Kenya Safari & Swahili Beach: The Mara, Amboseli & Diani

This morning you journey from Nairobi to the legendary Masai Mara, the northern extension of the great Serengeti ecosystem and Kenya's most famous wildlife area (a light-aircraft flight can be arranged for spectacular aerial views and to save time). You arrive at your camp in the vast rolling grasslands in time for lunch, then set out on your first afternoon game drive across the golden plains, dotted with acacias and alive with wildlife. You seek out the Mara's powerful lion prides, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, giraffe and immense herds of plains game, and in migration season the vast herds of wildebeest and zebra that have poured north from the Serengeti. The sense of space and abundance is extraordinary, your expert guide reading the savannah brilliantly. As the sun sets over the plains, you return to camp. Rest well in the heart of the Masai Mara.

Today is a full day exploring the legendary Masai Mara, which offers some of the finest big-cat viewing on earth. You set out at dawn, when the plains are cool and the predators active, seeking out lion prides resting after the night's hunt, cheetahs scanning the grasslands from a termite mound, and elusive leopard in the riverine forest. In season, the plains fill with the vast herds of the Great Migration, and at the rivers the wildebeest and zebra mass before plunging across in dramatic, crocodile-lined crossings. You also see elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo and abundant plains game, guided by an expert who reads the savannah brilliantly. You may picnic in the bush and drive until the golden evening light, immersed in the drama and abundance of the Mara. Rest well in the beautiful Masai Mara, deep in wild Kenya.

You have another full day in the Masai Mara, with time to explore its varied landscapes and, this morning, an optional dawn balloon safari drifting over the plains as the sun rises, followed by a champagne bush breakfast (optional). On your game drives you continue to seek out big cats, elephants and, in season, the migrating herds and their river crossings. Today you also visit a Maasai village (manyatta), warmly and respectfully arranged, meeting families and learning about their timeless pastoral way of life, their cattle, homes and customs, watching the famous jumping dance and seeing intricate beadwork, a genuine window into a living culture. Many of your guides and camp staff are themselves Maasai. As the sun sets over the golden plains, you savour a final evening in the Mara. Rest well, for tomorrow you fly to Amboseli and Kilimanjaro.

After a final morning game drive in the Masai Mara, you fly (via Nairobi) to Amboseli National Park, in the far south of Kenya on the Tanzanian border, one of the most beautiful and iconic wildlife settings in Africa. As you arrive, the vast, snow-capped bulk of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, rises across the plains ahead. You settle into your lodge or camp, then set out on an afternoon game drive into the park, famous above all for its large, relaxed herds of elephants moving across the open plains and seasonal swamps beneath the mountain. You also look for lion, cheetah, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and a wealth of birdlife, all framed by Kilimanjaro. As the light softens to gold and the mountain glows, the elephants beneath the snows are unforgettable. Rest well at your Amboseli camp, in this iconic landscape.

Today is devoted to Amboseli, one of the most iconic wildlife settings in Africa. You set out on a morning game drive in the cool early light, when Kilimanjaro is often at its clearest, its snows glowing above the plains, and the elephants are active. Amboseli's elephants are among the most studied in the world, and you watch great herds at close range as they cross the plains, bathe and feed in the swamps, and raise their calves. You also seek out lion, cheetah, buffalo, giraffe and countless birds around the wetlands. After a relaxed midday break at your lodge, you head out again for an afternoon and evening drive, perhaps climbing Observation Hill for a sweeping view over the swamps and plains. As the sun sets behind Kilimanjaro, the scene is breathtaking. Rest well at Amboseli, ready to fly to the coast tomorrow.

This morning, after a final look at Amboseli and Kilimanjaro, you fly (via Nairobi or Mombasa) to the beautiful Swahili coast and Diani Beach, south of Mombasa, one of the finest beaches in Africa. You are transferred to your beach resort on the long ribbon of powder-white coral sand, fringed by swaying palms and lapped by the warm, turquoise Indian Ocean, protected by an offshore coral reef. After the dust and drama of the safari, the contrast is blissful. You spend the rest of the day unwinding, swimming in the warm, calm lagoon, relaxing under the palms, and settling into the relaxed rhythms of the coast. This evening you savour the aromatic flavours of Swahili cuisine, rich with coconut, spices and fresh seafood, as the sound of the ocean drifts in. Rest well on the beautiful Swahili coast of Kenya.

Today is yours to relax and enjoy the beautiful Swahili coast at Diani entirely at your own pace. You might spend the day simply unwinding, swimming in the warm, turquoise lagoon, relaxing on the powder-white sand beneath the palms, and enjoying the beautiful setting after your safari. For the more active, the calm, reef-protected lagoon is wonderful for snorkelling over coral gardens teeming with colourful fish, and water sports such as diving, kite-surfing and stand-up paddleboarding are on offer. You might take a boat out to the marine park, sail a traditional dhow across the turquoise water, or simply savour the relaxed coastal life, fresh seafood and warm hospitality. As the sun sets over the Indian Ocean, you savour the beauty and calm of the coast. Rest well at Diani, on the beautiful Swahili coast of Kenya.

You have another full day to enjoy the beautiful Swahili coast at Diani. This morning you might sail a traditional wooden dhow across the turquoise lagoon, the graceful sails glowing in the sun, snorkel or dive the coral reef amid clouds of colourful fish and, with luck, turtles, or take a boat out to a sandbank for a seafood lunch on the water. You could also explore the coast, visiting the historic ruins of Gede or the atmospheric old town of Mombasa with its Fort Jesus and Swahili lanes, or simply continue to relax on the beach and by the pool. The warmth, beauty and timeless rhythms of the Swahili coast are captivating. As the sun sets over the Indian Ocean, perhaps on a dhow with the sails glowing gold, you savour a final magical evening. Rest well on the beautiful coast of Kenya.

After a final relaxed morning on the beautiful Swahili coast at Diani, perhaps a last swim in the warm, turquoise lagoon or a final walk along the powder-white sand, you are transferred to Moi International Airport in Mombasa for your onward departure (a connecting flight to Nairobi can be arranged for international connections). You leave having experienced the perfect combination of thrilling safari and blissful beach, the big cats and, in season, the Great Migration of the legendary Masai Mara, the elephants beneath Kilimanjaro in Amboseli, and the powder-white sands, turquoise sea, dhows and Swahili culture of Diani. The images stay vivid long after you land, the lions on the golden plains, the elephants beneath the snows, and the sun setting over the Indian Ocean. Kenya offers thrilling wildlife and blissful beaches in abundance, and you depart already dreaming of a return to this classic safari-and-beach country.