A Kenya safari and beach holiday is the classic way to see Kenya properly: a few days of game drives followed by a few more doing absolutely nothing on a white sand beach.
- FromUSD 1,650per person sharing, 7 days, Mara and Diani
- Duration7 to 14 days
- StartsNairobi, ending at the coast
- Best forHoneymooners, first timers, anyone who wants bush and sand in one trip
- StylePrivate vehicle and driver guide
Rated 5.0 on Google from 46 reviews. Price confirmed in writing before you pay.
It works because Kenya’s coast is close enough to the Mara and Amboseli to combine easily, whether you fly or take the SGR train between the two halves of the trip, without losing too many days purely to travel.
This guide covers the main variants from 7 to 14 days, what a Kenya safari and beach holiday costs and how to choose your beach base.
Highlights
- Combine the Maasai Mara, Amboseli or both with a coast stay
- Fly or take the SGR train between the safari leg and the beach leg
- Diani, Watamu and Mombasa all work as your beach base
- Bed and breakfast, half board or all inclusive beach options available
- 7 day, 9 day and 12 to 14 day variants, built around your available time
- Private vehicle and driver guide throughout the safari portion
Day by day plan
- Day 1
Nairobi to the Maasai Mara
Pickup from your Nairobi hotel or the airport for the drive to the Maasai Mara, about 5 to 6 hours via Narok. You go straight into an afternoon game drive on arrival, settling into camp before dinner, the first taste of a Kenya safari and beach holiday that only gets better from here.
- Day 2
Full day in the Maasai Mara
A full day of game drives, morning and late afternoon, looking for lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe and the Mara’s healthy resident wildlife. Extend this section with Amboseli or Lake Nakuru if you have chosen a longer 9 or 12 day variant of this trip.
- Day 3
Mara to the coast
A final morning game drive, then transfer back toward Nairobi to connect with a flight to Mombasa or Ukunda, close to Diani. If you prefer the train, we route you via Nairobi for an SGR departure instead, landing you at the coast by evening either way.
- Days 4 to 7
Beach relaxation on the coast
The remaining days are yours, spent at your chosen beach hotel on the tier and board basis you pick, bed and breakfast, half board or all inclusive. Optional add ons like a Wasini Island dolphin trip or a Mombasa city tour are easy to include if you want one active day at the coast.
Kenya safari and beach holiday variants, per person sharing
| Package | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mara and Diani | 7 days | USD 1,650 |
| Mara, Amboseli and Diani | 9 days | USD 2,050 |
| Extended Kenya and beach | 12 to 14 days | USD 2,650 |
- Guide price per person sharing, confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before any payment.
- Prices assume a mid range beach hotel on half board; budget and luxury tiers move the total up or down.
- SGR fares are cheaper than a domestic flight but add travel time; both options are quoted on request.
Get my exact price on WhatsApp
Reserve this trip
Pick your dates and group. See the total. Hold it with a deposit.
Pay by Mpesa, bank transfer or card once we confirm in writing. Free changes until you confirm.
Included
- Private vehicle and driver guide for the safari portion
- Park entry fees for parks visited
- Safari accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- Beach hotel on the board basis you choose
- Transfer between the safari leg and the coast (flight or SGR, quoted separately)
Not included
- International flights to and from Kenya
- Drinks not covered by your beach hotel’s board basis
- Tips for driver guides and hotel staff
- Optional excursions like a dolphin trip or dhow cruise
- Personal travel insurance
How many days for a Kenya safari and beach holiday
7 days is the minimum that still feels properly relaxed: 3 days safari, a travel day and 3 days at the coast. Shorter than this and one half of the trip starts to feel rushed.
9 to 14 days lets you add a second safari destination, Amboseli or Lake Nakuru alongside the Mara, plus more beach time, which is where most repeat visitors and honeymooners tend to land once they know Kenya a little better and want to slow the pace down.
Flying or taking the SGR to the coast
A domestic flight from Nairobi to Mombasa or Ukunda takes about an hour and is the fastest way to bridge a Kenya safari and beach holiday, ideal if your trip is on the shorter side.
The SGR train is cheaper and a genuinely pleasant journey in its own right, about 5 hours to Mombasa, worth building in an extra day for if you enjoy train travel and want to save on transfer cost. Our SGR Madaraka Express guide covers fares and schedules.
Choosing your beach: Diani, Watamu or Mombasa
Diani is the most popular choice, with the widest range of hotels, restaurants and activities like the Wasini Island dolphin trip and works well for both couples and families.
Watamu is quieter and excellent for snorkelling and diving in its marine park, while Mombasa itself suits travellers who want city access, Old Town history and Fort Jesus alongside their beach time and a shorter transfer overall.
Kenya safari and beach all inclusive options
Yes, the beach leg of a Kenya safari and beach holiday can absolutely be booked all inclusive, with meals and most drinks covered for the duration of your coast stay, popular with travellers who want to stop thinking about costs once the safari ends.
All inclusive costs more per night than half board but simplifies budgeting significantly, especially for families or larger groups who want one predictable total rather than a running tab at the end of the stay.
Kenya safari and Diani beach: the most popular combination
The Maasai Mara paired with Diani is by far our most booked Kenya safari and beach holiday combination, since both destinations are well connected, well known and deliver reliably on their own strengths.
It also suits first time visitors especially well, giving a genuine taste of both sides of Kenya, wildlife and coast, without needing to research lesser known alternatives before committing to a trip they only have one real chance to get right on their first visit.
Bush and beach Kenya: building your own combination
Beyond Mara and Diani, other combinations work well too: Amboseli’s Kilimanjaro views paired with Diani, or a Tsavo safari straight into Diani or Watamu since Tsavo sits closer to the coast than the Mara does.
Tell us your rough interests and days available and we will suggest the bush and beach Kenya combination that fits best rather than defaulting you to the most common option automatically without asking what you actually want.
What a Kenya safari and beach package costs
A 7 day Kenya safari and beach holiday, Mara plus Diani, starts from about USD 1,650 per person sharing on a mid range beach hotel. A 9 day version adding Amboseli runs closer to USD 2,050 and a fuller 12 to 14 day trip around USD 2,650.
Your biggest cost lever is the beach hotel tier and board basis. Safari costs are relatively fixed by park fees and vehicle share, while beach nights can range widely from simple budget rooms to genuinely luxurious beachfront suites with private plunge pools.
Best time for a combined safari and beach trip
Kenya’s coast is warm and pleasant most of the year, so timing is usually driven by your safari preferences rather than the beach. See our best time to visit guide for month by month advice.
April, May and November bring more rain to both the safari parks and the coast, which lowers prices across a Kenya safari and beach holiday if you are flexible on weather.
Packing for both halves of the trip
Neutral safari clothing, a hat and layers for cool mornings cover the bush portion. Swap to light, breathable clothing, reef safe sunscreen and beachwear for the coast leg, plus a cover up for the boat trips and town visits.
A single soft duffel bag rather than a hard suitcase makes the safari vehicle transfers easier and most domestic flights to the coast have lower luggage limits than international flights, worth checking before you pack. Our safari cost and prices guide has a fuller packing and budgeting checklist.
Booking your Kenya safari and beach holiday
Message us on WhatsApp at +254 720 731957 with your available days, budget and preferred beach town. We put together a day by day itinerary and a written quote covering both halves of the trip.
Book 2 to 3 months ahead for peak season, July to October and the festive period, since both Mara camps and popular beach hotels fill up early for those dates each and every year.
Honeymoons and special occasions
A Kenya safari and beach holiday is one of our most requested honeymoon formats, since it naturally splits into an adventurous first half and a relaxed second half, a structure that suits most couples very well.
See our Kenya honeymoon safari packages page for romantic add ons like a private sundowner or a bush dinner, easy to layer onto either half of this trip without complicating the logistics.
Zanzibar as an alternative beach base
If you would rather end your safari in Tanzania and beach in Zanzibar instead of Kenya’s own coast, that variant works just as well logistically, particularly if your safari leg includes the Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater area.
Our Kenya safari and Zanzibar page covers this specific combination, useful if you are torn between Kenya’s coast and Zanzibar’s for the beach portion of your Kenya safari and beach holiday.
Luxury versions of this trip
If budget is not the main constraint, both halves of a Kenya safari and beach holiday can be upgraded meaningfully: fly in conservancy camps for the safari leg and a top tier beachfront villa or suite for the coast.
See our Kenya luxury safaris page for conservancy and fly in options that pair especially well with a high end beach stay afterward and our Watamu and Malindi packages page for quieter, boutique style coast options.
How to book your Kenya safari and beach holiday
Booking your Kenya safari and beach holiday with us takes about five minutes of your time. The rest is our job. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, so there are no surprises along the way.
- Send your dates. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates, how many people are coming and the ages of any children. Tell us if you have a budget in mind. We plan with it, not around it.
- Get a written quote. We reply with a clear price per person, what it includes and what it does not. No hidden park fees and no vague extras. If a cheaper camp or a shorter route makes more sense, we say so.
- Tweak it until it fits. Change a camp, add a night or swap a park. Ask as many questions as you like. Changes cost nothing until you confirm.
- Confirm with a deposit. A deposit holds your vehicle, guide and rooms. You get a written confirmation with every detail and the date the balance is due.
- Travel day. Your driver guide meets you at your hotel or the airport with a name board. You have their number and ours for the whole trip.
What every trip with us includes
Every Kenya safari and beach holiday plan we put together comes with the basics done properly. You ride in a safari vehicle with a pop up roof, with a professional driver guide who knows the parks. Water is in the cooler box and park fees are sorted in advance so you do not stand in a queue at the gate.
We also stay reachable. If something changes on the road, a flat tyre, a closed route or a sudden storm, we sort it and keep you posted on WhatsApp.
Paying safely
We share payment details in writing only and every payment gets a receipt. The payment options and the balance date sit on your written quote, so nothing is left to memory or a phone call.
Why book with a Nairobi team
We live here. We drive these roads all year, we know which camps are honest about their photos and we know when a park is too busy to enjoy. That local knowledge is what turns a good Kenya safari and beach holiday into a great one. Our Google rating sits at 5.0 from 46 reviews and we plan to keep it that way.
Ready when you are. Send us a message and we will put a plan together for you shortly.
Questions people ask
How many days do I need for a Kenya safari and beach holiday?
7 days is the practical minimum, giving 3 days safari and 3 days at the coast with a travel day between. 9 to 14 days lets you add a second safari park and more relaxed beach time, which many repeat visitors prefer.
Is it better to fly or take the SGR train to the coast after a safari?
Flying is faster, about an hour and best for shorter trips. The SGR train is cheaper and a pleasant experience in its own right, about 5 hours, worth it if you can spare an extra day and enjoy train travel.
Which beach is best after a safari: Diani, Watamu or Mombasa?
Diani is the most popular, with the widest hotel and activity choice. Watamu suits snorkelling and diving fans. Mombasa suits travellers who want city access and history alongside their beach time. All 3 pair well with a Kenya safari and beach holiday.
How much does a safari and beach package cost?
A 7 day Kenya safari and beach holiday starts from about USD 1,650 per person sharing on a mid range beach hotel, rising to around USD 2,650 for a fuller 12 to 14 day trip. We confirm your exact price in writing before you pay.
Can the beach stay be all inclusive?
Yes, the beach leg of a Kenya safari and beach holiday can be booked all inclusive, with meals and most drinks covered. It costs more per night than half board but simplifies budgeting, especially for families or larger groups.
Do I need a separate visa or documents for the coast?
No, Diani, Watamu and Mombasa are all within Kenya, so your existing Kenyan visa or eTA covers the whole trip. No additional entry documents are needed between the safari and beach portions of your holiday.
Can children join a Kenya safari and beach holiday?
Yes, this is one of our most popular family trip formats. Many beach hotels offer kids’ clubs and family rooms and the safari portion works well for children old enough to sit through game drives, usually from about age 5 or 6 upward.
Official information: Magical Kenya, official Kenya tourism board.
Ready when you are. Send your dates and group size. We reply with a clear price and a plan you can change.
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