What is Mzima Springs in Tsavo West

Mzima Springs is a freshwater oasis where 50 million litres of crystal-clear water emerge daily from ancient lava rock. An underwater viewing chamber allows you to observe hippos and Nile crocodiles beneath the surface.

What are the Chyulu Hills

The Chyulu Hills are among the youngest volcanic mountains in the world, rising steeply between Tsavo West and Amboseli. The hills are covered in lush montane forest and contain long lava tube caves including the Shetani Cave.

Is Diani Beach suitable for snorkelling

Yes, Diani Beach has a fringing coral reef that is excellent for snorkelling and diving. The warm clear waters of the Indian Ocean support diverse tropical fish, turtles, and reef corals just offshore.

Can I fly from Diani Beach rather than driving back

Yes, Ukunda Airstrip near Diani Beach has regular scheduled flights to Nairobi's Wilson Airport, and your guide can arrange a transfer to the airstrip at the end of the safari for a more convenient return.

What is the best time of year for southern Kenya

June to October is the dry season when wildlife concentrates around water sources, road conditions are excellent, and the coast has pleasant offshore breezes. December to March is also a good time for beach weather.

7 Day Amboseli Tsavo Chyulu Diani Southern Kenya Safari

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Map

Overview

A southern Kenya safari combining Amboseli, Tsavo, Chyulu Hills, and Diani Beach is one of the most naturally diverse and visually spectacular safari itineraries in East Africa. This 7-day journey through Kenya’s southern corridor begins with the iconic elephant panoramas of Amboseli National Park, where massive herds roam beneath the snow-capped summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. From there, the safari descends into the vast red-earth wilderness of Tsavo, Africa’s largest national park, where maneless lions, enormous elephant herds, and the crystal springs of Mzima create an utterly wild and remote atmosphere. The Chyulu Hills, a young volcanic range with lush montane forest, mysterious caves, and sweeping views of Kilimanjaro, provide a unique interlude before the final descent to Diani Beach, where the Indian Ocean’s turquoise waters and white coral sands provide a spectacular finale to one of Kenya’s great overland safari adventures. This southern Kenya safari is the definitive bush and beach combination, seamlessly blending world-class wildlife encounters with a tropical paradise that ranks among the finest beaches in Africa. Each ecosystem in this itinerary is geologically connected to the East African Rift system that shaped Kenya’s landscape over millions of years, giving the journey a narrative coherence that enriches every observation and every game drive. From Kilimanjaro’s glaciers to Tsavo’s volcanic plains and ultimately to the coral reefs of the Indian Ocean, this safari traverses one of Earth’s most extraordinary geological and ecological corridors.

Trip Highlights

Iconic elephant and Kilimanjaro photography in Amboseli National Park
Big Five game drives in the vast Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks
Crystal-clear Mzima Springs with hippo and crocodile viewing
Chyulu Hills scenic drive and volcanic cave exploration
Diani Beach relaxation on Kenya's finest stretch of Indian Ocean coastline
Maneless Tsavo lion encounters on the open red-earth plains
Diverse ecosystems from volcanic parkland to montane forest to coral coast
Bush to beach safari experience in one connected journey

Day 01 :

Nairobi to Amboseli National Park

Your southern Kenya safari begins with a morning drive from Nairobi southward toward the Tanzania border, passing through the agricultural lowlands before the landscape opens into the volcanic plains surrounding Amboseli. You enter Amboseli National Park from the north gate and drive through the iconic dust bowl that was once Lake Amboseli, where dried lake sediments still blow in spectacular dust devils. Check in to your lodge for lunch with views toward Mount Kilimanjaro. The afternoon game drive takes you through Amboseli's unique swamp habitat, where springs fed by Kilimanjaro's glacial meltwater support extraordinary concentrations of elephant, hippo, and waterbirds against the mountain backdrop.

Day 02 :

Full Day Amboseli National Park

Dedicate a full day to Amboseli National Park on morning and afternoon game drives. The early morning light on Kilimanjaro is breathtaking, and your guide positions the vehicle for spectacular photographs as elephant herds move across the dusty plains with Africa's highest mountain behind them. Observation Hill provides panoramic views across the park's swamps and dry lake bed where the full ecosystem is visible in a single sweeping landscape. Lion, cheetah, and wild dog are regularly encountered on the open grasslands, while the swamps attract grey crowned crane, saddle-billed stork, and a host of herons and egrets.

Day 03 :

Amboseli to Tsavo West National Park

After breakfast in Amboseli, you drive east crossing into Tsavo West National Park via the Chyulu Gate. The transition from Amboseli's volcanic dust plains to the lush greenery of Tsavo West is dramatic as you enter a landscape of ancient lava flows, baobab-dotted plains, and dramatic volcanic hills. A visit to Mzima Springs is the day's highlight, where 50 million litres of crystal-clear water bubble from the lava rock, supporting hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife that can be observed from an underwater viewing chamber. You arrive at your lodge for dinner and settle into the atmospheric wilderness of Tsavo West.

Day 04 :

Tsavo West to Tsavo East National Park

After a morning game drive through Tsavo West's dramatic terrain of volcanic outcrops and savannah woodland, you drive east across the Nairobi-Mombasa railway and highway into Tsavo East National Park. The landscape shifts again as you enter Tsavo East's vast open red-earth plains that stretch unbroken for hundreds of kilometres. The Galana River cuts a green ribbon through the red landscape and is a magnet for the park's famous large elephant herds, which roll in the red dust until their skin turns a characteristic crimson colour. Your lodge sits in a prime game-viewing area with the Athi and Galana rivers nearby.

Day 05 :

Tsavo East to Chyulu Hills

After breakfast in Tsavo East, you drive northwest toward the Chyulu Hills, a young volcanic range rising dramatically from the plains between Tsavo West and Amboseli. The Chyulu Hills are among the youngest volcanic mountains on Earth and their slopes support dense montane forest, lava tube caves, and some of the most spectacular views of Kilimanjaro available anywhere in Kenya. A guided nature walk through the hills reveals unique endemic plants, Shetani lava cave, and the extraordinary landscape of a still-active volcanic ridge. Overnight at a bush camp on the slopes of the hills.

Day 06 :

Chyulu Hills to Diani Beach

After an early breakfast with sweeping views from the Chyulu Hills, you begin the scenic drive south and east to Diani Beach on the Kenya coast. The route descends through the coastal hinterland before the Indian Ocean comes into view in a flash of turquoise blue. You arrive at your beach resort in Diani for lunch, trading your safari vehicle for bare feet on white coral sand. The afternoon is free to swim in the warm Indian Ocean, explore the reef, and enjoy the transition from the African bush to one of the world's great tropical beaches.

Day 07 :

Diani Beach Leisure Day

Enjoy a full leisure day at Diani Beach to relax, snorkel on the fringing coral reef, take an optional dhow sunset cruise, or explore the nearby Shimba Hills National Reserve for sable antelope and coastal forest elephant. After a leisurely final breakfast on the beach, you are transferred to Ukunda Airstrip or Mombasa Airport for your onward journey, concluding a magnificent 7-day southern Kenya safari that has taken you from elephants beneath Kilimanjaro to the coral coast of the Indian Ocean.