
moderate
10 days
Moderate fitness—able to manage several hours in a vehicle daily, short walks, and occasional uneven terrain.
A private 10-day loop from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara, Naivasha, Tsavo and Diani Beach that pairs classic Big Five game drives with coastal relaxation. Expect dawn and dusk wildlife viewing, long scenic transfers, and warm Indian Ocean finishes.
You step out before dawn into a low, silver light and the jeep growls to life—headlights cutting a path through the frost of Nairobi’s early morning. The city’s altitude still clings to your cheeks (Nairobi sits around 1,795 m), but the road unwinds straight into the Rift Valley: red earth, sun-bent acacia, and a sky that seems to widen with every hour. By late afternoon you’ll be threading tracks through the Maasai Mara, where lions yawn in riverine shade and giraffes move like deliberate punctuation against the grass.

Plan for daily game drives at dawn and late afternoon—animals are most active then and light is best for photography.
Highland mornings can be chilly while afternoons on the plains and coast are hot—pack lightweight layers and a warm fleece for early drives.
Carry a refillable water bottle and high-SPF sunscreen—the sun at altitude and on the coast is intense.
Always follow your guide’s directions: do not exit vehicles near predators or try to feed animals—staying safe protects both you and the ecosystem.
The route traces the Great Rift Valley and centuries of trade: Maasai pastoral systems in the interior and the Swahili coast’s Indian Ocean trading ports shaped local cultures and routes.
Park fees support anti-poaching and community conservation initiatives; choose locally owned lodges and avoid single-use plastics to reduce your impact.
A 8x42 or 10x42 pair helps you spot distant cats, elephants, and birds from vehicles.
Mornings at altitude are cold; layers let you adjust between game drives and beach time.
Sharp equatorial sun and reflective water mean strong UV exposure year-round.
Comfortable shoes for short guided walks, boat landings, and lodge paths.