Kenya is where cinematic savannahs meet coral-blue seas. From the storied plains of the Masai Mara—home to lions, elephants, and cheetahs—to the palm-fringed coast at Diani Beach, this 7-day itinerary blends wildlife thrills with Indian Ocean bliss.

For millennia, pastoral Maasai communities have stewarded these landscapes; today, conservancies work alongside them to protect wildlife corridors. Nairobi hums as East Africa’s tech and culture hub, while the coast hums to a Swahili beat shaped by Indian Ocean trade, Arabic influence, and fresh seafood traditions.

Practical notes: Most nationalities require a Kenya ETA (apply online in advance). Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the Mara and coast. Park fees in the Masai Mara are seasonally priced; budget roughly $100 in low season and $200 in peak per adult per day (confirm current rates). Kenya Shilling is standard; M‑Pesa mobile payments are widely accepted.

Nairobi

Welcome to Kenya’s energized capital—your springboard to safari. Leafy Karen whispers of colonial-era stories and craft studios, while buzzing Westlands feeds the city’s culinary curiosity. If time allows, the Giraffe Centre and Nairobi National Park offer wildlife sightings minutes from skyscrapers.

• Top sights: Karen Blixen Museum for Out of Africa history; Giraffe Centre up-close encounters; Nairobi National Museum; Nairobi National Park for rhinos with a city skyline backdrop.
• Eat & drink: Talisman (Karen; farm-to-fork Kenyan-Asian plates), Boho Eatery (Karen; seasonal, veg-forward garden setting), About Thyme (Westlands; globally inspired small plates), Hashmi BBQ (grilled chicken tikka and kebabs), Spring Valley Coffee (flagship roastery) and Connect Coffee (hand-pour specialists).

Stay: Explore stays and deals on VRBO Nairobi or compare hotels via Hotels.com Nairobi (handy areas: Karen for quiet pre-safari nights; near Wilson Airport for early flights).

Getting there: Search international and regional flights into Nairobi (NBO) with Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com flights. Allow 40–70 minutes to transfer from NBO to Wilson (WIL) depending on traffic.

Masai Mara

Where golden grasslands roll to the horizon and big cats rule at dusk, the Masai Mara is Kenya’s headline safari. From July to early October, the Great Migration surges through; outside peak months, predator action and plains game remain stellar.

• What to expect: Dawn and late‑afternoon game drives with trained guides; chances to spot the Big Five; optional hot‑air balloon flights followed by a bush breakfast.
• Insider tips: Soft earth tones for clothing; a fleece for crisp mornings; binoculars and a long lens; respect wildlife distance and your guide’s briefings.

Stay: Browse camps and lodges on Hotels.com Maasai Mara or private stays via VRBO Maasai Mara. Look near Talek Gate or within conservancies for quieter sightings.

Travel time: Nairobi Wilson to Mara airstrips is ~45–60 minutes by light aircraft; return flights typically include hotel-to-airstrip transfers through your camp.

Diani Beach

Diani’s talc-soft sand, leaning palms, and reef-sheltered lagoon make it one of Africa’s most beautiful beaches. Offshore, Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park teems with turtles, dolphins, and coral gardens.

• Top experiences: Snorkel or dive the lagoon; day trip by dhow to Wasini Island; kitesurfing with steady trade winds; visit Colobus Conservation and Kaya Kinondo sacred forest.
• Eat & drink: Nomad Beach Bar (wood-fired pizza, seafood, polished cocktails), Ali Barbour’s Cave (fine dining in a coral cave), Sails at Almanara (romantic, seafood-forward), Kokkos (excellent breakfasts, pastries, espresso), Leonardos (gelato and thin-crust pizza).

Stay: Compare beachfront resorts and boutique hotels on Hotels.com Diani Beach or villas on VRBO Diani Beach. Consider beach sections near the Nomad/Almanara stretch for calm swimming.

Getting there: Mara flights often route back via Nairobi, then connect to Ukunda (Diani) in ~1 hour. Search options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Day 1: Arrive Nairobi (afternoon arrival)

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Land at NBO, clear formalities, and transfer to your hotel (40–70 minutes to Karen/Westlands). If time permits, stroll Karen’s leafy lanes or browse Kazuri Beads for handmade ceramics and jewelry.

Evening: Dinner at Talisman—order the wasabi sesame seared tuna or Zanzibari coconut curry. For a lighter night, sip a flat white at Spring Valley Coffee or a Kenyan craft gin and tonic at your hotel bar. Overnight in Nairobi near Wilson for an easy start tomorrow.

Day 2: Fly to the Masai Mara + First Game Drive

Morning: Early transfer to Wilson Airport. Fly ~45–60 minutes to your Mara airstrip (typical departure 7:30–10:00). Budget ~$150–300 per person one-way. Your camp will meet you; watch for giraffe and topi en route to camp.

Afternoon: Settle in and enjoy lunch overlooking a riverine bend—hippos often bob like gray boulders. Rest during the heat of the day; review safety and wildlife etiquette with your guide.

Evening: Classic game drive (4:00–6:30). Track lion prides as temperatures cool; listen for alarm calls that can lead you to cheetah. Sundowners at a scenic kopje. Dinner under the stars; swap stories by the fire.

Day 3: Dawn-to-Dusk Wildlife on the Mara Plains

Morning: Optional hot‑air balloon (pre‑dawn pickup; ~$450–600) for sunrise over meandering hippo trails and acacia silhouettes, ending with a champagne bush breakfast. Alternatively, a long morning drive targeting elephants, buffalo, and elusive leopards along riverine forests.

Afternoon: Siesta and a relaxed lunch. Consider a visit to a nearby Maasai village (typically $20–30 pp) to learn about beadwork, bomas, and age‑set traditions, guided by community members.

Evening: Golden-hour drive. Look for hyenas emerging from dens and secretary birds stalking the grass. Back at camp, try a Kenyan favorite: ugali with sukuma wiki (collard greens) and grilled goat or chicken.

Day 4: Morning Drive, Fly to Diani Beach

Morning: Final Mara game drive—often the best light for photography. Return to camp, check out, and transfer to the airstrip.

Afternoon: Fly Mara → Nairobi Wilson (~1 hour), connect to Ukunda/Diani (~1 hour). Total travel time with connection is ~3–4 hours. Search and book via Trip.com or Kiwi.com; fares typically $60–120 one-way.

Evening: Check into your beachfront stay. Sunset walk on the sandbar when the tide is right. Dinner at Nomad Beach Bar—try the coconut crab curry or grilled octopus, and their gelato for dessert.

Day 5: Diani Beach—Lagoon Time and Spa

Morning: Breakfast at Kokkos (fluffy pancakes, eggs Benedict, strong espresso). Snorkel the inshore reef on a calm tide; expect parrotfish, trumpetfish, and delicate corals. Hire fins and mask from your hotel or a local dive center.

Afternoon: Siesta by the pool or book a Swahili-inspired spa treatment (baobab oil massages are a coastal specialty). Visit Colobus Conservation for an hour to learn about primate rescue and forest habitat protection.

Evening: Dine at Ali Barbour’s Cave Restaurant—a candlelit coral cavern serving seafood platters and prime steaks. For a casual nightcap, enjoy a dawa (honey-lime Kenyan cocktail) at a beachfront lounge.

Day 6: Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park & Wasini Island

Morning: Depart ~7:00–7:30 by road to Shimoni (1.5–2 hours), then board a traditional dhow to Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park. Snorkel over bright coral bommies; dolphin pods are frequent companions. Tour rates run ~$70–120 pp including gear and lunch.

Afternoon: Seafood lunch on Wasini Island—think coconut rice, grilled snapper, and spicy pilipili sauce. Optional village or mangrove boardwalk visit before the dhow sails back.

Evening: Return to Diani late afternoon. Easy dinner at Sails (Almanara) for reef-fresh tuna sashimi or butter-poached prawns. Early night with the surf as your soundtrack.

Day 7: Slow Morning on the Coast, Fly Out

Morning: Sunrise swim and a leisurely beach breakfast—Kokkos or your hotel’s terrace. Shop for last‑minute kanga fabrics or hand‑carved soapstone souvenirs.

Afternoon: Fly Ukunda → Nairobi (about 1 hour). If connecting to an international flight from NBO, allow 3–4 hours buffer for the transfer from Wilson and check‑in. Search or adjust flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Evening: In transit.

Budgeting & tips: Masai Mara park fees are seasonal ($100–200 per adult per day). Gratuities: guides ~$10–20 pp/day, camp staff pooled ~$5–10 pp/day. Pack reef‑safe sunscreen; currents and tides vary—ask beach staff for safe swimming windows.

Where to book stays: Nairobi: VRBO | Hotels.com · Masai Mara: VRBO | Hotels.com · Diani Beach: VRBO | Hotels.com.

In one week you’ll scan the horizon for lions at sunrise, toast the day with a Mara sundowner, and then swap binoculars for beach reads beneath swaying palms. Kenya rewards the curious with wildlife drama and easy-breezy coastal living—memories built to linger.