2-Day Tsavo East
A short first look at Tsavo East's wide red-dust plains: one afternoon and one morning game drive either side of a night in camp.
6-Day Tsavo & Diani
Overview
Tsavo and Diani sit on more or less the same line south from Nairobi, since the road and railway to Mombasa run straight past Tsavo's gate and the coast is only a few hours further on. That makes this one of the more natural combinations we run, rather than a pairing that needs a flight to make sense: two nights of red-dust game driving followed directly by three nights unwinding on the beach, all by road.
We keep the game-driving half at Tsavo East, the wider and flatter of the two halves of the park, for elephant, lion and the Galana River's resident hippo and crocodile, then continue on toward the coast. From the Mombasa road we cross the Likoni ferry south to Diani, so the two very different halves of this trip, dust and salt water, are separated by a single day of travel rather than a flight.
Day by day
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01
Nairobi to Tsavo East
We drive southeast on the Mombasa highway to the Tsavo East gate, arriving by early afternoon and settling into camp for lunch, then head out for a first game drive across the open red-dust plains.
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02
Full day in Tsavo East
A complete day inside the park: an early drive while the light is soft, a rest at camp through the heat, and an afternoon session along the Galana River and out onto the plains, watching for elephant, lion and the fringe-eared oryx found in this dry country.
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03
Tsavo to Diani, via the Likoni ferry
A final early game drive, then we continue southeast on the Mombasa highway, joining the coast road south through the Likoni ferry crossing to Diani. It's a genuine travel day, several hours on the road plus the ferry queue, so we don't schedule anything on arrival beyond checking into your beachfront room in the late afternoon.
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04
Reef and lagoon
A full day built around the water: a snorkelling trip out to the reef, with equipment provided, or a scuba introduction for anyone certified or wanting to try diving for the first time with a PADI-affiliated operator on the beach.
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05
Dhow sailing and free time
A morning dhow sail along the coastline, often with a stop for fishing or a swim off the boat, followed by an afternoon with nothing scheduled: the pool, the sand, or simply the shade.
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06
Departure
A final relaxed morning before checkout, then a transfer to Ukunda airstrip or, via the Likoni ferry, on to Moi International Airport in Mombasa.
What's included
Included
- Ground transport throughout, including the Likoni ferry crossing, in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for the Tsavo leg
- Two nights full-board accommodation in or bordering Tsavo East
- Three nights full-board accommodation at a beachfront hotel in Diani
- Four game drives, led by an English-speaking driver-guide
- One snorkelling trip and one dhow sailing trip at the coast (arranged on your behalf through our coast agent)
- Tsavo East National Park entry fees
- Marine park fees for the reef snorkelling trip
- All meals throughout: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Bottled water in the vehicle and at your accommodation
- Soft drinks, juices, tea and coffee throughout
- Beer, wine and spirits throughout
Not included
- International and domestic flights
- Kenya e-Visa or entry permit fees
- Scuba diving beyond a beginner introduction, and PADI certification courses
- Tips and gratuities, and travel insurance
Best time to visit
June through October and January through February give the driest game viewing in Tsavo; the same months, plus the rest of the July-to-September and December-to-March windows, give the calmest coast weather for the Diani half of the trip.
Common questions
How long does the road transfer from Tsavo to Diani actually take?
Realistically the better part of a day: several hours from the Tsavo East gate to Mombasa, then the Likoni ferry crossing, which can add anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour depending on the queue, before the final stretch south to Diani. We treat day three as a travel day for that reason and don't plan activities on arrival.
Are park fees and the ferry crossing included?
Yes, Tsavo East entry fees and the Likoni ferry crossing are both included. What is not included is anything at the coast beyond the one snorkelling trip and one dhow trip specified.
Do we need a different visa for the two halves of the trip?
No. A single Kenya e-Visa or entry permit covers the whole country, Tsavo and Diani included; there is no separate coastal entry process.
Could we do this in the other direction, coast first and Tsavo last?
Yes, that works just as well logistically, since it's the same road either direction. Most guests prefer game drives first and the beach as a way to wind down at the end of a trip, which is why we default to this order, but tell us at booking if you'd rather reverse it.
Ready to book this safari?
Send us your travel dates and group size and we'll confirm availability for the 6-Day Tsavo & Diani within a day.
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