Bush to Beach
The bush-to-beach Kenya safari is the ultimate one-way road trip! Start in Nairobi and return your car to any of the towns or airports along the coast. You'll visit the Masai Mara, Naivasha & Hell's Gate, Amboseli, Tsavo and you end at the coast.
This tour is great for those looking to combine the classic safari experience with a roadtrip along the coast. Note that this route contains a few long driving days.
There are many ways how to compose your beach days and end your trip. We are personally a big fan of doing a roadtrip along the coast - Watamu, Kilifi and Diani are very different beach destinations, each with its own vibe, and all deserve a stay. Alternatively, you can consider choosing one beach town and hand over your car. In case you need to catch a return flight from Nairobi, then it's good to know there are daily comfort express trains between Nairobi and Mombasa and several cheap charter flights from Diani, Watamu and Malindi.
Scroll down below to see the day-to-day route. From January 2024, it shall also be possible to book this tour with pre-booked accommodation and detailed travel notes included.
Check the day to day itinerary
Bush to Beach: what to expect on this 18 day Kenya Tour
Travel time and road conditions
13-18 days are recommended to follow the Bush to Beach.
We recommend 1 night Nairobi, 2 nights in Maji Moto, 2 to 3 nights in the Masai Mara, 2 nights in Naivasha & Hells Gate, 2 nights in Amboseli and 1 night in Tsavo. Depending on the time you have, you could do 3-4 nights in Watamu, 2 nights in Kalifi and then hand over your car in Diani, and add a few beach days in this lively resort town.
As said, we're personally a big fan of doing a road trip along the coast, because Malindi,Watamu, Kalifi and Diani are very different beach destinations, each with its own vibe and they all deserve a visit. The towns are within easy reach via a smooth, tarmacked coastal road. Taking the ferry from Diani to Mombasa is a fun road trip experience.
If you want to reduce your car rental expenses. and/or have limited time, you can skip the road trip along the coast and choose one beach destination instead, and we pick up the car from there. The minimum time needed to make a one-way trip from Nairobi to the coast, in a way that it's still somehow worthwhile the journey, is 9 days.
Consult our Driving in Kenya blog for more information about road conditions and driving in Kenya.
Prices
Starting from September this year, we shall also offer this route with accommodation in three price categories. Every guesthouse, hotel, and lodge that we select is carefully hand-picked. We favor eco-conscious boutique hotels that offer delicious cuisine, a pleasant ambiance in breathtaking surroundings, and good value for your money.
In the course of September, we shall update our website and also include the price tables, and we start taking in request for tours with pre-booked accommodation and detailed travel notes included. Stay tuned!
Create & book
Book the Bush to Beach with stays in budget, mid-range or deluxe lodges - or adjust it to your liking.
Make this roadtrip yoursIncluded in the Bush to Beach
Included
- Comprehensive car insurance
- Car delivery to your hotel or airport
- Roadmap and Lonely Planet
- 24/7 Road assistance
- Unlimited mileage
Optional
- Electrical fridge
- Driver-Guide
- Camping gear