Kenya – From the Masai Mara via Tsavo East to Diani Beach

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi – introduction and briefing
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, our representative will meet you and take you to Tamarind Tree Hotel. The Tamarind Tree Hotel is ideally located just 5km south of town on the extensive Carnivore site and its famous Carnivore Restaurant. Nairobi, its national park and the country’s diverse attractions are easily accessible via the neighboring Wilson Airport and the Southern Bypass. The nearby suburbs of Langata and Karen are among Nairobi’s most vibrant and popular, with world-class shopping centers and excellent restaurants. Overnight stay in Tamarind Tree Hotel-Standard Room or similar category, (B).

Day 2: Drive from Nairobi to Masai Mara – game drive
Look forward to the first highlight of your trip to the legendary Masai Mara. After breakfast we drive via Narok to the Masai Mara National Reserve, one of the most famous game reserves in Africa. Together with the Serengeti in Tanzania, it forms a huge nature reserve where the world-famous animal migration takes place every year. The Masai Mara plays a crucial role in sustaining the world’s largest mammal migration. With over 95 species of mammals, amphibians and reptiles, as well as more than 400 species of birds, the reserve is considered one of the most impressive wildlife viewing areas in Kenya. The wildebeest herds dominate the landscape. Every July, more than 1.5 million wildebeest, accompanied by numerous zebras and Thomson’s gazelles, migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the fresh pastures of the Masai Mara before returning in October. Dinner and overnight at Zebra Plains Mara Camp-Savanna View Tents or similar category, (B|L|D).

Day 3: Game drive in the Masai Mara
Enjoy an exciting game drive in the Masai Mara with a packed picnic basket surrounded by an impressive variety of animals such as elephants, buffalos, antelopes, zebras, giraffes and rhinos. This area offers excellent opportunities to spot the famous Big Five. Overnight stay in Zebra Plains Mara Camp-Savanna View Tents or similar category, (B|L|D).

Day 4: Drive from Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha – Optional boat trip on the lake
After breakfast, drive to Lake Naivasha with its impressive location at the foot of the Rift Valley Escarpment. Lake Naivasha is an important horticultural area in Kenya. Lunch at the lodge. The afternoon is at your leisure. Optionally, you can take a boat ride at Lake Naivasha to explore the birdlife. Dinner and overnight at Naivasha Sopa Lodge – standard room or similar category, (B|L|D).

Day 5: Drive from Lake Naivasha to Amboseli National Park
Early breakfast and then drive via Nairobi to Amboseli National Park, which is located northwest of Kilimanjaro on the border with Tanzania. The area was originally established as a reserve in 1968 and was declared a national park in 1974. With an area of ​​392 km², the park forms part of the 3000 km² Amboseli ecosystem. The diverse wildlife makes Amboseli a popular travel destination in Kenya. The view of Mount Kilimanjaro in particular makes a visit worthwhile. The herds of elephants and the flat landscape give the area a very special charm. Thanks to the swampy areas, the park retains its green flora even in the dry months. The park is divided into five different animal habitats (open plains, acacia forests, rocky thornbush savanna, swamps and marshes) and includes part of the dry Pleistocene lake basin. In this basin lies Lake Amboseli, which serves as a vital water source for diverse wildlife during the rainy season. Overnight stay in Kibo Safari Camp Tents or similar category, (B|L|D).

Day 6: Drive from Amboseli National Park to Tsavo West National Park
After a cup of coffee or tea, a recommended early game drive begins today around 6:30 a.m. At this time you not only have the best chance of seeing the summit of snow-capped Kilimanjaro and its neighbor, Mt. Mawenzi, clear of clouds, but you can also look forward to great wildlife viewing. After breakfast at camp, drive to Tsavo West National Park. Tsavo West National Park occupies approximately 30 percent of Kenya’s total parks and is home to a variety of habitats, wildlife and impressive mountain scenery. The park extends as a wide savannah landscape from Mtito Andei along the Mombasa-Nairobi road to the southern border with Tanzania. In the northeast it borders the Tsavo East National Park along the highway. The park’s diverse habitats include open plains, savannas, scrub and semi-desert, scrubland and acacia forests. There are numerous rocky outcrops and knolls in the park. The area of ​​the park opposite the Chyulu Hills is volcanic in origin and features lava fields and cinder cones, including the Shetani lava flow, an example of a young volcano. In the extensive southwestern part of the park on the border with Tanzania lies Lake Jipe, which is fed by meltwater from Kilimanjaro and the North Pare mountains. In the north of the park, the water is filtered underground by the Chyulu Hills and flows from a lava ridge into a series of clear ponds. Dinner and overnight stay at the Kilaguni Serena Safari Lodge or similar category, (B|L|D).

Day 7: Tsavo West – Tsavo East National Park
Today the journey takes you to Tsavo East National Park, one of the oldest and largest national parks in Kenya. Tsavo East offers wonderful scenery, particularly the Mudanda Rock and the Yatta Plateau, the largest lava flow in the world. At over 13,000 square kilometers, Tsavo East National Park is huge and, founded in 1948, is one of the oldest national parks in Kenya. Explore the vast savannah of the Yatta Plateau with its red elephants and see an amazing array of animals. Four of the Big Five (elephants, leopards, lions and buffalo) as well as animals such as dik diks, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, steppe baboons, hyenas, jackals, African wild dogs, elands, gazelles, gerenuks and over 500 species of birds are waiting for you here. Overnight stay in the Ashnil Aruba Lodge or similar category, (B|L|D).

Day 8: Drive from Tsavo East to Mombasa South – Diani Beach
We start the day with a relaxed breakfast in our lodge. Afterwards we say goodbye to the lodge and slowly begin our journey back to Mombasa. The approximately 150 km long journey takes us back to the coast. Upon arrival we will be transferred to the beach hotel of our choice in Mombasa where we can reflect on our safari experiences and relax on the beach. Overnight stay at Diani Sea Lodge in comfort rooms or similar category, (B|L|D).

Day 9 to 13: Mombasa South – relaxation by the sea
Relaxation by the sea is on the agenda for the next few days. Diani Beach is a breathtakingly beautiful stretch of coastline on Kenya’s southern coast, known for its dazzling white sands and the clear turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The beach stretches for several kilometers and is lined with lush tropical vegetation, providing a picturesque backdrop for visitors. The beaches are ideal for swimming, snorkeling and diving as the water is warm and inviting and offers rich marine life to explore. Water sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing are also popular.
Away from the beach, there are also a number of things to see and do around Diani Beach, including trips to nearby nature reserves such as Shimba Hills National Park or historical sites such as Fort Jesus in Mombasa. Overnight stay at Diani Sea Lodge in comfort rooms or similar category, (B|L|D).

Day 14: Drive to Moi airport – flight back home
Time for the journey home. Think of the breathtaking landscapes, fascinating wildlife and diverse culture you experienced in Kenya. May the memories of your time here last long and leave you looking back with a smile in your heart. Goodbye, Kenya. May your farewell be just a “goodbye” and may you return one day to discover more of this fascinating country, (B).

We reserve the right to make changes to the program due to special events, force majeure or weather conditions.

Legends: B = Breakfast | L = Lunch | D = Dinner

Visa
Since 2024, travel to Kenya has required an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to replace the traditional visa. The eTA costs around $30 including service fees. The application is made online using the German-language form at https://www.etakenya.go.ke/de and should be made at least 72 hours before departure. Once approved, the eTA is valid for 90 days, after which a new application must be made. The passport must be valid for at least six months from the planned entry date and have at least two blank pages to apply for the eTA. When entering Kenya, you must present the printed eTA along with your passport and return ticket.

Insurance
Travel health insurance (with rescue costs) is essential for your own safety and is a prerequisite for booking our trips. In the event of an accident in the mountains that requires a helicopter, it will not fly until full cost coverage has been clarified. It is strongly recommended that you take out travel cancellation insurance. Flights at bargain prices in particular cannot usually be rebooked or canceled free of charge. Complications with the weather, your health, etc. could also arise in Kyrgyzstan, forcing you to cancel your trip.
We have asked EGO (Reiseversicherung AG) to put together different service packages for you. You can book the travel health insurance that is right for you at https://ergo-reiseversicherung.de.
Please note: We recommend ERGO insurance for travelers residing in Germany and Austria. Other citizens are asked to book their travel insurance through an insurance provider in their country. It should be noted that geoDiscovery Tours only recommends that its guests book travel insurance through ERGO and assumes no responsibility for the contractual content between the travel guest and the insurance provider. Every travel guest is free to book their travel insurance through ERGO or another provider.

Vaccinations
There are currently no mandatory vaccination requirements for travelers from Germany, Switzerland and Austria traveling to Kenya (as of November 2023). However, it is advisable to check and, if necessary, refresh your vaccination status for diphtheria, polio and tetanus. Vaccination against hepatitis A and hepatitis B is also recommended. Although it is recommended to be immunized against yellow fever, this is not mandatory for tourists from Germany traveling directly to Kenya (for example on a direct flight from Germany). However, travelers from yellow fever endemic areas must present proof of vaccination that is at least 10 days old. For further information, please see the medical information from the Federal Foreign Office.

Main travel time
Kenya offers good travel conditions all year round, with the optimal travel times being from December to March and from July to September. During these months the weather is dry with pleasant temperatures around 32 °C. The country has a diverse climate, ranging from hot and humid conditions on the coast to a temperate climate in the higher regions. Kenya’s weather is mainly determined by two rainy seasons – the “big” rainy season from April to June and the “small” rainy season from October to December. The dry seasons from January to March and July to September are consistently sunny and warm. These periods are best for safaris, wildlife viewing and beach holidays as the weather is pleasant and there are fewer mosquitoes.

Arrival Airports
Depending on your destination in Kenya, you can either use the airport in Nairobi or the airport in Mombasa when arriving. Mombasa Airport (Moi International Airport) is well suited for beach stays and short safaris to Tsavo or Amboseli National Park, while Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi is ideal for longer safaris and mountain tours.

Tour program
The travel program is optimally coordinated for all of the trips we recommend. However, it can happen that roads are closed or impassable without prior notice, that waiting times of several hours arise due to traffic jams or fuel shortages, that access to sites can be closed for various reasons, or other restrictions such as flight delays or even cancellations due to bad weather, strikes, Health of the participants, a pandemic or unfavourable conditions during safari make the implementation of the travel program difficult or, in the worst case, impossible. However, our local guides are prepared for such situations and will endeavour to carry out all program points to your satisfaction. The inconvenience is usually limited. Nevertheless, it must be pointed out at this point that, for the reasons mentioned, program changes are possible at any time and are not the responsibility of the organizer. Any resulting costs are borne by the traveller. We ask for your understanding.

Please note that our trips are not suitable for people with limited mobility.