15 Day Kenya Safari & Beach – Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Nakuru, Masai Mara, Amboseli & Diani

A 15 day Kenya safari is the most complete way to see the country when you have time to spare. This route runs from the dry north of Samburu to the rhino sanctuaries of Ol Pejeta and Lake Nakuru, through three nights in the Masai Mara and on to the elephants of Amboseli, then finishes with two nights on Diani Beach. You travel in private 4×4 safari vehicles, with one short flight from Nairobi to the coast, and the price starts from USD 3,950 per adult sharing.

Why Choose a 15 Day Kenya Safari?

Most visitors see one or two parks and go home wondering what lies beyond. A longer trip answers that question. Over two weeks you see how different Kenya’s wildlife regions really are, and you have time to settle into each one instead of rushing through. This itinerary was designed to avoid long backtracking, so more of your days go to game drives and fewer to the road.

The trip suits groups, couples and families with older children. It is popular with travellers from the UK, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Scandinavia who want a grand tour of Kenya in one booking. Here is what makes the route special.

• Five wildlife regions: the arid north, the Laikipia highlands, the Rift Valley lakes, the open Masai Mara and the Amboseli plains.
• Big Five plus the Samburu Special Five: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos, together with rarities found only in the north.
• Three nights in the Masai Mara: enough time for full-day drives, a picnic lunch in the bush and optional extras such as a balloon flight.
• Amboseli’s elephants beneath Kilimanjaro: one of the classic safari views in Africa.
• A beach finale: two nights on Diani Beach to rest before the flight home.

15 Day Kenya Safari Route at a Glance

• Day 1: Arrive in Nairobi
• Days 2 to 3: Samburu National Reserve
• Days 4 to 5: Ol Pejeta Conservancy
• Day 6: Lake Nakuru National Park
• Days 7 to 9: Masai Mara
• Day 10: Masai Mara to Nairobi
• Days 11 to 12: Amboseli National Park
• Days 13 to 14: Diani Beach
• Day 15: Departure from Ukunda or Mombasa

In total you spend 10 nights on safari on a full-board basis, 2 nights in Nairobi on bed and breakfast and 2 nights at a Diani beach hotel on half board. The only flight on the programme is from Nairobi to Ukunda, which saves a long day on the road to the coast.

Day-by-Day 15 Day Kenya Safari Itinerary

Days 1 to 5: Nairobi, Samburu and Ol Pejeta

Day 1, arrive in Nairobi. We meet you on arrival and transfer you to your hotel. Rest after the flight and meet your driver-guide, who will talk you through the route.

Day 2, Nairobi to Samburu. Drive north past Mount Kenya to Samburu. After settling in you head out on an afternoon game drive, the first of many on this 15 day Kenya safari.

Day 3, a full day in Samburu. Spend the full day looking for the Samburu Special Five and the elephants that gather along the river. Samburu is hot and dry, so the riverbanks are where life concentrates. Our guide to the Samburu safari explains what to expect in the reserve.

Day 4, Samburu to Ol Pejeta. Drive south to Ol Pejeta Conservancy and cross the equator on the way. An afternoon game drive gets you into the conservancy’s open grassland.

Day 5, Ol Pejeta. Visit the chimpanzee sanctuary, see the northern white rhinos with their rangers and enjoy more game drives across the conservancy.

Days 6 to 10: Lake Nakuru, the Masai Mara and Nairobi

Day 6, Ol Pejeta to Lake Nakuru. Drive to Lake Nakuru for an afternoon game drive among rhinos and giraffes. Read more on our Lake Nakuru safari page.

Day 7, Lake Nakuru to the Masai Mara. Continue to the Masai Mara and enjoy an afternoon game drive on arrival.

Day 8, a full day in the Masai Mara. A full-day game drive with a picnic lunch lets you follow sightings without hurrying back to camp.

Day 9, the Masai Mara. Another day of game drives, with an optional balloon flight or a Maasai village visit. See our Masai Mara safari guide for more detail.

Day 10, Masai Mara to Nairobi. After a morning game drive you drive or fly to Nairobi and spend the night there.

Days 11 to 15: Amboseli and Diani Beach

Day 11, Nairobi to Amboseli. Drive to Amboseli for an afternoon game drive.

Day 12, Amboseli. Start with a sunrise drive for views of Mount Kilimanjaro, then return for an afternoon game drive among the elephants. Learn more about the park in our Amboseli safari guide.

Day 13, Amboseli to Diani Beach. Drive back to Nairobi and fly to Ukunda, the airstrip for Diani. Check in at your beach hotel and walk down to the sand.

Day 14, Diani Beach. A free day to swim, rest or add an optional Kisite dolphin tour. Our beach experience page shows what the Kenyan coast offers.

Day 15, departure. Transfer to Ukunda or Mombasa airport for your flight home.

A Typical Day on a 15 Day Kenya Safari

Knowing the rhythm of a safari day helps you decide whether the pace suits you. On most days of a 15 day Kenya safari the routine looks like this.

• Early start: wildlife is most active in the cool hours after dawn, so the first game drive often leaves soon after first light.
• Mid-morning break: a return to camp for breakfast or a rest, or a longer drive with a picnic lunch on the full-day drives.
• Midday rest: the hottest hours are quiet for animals and guests alike, so most travellers read, swim or sleep.
• Afternoon game drive: the light softens, predators wake up and herds move towards water.
• Evening: dinner at camp, a short briefing from your guide about the next day and an early night.

On travel days the drives are longer, but they are broken up with stops and, on several legs, a game drive on arrival. The two-night stays in Samburu, Ol Pejeta and Amboseli and the three nights in the Mara mean you rarely pack up more than once every two days.

Wildlife on a 15 Day Kenya Safari

Each region on this route has a different cast of animals, which is the main reason a longer trip is so rewarding. Here is what to look for in each place.

Samburu and the north

Samburu is the place to find animals you will not see in the south. The Samburu Special Five are the reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich and gerenuk. Elephants come to the river to drink and bathe, and leopards are often spotted in the acacia trees. The reserve is quieter than the Mara, so sightings are often yours alone.

Ol Pejeta and Lake Nakuru: rhinos and primates

Ol Pejeta is home to the last northern white rhinos and a large number of black rhinos, and it also has a chimpanzee sanctuary. Lake Nakuru adds more rhinos, giraffes and lakeshore birds. Together they make this 15 day Kenya safari a strong route for anyone who loves rhinos.

The Masai Mara: big cats and the migration

The Mara has Kenya’s best-known concentration of predators. Lions are common, cheetahs hunt on the open plains and leopards rest in riverside trees. From July to October, wildebeest and zebra herds cross into the Mara during the Great Migration.

Amboseli: elephants beneath Kilimanjaro

Amboseli is famous for its elephants, which walk across the plains with Mount Kilimanjaro rising behind them. The park is also good for birdlife and open views, particularly at sunrise when the mountain is often clear.

Accommodation and Pace on the Safari

You spend 10 nights on safari in carefully chosen lodges and tented camps on a full-board basis, with 2 nights in a Nairobi hotel on bed and breakfast and 2 nights at a Diani beach hotel on half board. Rooms are private and comfortable, and camps are chosen for their location and service. Browse our Kenya lodges and camps to see the style of accommodation we use.

The pace is steady rather than rushed. Several parks have two-night stays, so you unpack once and spend a full day in each. Drives between regions are broken up with game drives and lunch stops. If you prefer less time on the road, flights can replace the drives to Samburu, the Mara or Amboseli at extra cost, which suits older travellers and families with young children.

Diani Beach after the safari

After days of early starts, the beach stay is a welcome change of pace. Diani has long white sand and warm water, and the two nights on half board let you rest, swim and walk along the shore. If you want a little more activity, the optional Kisite dolphin tour is available from the coast. Many guests tell us the beach makes the whole 15 day Kenya safari feel complete, because the safari memories settle while you relax.

Safari Etiquette and Responsible Travel

Wildlife viewing works best when everyone follows a few simple rules, which your driver-guide will explain on day one.

• Stay seated in the vehicle and keep your voice low during sightings.
• Never feed or call to animals, and keep a respectful distance.
• Take all litter with you, including small items such as wrappers.
• Follow Kenya Wildlife Service park rules at every entrance and on every drive.
• Buy crafts and gifts from community-run stalls when you can.

Park and conservancy fees included in the price support conservation and local communities, so your trip contributes directly to protecting the places you visit.

Best Time for a 15 Day Kenya Safari

The trip works all year, which is part of its appeal, but each season has its own character.

• January to March: hot, dry weather with good game viewing and fewer visitors than the peak months.
• April to May: the long rains bring green landscapes and lower prices, with some muddy roads.
• June to October: the dry season and the best overall time, with the Great Migration in the Mara from July to October.
• November to December: the short rains bring lush scenery and excellent birding, with busy festive weeks.

Because the route ends at the coast, you can also enjoy beach weather in most months. If the migration matters to you, book early for July to October, when camps fill first.

How Much Does a 15 Day Kenya Safari Cost?

This 15 day Kenya safari starts from USD 3,950 per adult sharing. The final cost depends on the season, the level of accommodation, your group size and any flights you add. Groups of 6 to 24 travel in several vehicles with a window seat each, and group rates apply, so the cost per person falls as the group grows. For a wider budgeting guide, read how much an African safari costs.

What Is Included and Not Included

• Private 4×4 safari vehicle and driver-guide
• 10 nights on safari, full board
• 2 nights in Nairobi, bed and breakfast
• 2 nights at a Diani beach hotel, half board
• Domestic flight Nairobi to Ukunda
• Park and conservancy fees
• All transfers

Not included: international flights, the Kenya eTA (from USD 30 per person, depending on the application type), travel insurance, tips and gratuities, drinks and personal expenses, and optional activities not listed as included.

Photography on a 15 Day Kenya Safari

This route gives photographers a rare variety of subjects in two weeks. You can shoot Grevy’s zebra and gerenuk in Samburu, rhinos at Ol Pejeta and Nakuru, lions on the Mara plains and elephants beneath Kilimanjaro. A lens of 200 to 400 mm suits most wildlife, while a wide lens helps with landscapes and big skies. Early mornings and late afternoons give the best light, and your driver-guide will position the vehicle for the sun and the background. Bring spare batteries and memory cards, since you will take more pictures than you expect.

What to Pack for a 15 Day Kenya Safari

• Lightweight clothing in neutral colours such as khaki, olive or beige, plus a warm layer for early mornings.
• A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen.
• Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens.
• Closed, comfortable shoes and a scarf for dusty roads.
• Swimwear and sandals for the beach at the end.
• Insect repellent and any malaria prevention recommended by your doctor.
• A soft-sided bag, because space in the vehicle and on domestic flights is limited.

Visas, Health and Safety

Most visitors need a Kenya eTA before arrival, so apply online ahead of your trip and check the current requirements for your nationality. Malaria is present in parts of Kenya, so speak to your doctor about prevention, and take out travel insurance that covers medical evacuation. Our driver-guides are experienced and check conditions daily. For official information, see Magical Kenya and the Kenya Wildlife Service for park rules and fees.

15 Day Kenya Safari FAQs

Is a 15 day Kenya safari too long?

Not with this route. The scenery and wildlife change every few days, and the trip ends with beach time to relax before you fly home. If you have less time, our 9 day Kenya highlights safari covers four regions.

What will I see on a 15 day Kenya safari?

You can see the Big Five, the Samburu Special Five, chimpanzees, flamingos and, from July to October, the Great Migration. The route covers almost every major Kenyan habitat.

Can we fly some of the longer legs?

Yes. Flights can replace the drives to Samburu, the Mara or Amboseli at extra cost, which suits older travellers and families with young children.

Is this tour suitable for groups?

Yes. Groups of 6 to 24 travel in several vehicles with a window seat each, and group rates apply.

Can we extend the beach stay?

Yes. Many guests add 3 to 4 more nights at Diani or swap to Zanzibar. Ask us for a quote.

Is there a shorter version?

Yes. Our 14 day Kenya Grand Slam safari is a similar journey without the beach, and you can compare other routes on our Kenya safari packages page.

Book Your 15 Day Kenya Safari

Send us your dates and group size by WhatsApp or email, and we will reply with a written, itemised quote and a suggested route. A deposit secures your lodges and vehicles, and we send final documents and packing advice before you travel. You can also read about our private Kenya safari options if you would like a fully tailored trip.

Travelling from abroad? See our packages for travellers from India, Malaysia, the USA, the UK and Australia.