration and river crossings.
An optional sunrise balloon flight with a champagne breakfast, a visit to a Maasai village, and an afternoon game drive.
An hour floating over the savannah at sunrise, followed by a bush breakfast.
Meet a Maasai community: jumping dance, homes, a fire-making demonstration. Choose a community-run visit through your camp.
A second chance at leopards and cheetahs.
A last morning drive, then a bush flight to Amboseli. Afternoon game drive among elephant herds.
Families of elephants crossing the swamps, with Kilimanjaro appearing from the clouds at sunset.
A dawn drive for the clearest views of Kilimanjaro, Observation Hill over the swamps, and time for the elephants.
Kilimanjaro is usually clearest at dawn. See elephant families, hippos in the swamps, lions, flamingos and birds.
A drive through lava fields to the crystal-clear Mzima Springs (hippos underwater), then on to Tsavo East for a sunset drive.
Watch hippos and crocodiles through an underwater observation tank.
Red-dusted elephants, lions and the Galana river.
A last game drive in Tsavo, the SGR train from Voi to Mombasa, and on to Diani.
Settle in and swim.
A traditional dhow from Shimoni to see dolphins and snorkel on a protected reef, with a Swahili seafood lunch on Wasini island.
Bottlenose and humpback dolphins, turtles and colourful reef fish, then crab and fish lunch on Wasini.
A slow day: the beach, a visit to the Colobus Conservation centre, and a massage or kitesurf lesson.
Short guided walk to see the rare Angolan colobus monkeys and learn about the 'colobridges' over the road.
Diani is one of East Africa's best kitesurf spots (Dec–Mar and Jun–Oct); dives on the reef.
A morning on the beach, then the transfer to Mombasa airport for the flight home.
Breakfast on the beach and a final dip.
An extra coast day for the rainforest of the Shimba Hills or Mombasa's old town.
Land in Nairobi, settle into a garden hotel in Karen, and visit the baby elephants of the Sheldrick orphanage and the Giraffe Centre.
45–90 min depending on traffic.
Baby elephants rescued from poaching come for their milk and a mud bath (11:00–12:00; book online). You can foster one.
Feed endangered Rothschild giraffes from a raised platform.
A drive down into the Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha. Boat ride among hippos and fish eagles, and a walking safari on Crescent Island.
Hippos, pelicans and fish eagles from the boat, then walk among giraffes, zebras and wildebeest (no predators).
Cycle past zebras and giraffes between red cliffs, then walk into the gorge.
A long but scenic drive across Maasai country to the Mara, with a game drive on the way into your camp.
Your first Mara sightings on the way to camp.
Dawn game drive to find the big cats, a picnic breakfast under an acacia, and an afternoon drive to the Mara River.
Lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, hippos and crocodiles at the Mara River. From July to October: the wildebeest migration and river crossings.
An optional sunrise balloon flight with a champagne breakfast, a visit to a Maasai village, and an afternoon game drive.
An hour floating over the savannah at sunrise, followed by a bush breakfast.
Meet a Maasai community: jumping dance, homes, a fire-making demonstration. Choose a community-run visit through your camp.
A second chance at leopards and cheetahs.
A last morning drive, then a bush flight to Amboseli. Afternoon game drive among elephant herds.
Families of elephants crossing the swamps, with Kilimanjaro appearing from the clouds at sunset.
A dawn drive for the clearest views of Kilimanjaro, Observation Hill over the swamps, and time for the elephants.
Kilimanjaro is usually clearest at dawn. See elephant families, hippos in the swamps, lions, flamingos and birds.
A drive through lava fields to the crystal-clear Mzima Springs (hippos underwater), then on to Tsavo East for a sunset drive.
Watch hippos and crocodiles through an underwater observation tank.
Red-dusted elephants, lions and the Galana river.
A last game drive in Tsavo, the SGR train from Voi to Mombasa, and on to Diani.
Settle in and swim.
A traditional dhow from Shimoni to see dolphins and snorkel on a protected reef, with a Swahili seafood lunch on Wasini island.
Bottlenose and humpback dolphins, turtles and colourful reef fish, then crab and fish lunch on Wasini.
A slow day: the beach, a visit to the Colobus Conservation centre, and a massage or kitesurf lesson.
Short guided walk to see the rare Angolan colobus monkeys and learn about the 'colobridges' over the road.
Diani is one of East Africa's best kitesurf spots (Dec–Mar and Jun–Oct); dives on the reef.
Rainforest and the Sheldrick waterfalls in the Shimba Hills, or Fort Jesus and the old town of Mombasa.
A coastal rainforest with sable antelopes, elephants and a hike to the Sheldrick Falls.
The 16th-century Portuguese fort (UNESCO) and Swahili alleys.
A morning on the beach, then the transfer to Mombasa airport for the flight home.
Breakfast on the beach and a final dip.
Everything, starting with an extra Nairobi day: a rhino game drive in Nairobi National Park and the Karen Blixen house.
Land in Nairobi, settle into a garden hotel in Karen, and visit the baby elephants of the Sheldrick orphanage and the Giraffe Centre.
45–90 min depending on traffic.
Baby elephants rescued from poaching come for their milk and a mud bath (11:00–12:00; book online). You can foster one.
Feed endangered Rothschild giraffes from a raised platform.
A dawn game drive in the only national park inside a capital (rhinos with skyscrapers behind), then the 'Out of Africa' house.
Rhinos, lions, giraffes and buffalo, with the city skyline behind.
The Danish writer's farmhouse at the foot of the Ngong Hills.
A drive down into the Rift Valley to Lake Naivasha. Boat ride among hippos and fish eagles, and a walking safari on Crescent Island.
Hippos, pelicans and fish eagles from the boat, then walk among giraffes, zebras and wildebeest (no predators).
Cycle past zebras and giraffes between red cliffs, then walk into the gorge.
A long but scenic drive across Maasai country to the Mara, with a game drive on the way into your camp.
Your first Mara sightings on the way to camp.
Dawn game drive to find the big cats, a picnic breakfast under an acacia, and an afternoon drive to the Mara River.
Lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, hippos and crocodiles at the Mara River. From July to October: the wildebeest migration and river crossings.
An optional sunrise balloon flight with a champagne breakfast, a visit to a Maasai village, and an afternoon game drive.
An hour floating over the savannah at sunrise, followed by a bush breakfast.
Meet a Maasai community: jumping dance, homes, a fire-making demonstration. Choose a community-run visit through your camp.
A second chance at leopards and cheetahs.
A last morning drive, then a bush flight to Amboseli. Afternoon game drive among elephant herds.
Families of elephants crossing the swamps, with Kilimanjaro appearing from the clouds at sunset.
A dawn drive for the clearest views of Kilimanjaro, Observation Hill over the swamps, and time for the elephants.
Kilimanjaro is usually clearest at dawn. See elephant families, hippos in the swamps, lions, flamingos and birds.
A drive through lava fields to the crystal-clear Mzima Springs (hippos underwater), then on to Tsavo East for a sunset drive.
Watch hippos and crocodiles through an underwater observation tank.
Red-dusted elephants, lions and the Galana river.
A last game drive in Tsavo, the SGR train from Voi to Mombasa, and on to Diani.
Settle in and swim.
A traditional dhow from Shimoni to see dolphins and snorkel on a protected reef, with a Swahili seafood lunch on Wasini island.
Bottlenose and humpback dolphins, turtles and colourful reef fish, then crab and fish lunch on Wasini.
A slow day: the beach, a visit to the Colobus Conservation centre, and a massage or kitesurf lesson.
Short guided walk to see the rare Angolan colobus monkeys and learn about the 'colobridges' over the road.
Diani is one of East Africa's best kitesurf spots (Dec–Mar and Jun–Oct); dives on the reef.
Rainforest and the Sheldrick waterfalls in the Shimba Hills, or Fort Jesus and the old town of Mombasa.
A coastal rainforest with sable antelopes, elephants and a hike to the Sheldrick Falls.
The 16th-century Portuguese fort (UNESCO) and Swahili alleys.
A morning on the beach, then the transfer to Mombasa airport for the flight home.
Breakfast on the beach and a final dip.
Skip a region, add beach days, change the pace… Suggest changes and a new version of this trip will be created.
Getting around
Combine safari transport with the train. Fly (or drive with your guide) from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara, and fly or drive on to Amboseli. From there, the SGR 'Madaraka Express' train runs to the coast in comfort, followed by a shuttle to Diani. Camps include game drives in their own vehicles. In Nairobi, use Uber or Bolt, never street taxis at night.
Game drives with expert driver-guides are included at camps or with your private safari vehicle.
Safarilink and AirKenya connect Nairobi Wilson with every park and the coast; scenic, fast, with a 15 kg bag limit.
The Madaraka Express (Nairobi–Mombasa, stopping at Emali and Voi) is modern, punctual and cheap. First class is very comfortable.
Road safaris with a driver-guide are good value for groups, but the roads to the Mara are long and bumpy (5–6 h).
Uber and Bolt work well in Nairobi and Mombasa/Diani.
Tuk-tuks are handy for short trips along the Diani beach road.
Where to stay & budget
Per person per day, excluding international flights. Assumes two people sharing. Safari days (camps full board, game drives, park fees, bush flights) cost far more than beach days. Mara park fees alone are USD 100 (Jan–Jun) or USD 200 (Jul–Dec) per person per day.
Kenya's capital, with a national park on its doorstep; the leafy Karen suburb has the elephant orphanage and the Giraffe Centre.
Where: Karen or Langata (green, calm, close to Wilson airport and the sights).
A freshwater Rift Valley lake full of hippos and birds, next to Hell's Gate National Park, where you can cycle among zebras.
Where: On the southern lake shore.
The legendary savannah: the highest density of big cats in Africa, and the Great Migration from July to October.
Where: Inside the reserve, or in a private conservancy (fewer vehicles, walking and night drives allowed).
Dry lake beds and swamps at the foot of Kilimanjaro, home to some of Africa's biggest-tusked elephants.
Where: Inside the park or in the Kimana / Selenkay conservancies.
Kenya's largest park: a wild, empty red-earth landscape with 'red' dust-covered elephants and the Galana river.
Where: Near the Voi gate (close to the SGR station).
17 km of white sand and palms on a coral-reef lagoon south of Mombasa, with colobus monkeys in the trees.
Where: Along the Diani beach road (Galu beach is quieter).
Practical
Information last checked: September 2026. Visa rules, prices and timetables change, so always check before booking.
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