Kenya Safari & Beach Holiday for Groups – Masai Mara, Amboseli & Diani (10 Days)

A Kenya safari and beach holiday is the trip most European groups ask for: a proper safari followed by time to relax. This ten-day route gives you three nights in the Masai Mara and two in Amboseli, then a flight from Nairobi to Diani Beach for three nights of sun, sea and optional excursions. Your group travels in private 4x4s with a window seat for everyone, and the price starts from USD 2,450 per adult sharing.

Why Choose a Kenya Safari and Beach Holiday?

Combining bush and beach is one of the oldest and best ideas in East African travel. The early starts, dust and long game drives are rewarded with a few days of warm water, white sand and nothing to organise. For groups the combination works especially well, because everyone has a chance to bond on safari and then spread out on the coast according to their own taste.

This Kenya safari and beach holiday is designed for groups of friends, clubs and families. It is popular with travellers from the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland and Scandinavia, and it runs all year. We hold rooms together in each camp and hotel, so your group stays side by side, and group rates apply from six travellers.

• Masai Mara: three nights in Kenya’s best-known reserve for big cats and, from July to October, the Great Migration.
• Amboseli: two nights among elephant herds with Mount Kilimanjaro behind them.
• Diani Beach: three nights on half board with an optional Kisite dolphin tour or a trip to Shimba Hills.
• Private 4x4s: every guest has a window seat, and larger groups travel in several vehicles with their own guides.
• Group rates: the price per person falls as the group grows.

Kenya Safari and Beach Holiday Route at a Glance

• Day 1: Nairobi to the Masai Mara
• Days 2 to 3: Masai Mara
• Day 4: Masai Mara to Nairobi
• Day 5: Nairobi to Amboseli
• Day 6: Amboseli
• Day 7: Amboseli to Diani Beach
• Days 8 to 9: Diani Beach
• Day 10: Departure from Ukunda or Mombasa

The nine nights break down as three in the Masai Mara and two in Amboseli on safari with full board, one night in Nairobi on bed and breakfast, and three nights at a Diani beach hotel on half board.

Day-by-Day Kenya Safari and Beach Holiday Itinerary

Days 1 to 4: The Masai Mara

Day 1, Nairobi to the Masai Mara. Drive from Nairobi via the Great Rift Valley viewpoint to the Masai Mara. You arrive in time for an afternoon game drive, your first look at the reserve’s open plains.

Day 2, a full day in the Mara. A full-day game drive with a picnic lunch lets you follow sightings across the reserve without hurrying back to camp. Our Masai Mara safari guide explains the reserve and its wildlife.

Day 3, the Mara. Morning and afternoon game drives, with an optional balloon flight or a Maasai village visit.

Day 4, Masai Mara to Nairobi. After a morning game drive you drive or fly to Nairobi for an overnight stay. There is no direct road from the Mara to Amboseli, so the night in Nairobi breaks the journey.

Days 5 to 7: Amboseli and the road to the coast

Day 5, Nairobi to Amboseli. Drive to Amboseli and arrive for lunch. In the afternoon a game drive takes you among the elephants.

Day 6, Amboseli. Start with a sunrise drive for views of Mount Kilimanjaro, then enjoy an afternoon game drive. Our Amboseli safari page has more on the park.

Day 7, Amboseli to Diani Beach. Drive back to Nairobi and fly to Ukunda, the airstrip for Diani, or drive via Tsavo to the coast. Check in at your beach hotel and enjoy the sea.

Days 8 to 10: Diani Beach

Day 8, Diani Beach. A free day on the beach.

Day 9, Diani Beach. An optional Kisite dolphin tour or a trip to Shimba Hills. Our beach experience page shows what the Kenyan coast offers.

Day 10, departure. Transfer to Ukunda or Mombasa airport for your flight home.

Wildlife on a Kenya Safari and Beach Holiday

This route focuses on two of Kenya’s most famous parks, so it is easy to know what to look for.

The Masai Mara: big cats and plains game

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. Elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo and large herds of antelope share the grassland. From July to October, wildebeest and zebra cross into the Mara during the Great Migration, which makes those months the busiest.

Amboseli: elephants beneath Kilimanjaro

Amboseli is famous for its elephants, which walk across the plains and swamps 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.

The coast: sea life and forest

The beach stay adds a different kind of wildlife. The optional Kisite dolphin tour gives you a chance to see dolphins in the sea, while Shimba Hills offers a forest and hills setting inland from the coast.

Accommodation and Pace

You stay in carefully chosen camps and lodges on safari with full board, in a Nairobi hotel on bed and breakfast and at a Diani beach hotel on half board. Rooms are private and comfortable, and because we hold rooms together, your group stays close in each place. Browse our Kenya lodges and camps to see the style of accommodation we use.

The pace suits mixed groups. Each safari park has at least two nights, so you unpack once, and the beach stay has three nights, so there is room to rest. Group members can also join or leave at different points, and we price each option separately.

A typical day on safari

A day on this Kenya safari and beach holiday follows a simple rhythm during the safari section.

• Dawn: an early game drive when predators and herds are most active.
• Mid-morning: breakfast at camp or a picnic in the bush.
• Midday: a rest at camp during the heat.
• Afternoon: a second game drive as the light softens.
• Evening: dinner at camp and a briefing from your driver-guide.

Diani Beach after the safari

After days of early starts, the beach is a welcome change of pace. Diani has long white sand and warm water, and the three nights on half board let you rest, swim and walk along the shore. Day 8 is left free on purpose so that everyone can choose their own pace, whether that means a long lie-in, a swim or a stroll along the sand. If you want more activity, day 9 offers the optional Kisite dolphin tour or a trip to Shimba Hills. Many groups tell us the beach is what turns a good safari into a complete Kenya safari and beach holiday.

Group Travel on a Kenya Safari and Beach Holiday

Groups are the heart of this trip, and a few details help the organisation go smoothly.

• Group size: we run the trip for groups of 6 to 30, and larger groups travel in several vehicles, each with its own guide.
• Flexible joining: some group members can skip the safari and join at the beach, and we price each option separately.
• Rooms together: we hold rooms together in each camp and hotel so the group stays side by side.

Our team can also suggest a route if your group has different budgets or interests. If you would like a more tailored itinerary for a smaller party, ask about a private Kenya safari.

Safari Etiquette and Responsible Travel

Wildlife viewing works best when everyone follows a few simple rules, which your driver-guide will explain on the first day. With a larger group it is worth agreeing them together before the first game drive.

• Stay seated in the vehicle and keep your voice low during sightings.
• Never feed animals or call to them, 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.
• Ask before photographing people, and buy crafts from community-run stalls when you can.

The park fees included in the price help pay for rangers and conservation, and your stay supports local jobs in camps, lodges and coastal hotels.

Best Time for a Kenya Safari and Beach Holiday

The trip works all year, which is why it is so popular, 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: short rains, lush scenery and excellent birding, with busy festive weeks.

For July to October and Christmas, book nine to twelve months ahead. For other months, four to six months is usually enough.

How Much Does a Kenya Safari and Beach Holiday Cost?

This Kenya safari and beach holiday starts from USD 2,450 per adult sharing. The final cost depends on the season, the level of accommodation and the size of your group. Because larger groups share guides and organisation, the cost per person falls as numbers grow. For a wider budgeting guide, read how much an African safari costs.

What Is Included and Not Included

• Private 4×4 safari vehicles and driver-guides
• 5 nights on safari, full board
• 1 night in Nairobi, bed and breakfast
• 3 nights at a Diani beach hotel, half board
• Domestic flight Nairobi to Ukunda
• Park fees and 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 Kenya Safari and Beach Holiday

The two safari parks give photographers plenty to shoot. In the Mara you can photograph lions, cheetahs and plains game in warm light, and in Amboseli you can frame elephants against 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. At the coast, the soft light at sunrise and sunset suits beach scenes and boats, and a waterproof cover or bag protects your camera from sand and spray.

What to Pack for a Kenya Safari and Beach Holiday

• Lightweight clothing in neutral colours such as khaki, olive or beige, plus a warm layer for early mornings in the Mara.
• A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen.
• Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens.
• Closed, comfortable shoes for safari and sandals for the beach.
• Swimwear and a light cover-up for the coast.
• 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, including the coast, 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.

Kenya Safari and Beach Holiday FAQs

How many people can join this Kenya safari and beach holiday?

We run it for groups of 6 to 30. Larger groups travel in several vehicles, each with its own guide.

Can some of the group skip the safari and join at the beach?

Yes. Group members can join or leave at different points, and we price each option separately.

Why do you return to Nairobi between the Mara and Amboseli?

There is no direct road between the two parks, so a night in Nairobi breaks the journey. You can also fly from the Mara to Amboseli at extra cost.

Can we choose Zanzibar instead of Diani?

Yes. Zanzibar is a short flight from Nairobi and works well as the beach finale. Prices differ slightly.

How early should a group book?

For July to October and Christmas, book 9 to 12 months ahead. For other months, 4 to 6 months is usually enough.

Is there a shorter or longer option?

Yes. Our 9 day Kenya highlights safari covers four regions without a beach stay, while our 15 day Kenya safari and beach journey adds more parks and ends on Diani Beach.

Who is this Kenya safari and beach holiday best for?

It suits groups of friends, clubs, families and extended families who want a safari and a beach in one booking. Children who can enjoy a morning in the vehicle will do well, and the beach days give everyone a rest. Travellers who prefer a longer, more remote safari may like our other routes better.

What is the weather like at the coast?

The coast is warm and humid for much of the year, and the long rains in April and May bring the heaviest showers. Our team can advise on the best months for the beach when you ask for a quote.

Book Your Kenya Safari and Beach Holiday

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 camps, hotels and vehicles, and we send final documents and packing advice before you travel. You can also compare more routes on our Kenya safari packages page.

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