8-Day Amboseli & Diani Beach Holiday

Day-by-day itinerary

Route: Nairobi → Amboseli → Emali / Nairobi Connection → Diani Beach → Ukunda / Mombasa

1. Day 1

   Nairobi to Amboseli

   You leave Nairobi after breakfast and head for Amboseli, travelling south past Kajiado and through Maasai rangeland toward the Tanzanian border country. Arrival is followed by check-in and a first drive into open plains, dust flats and spring-fed swamps beneath the bulk of Kilimanjaro. Look for large elephant herds, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, and abundant water birds around the swamps as the light softens through the afternoon. Amboseli is known for its free-ranging elephant families, and on clear mornings Mount Kilimanjaro often rises above the plains, though cloud can hide it. The vehicle and driver-guide are private to your party throughout. Dinner is served at your Amboseli camp or lodge, where you spend the night.

2. Day 2

   Amboseli to Emali / Nairobi Connection

   Breakfast is taken before you set out from Amboseli for the drive to Emali / Nairobi Connection, returning through the highland approaches to the city. After check-in and a chance to freshen up, you head out into Kenya's highland capital and the usual start and end point for road safaris. Nairobi is the arrival and departure hub for most Kenyan safari itineraries. Dinner and overnight are at your camp or lodge in Emali / Nairobi Connection.

3. Day 3

   Emali / Nairobi Connection to Diani Beach

   After breakfast you leave Emali / Nairobi Connection and travel on toward Diani Beach, connecting to the coast and transferring south through Ukunda. Lunch and check-in come first, then an afternoon drive through a long white-sand beach on Kenya's south coast, backed by palms and fringing reef. Look for reef fish, colobus monkeys in the coastal forest and seasonal humpback whales offshore as the light softens through the afternoon. Diani's reef sits close inshore, which keeps the lagoon calm and makes it suitable for swimming and snorkelling. You return for dinner and an overnight stay at Diani Beach.

4. Day 4

   Amboseli to Diani Beach

   Bags are loaded after breakfast and you depart Amboseli bound for Diani Beach, connecting to the coast and transferring south through Ukunda. After check-in and a chance to freshen up, you head out into a long white-sand beach on Kenya's south coast, backed by palms and fringing reef. There is the possibility of seeing reef fish, colobus monkeys in the coastal forest and seasonal humpback whales offshore, depending on movement and conditions on the day. Diani's reef sits close inshore, which keeps the lagoon calm and makes it suitable for swimming and snorkelling. You return for dinner and an overnight stay at Diani Beach.

5. Day 5

   Full-Day Ukunda / Mombasa Safari

   The whole day is given to Ukunda / Mombasa, with an early start to make the most of the cooler morning hours. Your route takes in a long white-sand beach on Kenya's south coast, backed by palms and fringing reef, with your guide reading recent movement to decide where to spend time. Species commonly associated with the area include reef fish, colobus monkeys in the coastal forest and seasonal humpback whales offshore. Beach days are deliberately unhurried after the safari sectors. Diani's reef sits close inshore, which keeps the lagoon calm and makes it suitable for swimming and snorkelling. Dinner and overnight are again at your Ukunda / Mombasa camp or lodge.

6. Day 6

   Full-Day Ukunda / Mombasa Safari

   The whole day is given to Ukunda / Mombasa, with an early start to make the most of the cooler morning hours. You travel through a long white-sand beach on Kenya's south coast, backed by palms and fringing reef, working the areas your guide judges most productive on the day. Keep watch for reef fish, colobus monkeys in the coastal forest and seasonal humpback whales offshore as you move between the different habitats. Beach days are deliberately unhurried after the safari sectors. Diani's reef sits close inshore, which keeps the lagoon calm and makes it suitable for swimming and snorkelling. The evening returns you to your Ukunda / Mombasa accommodation for dinner and overnight.

7. Day 7

   Full-Day Ukunda / Mombasa Safari

   An unhurried full day in Ukunda / Mombasa gives your guide room to follow whatever the morning turns up. Much of the day is spent among a long white-sand beach on Kenya's south coast, backed by palms and fringing reef. Keep watch for reef fish, colobus monkeys in the coastal forest and seasonal humpback whales offshore as you move between the different habitats. Beach days are deliberately unhurried after the safari sectors. Diani's reef sits close inshore, which keeps the lagoon calm and makes it suitable for swimming and snorkelling. The evening returns you to your Ukunda / Mombasa accommodation for dinner and overnight.

8. Day 8

   Full-Day Ukunda / Mombasa Safari

   An unhurried full day in Ukunda / Mombasa gives your guide room to follow whatever the morning turns up. Your route takes in a long white-sand beach on Kenya's south coast, backed by palms and fringing reef, with your guide reading recent movement to decide where to spend time. There is the possibility of seeing reef fish, colobus monkeys in the coastal forest and seasonal humpback whales offshore, though wild sightings are never guaranteed. Beach days are deliberately unhurried after the safari sectors. Diani's reef sits close inshore, which keeps the lagoon calm and makes it suitable for swimming and snorkelling. You return to your camp or lodge for dinner and a second night at Ukunda / Mombasa.