Seremara Safaris
12 Days Kenya Bush and Beach Safari
Explore Kenya Safari Packages for Unforgettable Adventures
12 Days Kenyan Bush and Beach Safari
Few Kenyan itineraries cover as much varied ground as this 12 Days Kenya Bush and Beach Safari, a comprehensive journey through four parks and reserves in southern Kenya before ending on the white sand of the south coast. Unlike our Masai Mara-based combination trips, this route heads instead through Amboseli, both halves of Tsavo, and the little-visited Shimba Hills, giving it a genuinely distinct character among our bush-and-beach packages.
This Kenya Safari and Beach Combo Package suits travelers who want real depth on the safari side of their trip — four full parks rather than one or two — before unwinding for four nights on the coast. It is equally well suited to first-time visitors wanting a complete overview of southern Kenya's landscapes and to repeat travelers looking for parks beyond the more heavily visited Masai Mara circuit.
Highlights include classic views of Mount Kilimanjaro rising above Amboseli's swamps and elephant herds, the hippo- and crocodile-filled Mzima Springs in Tsavo West, the famous red-dust elephants and dramatic Lugard Falls of Tsavo East, and the rare sable antelope found almost nowhere else in Kenya at Shimba Hills National Reserve. The safari then concludes with four nights at Diani and Galu Beach, where dhow excursions, snorkeling and fresh seafood dinners round out a journey that spans nearly the entire southern half of the country.
This Masai Mara and Coast Safari alternative includes full-board accommodation throughout, all park entry fees, road transport in a 4x4 safari vehicle, and a flight back to Nairobi from the coast. From $2,000 per person sharing, with accommodation, park fees, transport and a driver-guide included throughout this Kenya Wildlife and Coast Holiday.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Nairobi to Amboseli National Park
Depart Nairobi at 7:30 AM for the drive south toward Amboseli National Park, passing through changing scenery as farmland gives way to the dry acacia plains that lie in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. Arrive in time for lunch at your lodge or camp, with a short break to settle in before heading out for your first afternoon game drive. Amboseli is best known for exactly this pairing — large, easily approachable elephant herds set against the backdrop of Africa's tallest peak, its snow-capped summit often visible in the clear light of early morning and late afternoon. The park's swamps, fed by underground rivers originating on Kilimanjaro itself, sustain healthy numbers of elephant, buffalo, zebra and a wealth of birdlife even during the dry season. Return to your lodge or camp as the sun sets over the plains for dinner and your first overnight in Amboseli, with Kilimanjaro's silhouette often visible against the evening sky.
Full Day Exploring Amboseli
Spend a full day exploring this iconic park in more depth. Amboseli takes its name from the Maasai phrase meaning 'place of water,' a fitting description for a park whose permanent swamps, filtered through thousands of metres of volcanic rock from Mount Kilimanjaro, sustain wildlife even in the driest months. Morning and afternoon game drives reveal zebra, wildebeest, sizeable elephant herds, giraffe, impala and, with patience, the resident leopard population that favours the park's fringing woodland. Amboseli is particularly renowned among photographers for its unobstructed views of Kilimanjaro, best captured in the soft light shortly after sunrise before haze builds later in the day. The park's open terrain, a legacy of an ancient lakebed, also makes for outstanding elephant photography, with herds often walking in single file across the dusty plains with the mountain rising majestically behind them. Dinner and overnight at your camp or lodge, with the afternoon's game drive offering one final chance to capture Kilimanjaro at its most photogenic before the safari continues toward Tsavo.
Amboseli to Tsavo West and Mzima Springs
After an early morning game drive, depart Amboseli for Tsavo West National Park, with game viewing continuing en route as the landscape shifts from Amboseli's open plains to Tsavo's more rugged, volcanic terrain dotted with rocky outcrops and denser bush. Arrive in time for lunch before heading out for your first Tsavo West game drive, an ecosystem home to leopard, lion, elephant and healthy numbers of zebra among its lava flows and acacia woodland. The undoubted highlight of Tsavo West is Mzima Springs, where crystal-clear water bubbles up from underground volcanic rock at a rate of some 50 million gallons per day, creating a rare oasis that draws hippo and Nile crocodile in impressive numbers. An underwater viewing chamber built directly into the springs allows you a rare glimpse of hippos moving beneath the surface, a genuinely unique wildlife-viewing opportunity not available in most other Kenyan parks. Dinner and overnight at your camp or lodge in Tsavo West.
Tsavo West to Tsavo East, Land of the Red Elephants
Leave camp soon after breakfast and continue into Tsavo East National Park, with game viewing continuing as you exit Tsavo West and cross into Kenya's largest national park. Tsavo East is instantly recognisable for its large herds of elephant, dust-bathed a distinctive rust-red from the park's iron-rich volcanic soil, a striking contrast to the grey elephants seen elsewhere in Kenya. The park's fine, open scenery includes several noteworthy landmarks visited en route: the dramatic Lugard Falls, where the Galana River is forced through a narrow rocky gorge into a series of rapids and whirlpools; the sweeping Mudanda Rock, a natural water catchment that draws elephant herds especially in the dry season; and the Aruba Dam, an important wildlife-watering point where game concentrates in the late afternoon. Continue with game viewing throughout the drive toward your camp, watching for lion, buffalo and the park's famous red elephants against Tsavo East's flatter, drier terrain. Dinner and overnight at your camp or lodge.
Full Day Along the Galana River in Tsavo East
Spend a full day exploring Tsavo East's flatter, drier landscape, despite which the park hosts one of Kenya's largest rivers, the Galana, running through its centre. Much of the resident wildlife concentrates along this permanent water source, offering excellent sightings of Nile crocodile and hippo basking or wallowing in its shallows, alongside waterbuck, dik-dik and kudu drawn to the riverine vegetation. Morning and afternoon game drives cover different sections of the park, from the red-dust plains favoured by elephant herds to denser bush where lion prides rest through the heat of the day. Tsavo East's vast, largely undeveloped size, roughly triple that of Tsavo West, means long stretches of genuinely wild, unspoiled terrain between sightings, a different rhythm from busier parks further north. As the light softens toward evening, watch for game gathering at the riverbanks before returning to camp for dinner and a final overnight in Tsavo East ahead of tomorrow's move toward the coast.
Tsavo East to Shimba Hills National Reserve
Enjoy one final early morning game drive in Tsavo East before breakfast, then depart for Shimba Hills National Reserve, a smaller, forested reserve near the coast that offers a striking contrast to the open plains left behind. On arrival, head straight into an afternoon game drive exploring the reserve's rolling grassland and dense coastal forest, home to a distinctive mix of flora, fauna and prolific birdlife rarely found together elsewhere in Kenya. Shimba Hills Forest Lodge, your base for the next two nights, is built overlooking a natural waterhole where wildlife regularly congregates to drink, allowing for excellent game viewing without even leaving the lodge grounds. Settle in for the evening as birds and, often, elephant or bushbuck visit the illuminated waterhole after dark. Dinner and overnight at Shimba Hills Forest Lodge, with a full day still ahead to explore this under-visited reserve properly.
Full Day in Shimba Hills: Sable Antelope and Sheldrick Falls
Begin with an early morning game drive through Shimba Hills, a pristine wonderland of rolling meadows and forests of giant primeval trees that shelters around 500 elephants drawn to the refreshing fruit of the borassus palm. The reserve's most distinctive resident, however, is the rare and impressive sable antelope, found sharing this habitat with sizeable herds of buffalo; Shimba Hills is one of the only places in Kenya where a viable sable antelope population survives, making it a genuine rarity on any Kenyan safari. Return to the lodge for breakfast, then set out on a guided nature walk to the celebrated Sheldrick Falls, tumbling dramatically through the middle of equatorial rainforest and reachable only on foot. After lunch back at the lodge, relax overlooking the waterhole, watching wildlife and birds come and go through the heat of the day, before a second afternoon game drive in search of the reserve's varied species. In the evening, join a resident naturalist for sundowners in the park, learning about the lodge's history and the reserve's ecology, before returning for dinner and overnight, closing out one of the least-visited but most rewarding stops on this Kenya Safari and Beach Combo Package.
Shimba Hills to the Beaches of Diani and Galu
Rise for one last early morning game drive in Shimba Hills before breakfast, savouring a final chance to spot the reserve's elephants and, if fortune allows, its rare sable antelope. Afterwards, depart for the short drive down to the coast, arriving in the Diani and Galu Beach area by early afternoon. Check in to your beachfront resort and take the rest of the day to make the transition from bush to coast — unpacking, walking the beach, and adjusting to the sound of the Indian Ocean rather than the bush after a week of game drives. This marks the beginning of four nights of pure relaxation, snorkeling and coastal excursions along one of Kenya's most celebrated stretches of coastline, a well-earned change of pace after covering four parks and reserves in a single week.
A Full Day of Beach Relaxation at Galu
Wake each morning at Galu Beach to a gentle sea breeze and some of the finest white sand on the Kenyan coast. Spend today at leisure, walking along the shoreline, kayaking in the calm, reef-protected lagoon, or simply relaxing by the pool with a book. The coral reef running parallel to the beach keeps the water shallow and safe for swimming at most tide levels, making this an easy, low-key day after a week of early starts on safari. In the afternoon, indulge in a lazy siesta, a spa treatment, or a spot of souvenir shopping at the nearby beach curio markets, before finishing the day with a sundowner on the sand as the sun sets over the palm-fringed shoreline. Fresh seafood is a highlight of dinner most evenings along this stretch of coast, setting the tone for the more active excursions to come over the following days.
Dhow Excursion to Funzi Island
Today's highlight is a full-day excursion by traditional dhow to Funzi Island, a small, largely undeveloped island south of Diani fringed by mangrove creeks and sandbanks. The crossing itself is scenic, sailing across clear turquoise water with good chances of spotting dolphins along the way. On the island, activities typically include swimming, fishing, and the possibility of encountering rare green turtles in the surrounding shallows, before the dhow anchors for a freshly prepared seafood lunch served right on the beach. Depending on conditions and your interests, you may also have the option to try your hand at kite surfing or deep-sea fishing, testing your luck against a prized marlin or wahoo further offshore. Sail back to your resort in the late afternoon, tired and sun-warmed, in time to freshen up before dinner. It's a full, memorable day that captures the very best of what the southern Kenyan coast has to offer.
Snorkeling, Spa Time and a Sunset Dhow Cruise
Spend your last full day at the coast exploring the coral gardens just offshore, snorkeling among a colourful array of reef fish in water kept shallow and clear by the barrier reef running the length of Diani and Galu beaches. For a change of pace, a glass-bottom boat trip offers the same underwater views without getting wet, particularly popular with families or less confident swimmers. Back on shore, spend the afternoon indulging in a massage or spa treatment at your resort, or browsing the beachfront shopping centres for last-minute souvenirs and locally made crafts. As the day winds down, join a sundowner dhow cruise along the coastline, sipping a cold drink as the sun dips below the horizon in brilliant colour, before returning to shore for a final, sumptuous fresh seafood dinner — a fitting last evening of this Kenya Wildlife and Coast Holiday before tomorrow's return to Nairobi.
Diani Beach to Nairobi and Departure
Wake to your final morning on the Kenyan coast, with time for one last swim or beach walk after breakfast. Check out and transfer to Ukunda Airstrip for your scheduled flight back to Nairobi, taking in a last aerial view of the coastline and reef as you climb away from Diani. On landing at Wilson Airport, our driver will meet you for the transfer to your Nairobi hotel or directly to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your international flight home. This final short hop brings a smooth, easy close to a comprehensive twelve-day journey that carried you from Amboseli's Kilimanjaro views, through both Tsavo parks and the rare wildlife of Shimba Hills, to four relaxed nights at the coast — marking the end of a wonderful 12 Days Kenya Bush and Beach Safari with Seremara Safaris.
Photo Gallery
Explore the Destinations on This Safari
Amboseli National Park is best known for its unbeatable views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest peak, rising directly behind herds of free-roaming elephant on the park's open plains. Underground rivers originating on Kilimanjaro's slopes feed permanent swamps that sustain wildlife even through the driest months, drawing elephant, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest and giraffe within easy viewing range. Photographers particularly prize the early morning light here, when the mountain's snow-capped summit is most likely to be free of cloud. Two days in Amboseli at the start of this itinerary provide ample time for both morning and afternoon game drives across its varied habitats.
Tsavo West's volcanic, rugged terrain is home to leopard, lion, elephant and healthy numbers of plains game, but its standout feature is Mzima Springs, where roughly 50 million gallons of crystal-clear water bubble up daily from underground volcanic rock. An underwater viewing chamber here offers a rare glimpse of hippo and fish moving beneath the surface, a genuinely unique wildlife encounter unmatched elsewhere in Kenya. The park's lava flows and acacia woodland add scenic variety to game drives, making it a natural complement to neighbouring Tsavo East.
Kenya's largest national park, Tsavo East is instantly recognisable for its red-dust elephants, coloured by the park's iron-rich volcanic soil, along with dramatic landmarks including Lugard Falls, Mudanda Rock and the Aruba Dam. The Galana River sustains much of the park's wildlife, drawing crocodile, hippo, waterbuck and kudu to its banks. Flatter and drier than its western counterpart, Tsavo East's vast, largely undeveloped size delivers a genuine sense of wilderness rarely found in Kenya's more visited parks.
One of Kenya's least-visited reserves, Shimba Hills protects a rare combination of rolling grassland and coastal rainforest close to the coast, home to around 500 elephant and, most notably, the rare sable antelope, found in few other places in the country. The reserve's Sheldrick Falls, reachable on a guided forest walk, and a lodge built overlooking an active waterhole add further highlights. Its position between Tsavo East and the coast makes Shimba Hills a natural, rewarding stop for travelers heading toward Diani and Galu.
Diani and Galu Beach together form one of Kenya's most celebrated coastal stretches, known for powder-white sand, calm reef-protected water and a laid-back beach-resort atmosphere. Activities range from snorkeling and glass-bottom boat trips over the offshore coral reef to full-day dhow excursions to Funzi Island, kite surfing and deep-sea fishing further out. Four nights here at the close of this itinerary provide a genuine, well-earned beach holiday after a week spent covering four parks and reserves.
What's Included
- Seven nights of full-board accommodation across Amboseli, Tsavo West, Tsavo East and Shimba Hills
- Four nights of full-board accommodation at a beach resort in Diani/Galu
- Road transport throughout in a 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- All park entry and reserve fees
- Services of an experienced, English-speaking driver-guide
- Return flight between the coast (Ukunda) and Nairobi at the end of the safari
Trip Planning Guide
This itinerary covers more individual parks than most Kenyan bush-and-beach combinations.
- Amboseli: Free-roaming elephant herds with Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop.
- Tsavo West: Mzima Springs' underwater hippo viewing chamber and lion, leopard and elephant.
- Tsavo East: Red-dust elephants, Lugard Falls and the Galana River's crocodile and hippo populations.
- Shimba Hills: The rare sable antelope and Sheldrick Falls.
- Diani/Galu Beach: Snorkeling, dhow excursions and white-sand relaxation.
- Visa & entry: Most nationalities require a Kenya eTA arranged online before arrival.
- Internal flight: The Ukunda-Nairobi flight at the end of the safari has modest baggage limits; pack a soft-sided bag if possible.
- Road conditions: Some sections between parks are on unpaved roads; a 4x4 with pop-up roof is used throughout for comfort.
- Currency: Kenyan Shilling is standard; US dollars are widely accepted at lodges and coastal resorts.
- Neutral-toned safari clothing plus swimwear and beachwear for the coast
- A warm layer for early morning game drives
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat
- Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens
- Comfortable walking shoes for the Sheldrick Falls nature walk
- A dry bag for the Funzi Island dhow excursion
The dry seasons of June to October and January to February are ideal for this itinerary, concentrating wildlife around waterholes and rivers in Amboseli and both Tsavo parks while also offering the clearest views of Mount Kilimanjaro. These months also bring calm seas and excellent visibility for snorkeling and dhow excursions on the coast. The long rains of March to May can make some safari roads muddier, though lush scenery and lower rates are a trade-off some travelers prefer.
Tour Route Map
Frequently Asked Questions
This itinerary is priced from $2,000 per person sharing, including full-board accommodation, park fees, road transport with a driver-guide, and the return flight between the coast and Nairobi.
This Kenya Safari and Beach Combo Package is distinct from our Masai Mara-based combinations, instead covering Amboseli, both Tsavo West and Tsavo East, and Shimba Hills before reaching Diani/Galu Beach.
Yes, Amboseli National Park at the start of the itinerary offers some of the best unobstructed views of Kilimanjaro in Kenya, especially in the clear light of early morning.
Shimba Hills National Reserve is one of the only places in Kenya with a viable population of the rare sable antelope, alongside around 500 elephant and the scenic Sheldrick Falls.
Four nights are spent at Diani and Galu Beach at the end of this Kenya Wildlife and Coast Holiday, allowing time for both relaxation and excursions like the Funzi Island dhow trip.
Yes, a short flight from Ukunda Airstrip near Diani back to Nairobi's Wilson Airport is included at the end of the itinerary, saving a long return road transfer.
International flights, Kenya eTA/visa fees, optional excursions, drinks, tips, telephone calls and other personal expenses are excluded.
Yes, its underwater viewing chamber offers a rare chance to watch hippo and fish beneath the surface of this crystal-clear spring, a highlight not found in most other Kenyan parks.
Yes, this itinerary can be arranged as a private safari for couples, families or small groups, or joined as part of a shared group of up to 10 people.
The safari leg suits older children comfortable with long game drives, while the four-night beach stay at Diani/Galu is very family-friendly with calm, reef-protected swimming water.
12 Days Kenyan Bush and Beach Safari
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