Discover the Wild Heart
and the Sun-Kissed Shore
From the sweeping grasslands of the Masai Mara to the coral-white sands of the Kenyan coast, Sun & Safari designs seamless bush and beach holidays that capture the full soul of East Africa — entirely on your terms.
Get to Know Us
What Makes a Kenya Bush & Beach Holiday Different
A Kenya bush and beach holiday is not simply two back-to-back trips stitched together. It is a carefully sequenced dual-environment experience where the intensity of a wildlife safari — early morning game drives across open plains, sundowners overlooking migrating wildebeest — is consciously balanced against the restorative rhythm of the Indian Ocean coast.
The contrast is the entire point: adrenaline followed by stillness, red dust followed by turquoise water. Sun & Safari was founded on the belief that Kenya’s two defining landscapes are more powerful experienced together than either is experienced alone.
Wildlife Safari in the Masai Mara
Experience the grandeur of the Big Five on expert-guided game drives through Kenya’s most iconic wildlife reserve, where the Great Migration passes through July to October.
Beach Retreat at Diani
Unwind on the powder-soft sands of Diani Beach — consistently ranked among Africa’s finest — where the Indian Ocean holds a year-round 27°C and luxury beach resorts await.
Our Features
Why Discerning Kenya Travellers Choose Sun & Safari Year After Year
Planning a safari-and-beach combination is logistically more demanding than either holiday type alone. Domestic flight connections, park entry permits, accommodation tiers, seasonal migration calendars, and on-the-ground transfer coordination all need to work as a single system. Sun & Safari has spent more than a decade refining that system — which is why our clients consistently describe their experience as “effortless.”
Our local roots matter. Every member of our planning team has personally travelled the routes we sell. Our guide network is drawn from communities adjacent to the parks and coast, ensuring authentic cultural insight accompanies every game drive.
Dual-Holiday Experience
A seamlessly managed transition from bush to beach in a single, stress-free itinerary.
Tailored Customer Service
A dedicated travel consultant handles every detail from pre-departure briefings to on-trip support.
Deep Local Expertise
Our guides carry insider knowledge of seasonal patterns, hidden viewpoints, and community traditions.
Safety & Security
Trusted vehicle fleets, vetted accommodation partners, and 24/7 emergency response protocols.
Our Services
Complete Kenya Holiday Services Designed Around You
At Sun & Safari, we offer meticulously designed itineraries that allow you to explore Kenya’s stunning wilderness and indulge in the pristine beaches along the Indian Ocean. Every detail is handled to ensure a seamless travel experience.
Wildlife Safaris
Experience the thrill of encountering majestic wildlife in their natural habitat — lions at dawn, elephant herds crossing the Mara River, cheetahs on the prowl — guided by naturalists who know every track and waterhole by name.
Explore Safari Packages
Coastal Getaways
Unwind on the beautiful shores along the Indian Ocean. From snorkelling on Watamu’s coral reef to kite-surfing off Diani, the Kenyan coast offers far more than sunbathing.
Explore Coastal Packages
Cultural Experiences
Immerse yourself in the rich cultures of Kenya — visit a Maasai manyatta, learn traditional beadwork, watch a Swahili taarab performance, or walk with a Samburu elder at dusk.
Explore Cultural ToursA Typical Journey
How a Sun & Safari Bush and Beach Itinerary Unfolds
Every itinerary we craft is unique, but a classic 7-night bush-and-beach journey tends to follow a rhythm that has proven itself across hundreds of departures.
Arrival in Nairobi & Transfer to the Mara
After an inbound flight and a city overnight, you board a scheduled 45-minute bush flight from Wilson Airport directly to the Masai Mara airstrip. Afternoon game drive begins on landing. Sundowners on the Mara ridge mark the true start of the safari chapter.
- Wilson Airport to Mara bush flight included
- Afternoon game drive on arrival
- Full board tented camp accommodation
- Maasai community visit option
Deep Safari — Full Masai Mara Immersion
Two full days of guided game drives at dawn and dusk, with guided bush walks available mid-morning. Evenings return to camp for fire-lit dinners and naturalist briefings. Optional hot-air balloon safari at sunrise.
- Morning and evening game drives daily
- Optional hot-air balloon safari
- Bush walk with armed ranger
- Big Five tracking focus
The Transition — Bush to Coast by Air
A morning game drive followed by lodge breakfast and a return bush flight to Nairobi, connecting onward to Diani Beach or Mombasa. The journey from savannah to sea takes under three hours door to door.
- Final morning game drive
- Bush flight to Nairobi Wilson
- Connecting flight to Ukunda or Mombasa
- Resort check-in and welcome dinner
Coastal Bliss — Rest, Reef, and Swahili Culture
The final two days are yours to shape. Sleep in, snorkel on the fringing coral reef, take a sunset dhow cruise, or explore the spice-scented streets of Old Town Mombasa.
- All-inclusive beachfront resort
- Guided reef snorkelling excursion
- Sunset dhow cruise option
- Transfer to Mombasa for departure
Safari Destinations
Kenya’s Great Wildlife Reserves
Three anchor destinations dominate the bush side of a classic bush-and-beach holiday. Choosing between them — or combining two — depends on your travel dates, wildlife priorities, and available time.
The Masai Mara — Kenya’s Most Celebrated Wildlife Reserve
The Masai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya occupies approximately 1,510 km² of open savannah along the Tanzanian border, forming the northern extension of the Serengeti ecosystem. It supports one of the highest densities of large mammals on earth at any time of year.
Between late July and October it becomes the stage for the Great Migration — an estimated 1.5 million wildebeest, 400,000 zebra, and 200,000 Thomson’s gazelle cross from Tanzania’s Serengeti into the Mara, braving the river crossings that have made wildlife lovers speechless.
- Big Five present year-round
- Great Migration: July–October
- Hot-air balloon safaris available
- Mara Triangle conservancy access
- Private conservancy buffer zones
- 45-min bush flight from Nairobi
Amboseli National Park — Elephants Beneath Kilimanjaro
Amboseli covers 392 km² at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, which rises to 5,895 metres — the highest point in Africa. The juxtaposition of massive elephant herds moving across Amboseli’s dusty lake bed with the snow-capped peak behind them has produced more iconic wildlife photographs than perhaps any other location in Africa.
The park’s open terrain makes game viewing exceptionally productive. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and buffaloes are all resident. The Ol Tukai area provides reliable year-round water that concentrates wildlife, particularly during the dry season between June and October.
- Kilimanjaro backdrop photography
- Kenya’s largest elephant herds
- Year-round game viewing
- 3-hour drive or 45-min flight
- Adjacent Maasai conservancies
- Best visibility: June–October
Tsavo East & Tsavo West — Kenya’s Largest Park System
Tsavo East and Tsavo West together form Kenya’s largest protected area, covering over 21,000 km². Geographically strategic for bush-and-beach itineraries, it lies midway between Nairobi and the coast — a traveller can spend two nights on safari in Tsavo and reach Mombasa in under two hours.
Tsavo East’s elephants are famous for their distinctive red colouration from dust-bathing in iron-rich soil. Tsavo West features volcanic Mzima Springs — crystal-clear water supporting hippos and crocodiles visible from an underwater observation chamber.
- Closest park to the Kenya coast
- Red-dusted Tsavo elephants
- Mzima Springs underwater chamber
- Affordable mid-range lodges
- Good year-round game viewing
- Ideal coastal transit itinerary
Wildlife Knowledge
Kenya’s Wildlife — Animals You Will Encounter on Safari
Understanding which species live where, and when they are most active, transforms a game drive from a pleasant outing into a genuinely revelatory experience.
African Lion — Panthera leo
Kenya holds an estimated 2,000 wild lions, with the Masai Mara hosting the densest population. Lions are most active during the golden hour of early morning and late afternoon, resting in shade through the midday heat.
African Elephant — Loxodonta africana
Kenya’s elephant population exceeds 36,000 individuals across Tsavo, Amboseli, Laikipia, and the Mara ecosystem. Amboseli’s matriarch-led herds are among the most studied and calmly habituated elephant populations in Africa.
Black Rhinoceros — Diceros bicornis
Kenya is a global stronghold for the critically endangered black rhinoceros, with over 900 individuals — roughly 12% of the world’s remaining population. Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia is Kenya’s most reliable rhino sighting location.
Leopard — Panthera pardus
The most elusive of the Big Five, leopards are solitary and largely nocturnal. The riverine forest corridors of the Masai Mara’s Talek and Sand river systems are Kenya’s best leopard territory.
Cape Buffalo — Syncerus caffer
Buffalo herds numbering in the hundreds roam the Mara’s open grassland in a constant grazing circuit. Considered among the most dangerous animals in Africa when wounded — a fact that gives even casual sightings a quiet electrical charge.
Nile Crocodile — Crocodylus niloticus
The Mara River crossing spectacle during the Great Migration is ultimately a crocodile story. Nile crocodiles up to five metres in length wait motionlessly for wildebeest herds — what many safari veterans describe as the most viscerally thrilling wildlife moment in Africa.
Kenya Coast Guide
Choosing Your Kenya Beach Destination
The Kenyan coastline stretches 536 kilometres along the Indian Ocean, encompassing some of the finest beach environments in the world — consistently ranked against the Caribbean, the Maldives, and Thailand’s islands.
The coast divides into three experiential zones: the South Coast centred on Diani Beach, the North Coast through Kilifi, Watamu, and Malindi, and the remote Lamu Archipelago at the far northern end.
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Diani Beach — South Coast Flagship
Africa-ranked white-sand beach with calm turquoise water, world-class resorts, and the consistent Indian Ocean breezes that make it the kite-surfing capital of East Africa.
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Watamu — Marine National Park & Turtle Nesting
Watamu Marine National Park is one of Kenya’s premier snorkelling and diving destinations, with a coral reef system extending over 32 km². Green and hawksbill turtles nest March–July.
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Malindi — Deep-Sea Fishing & Swahili Heritage
Kenya’s oldest continuously inhabited settlement with Swahili and Portuguese colonial architecture. The offshore fishing grounds are world-renowned for marlin and sailfish.
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Lamu Archipelago — Mediaeval Swahili Island Life
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa. No cars, dhow transport between islands, and a pace of life unchanged for centuries.
Cultural Encounters
Kenya’s Living Cultures — Indigenous Peoples, Traditions & Community Tourism
A Kenya holiday is not complete without engaging with the human cultures that have shaped this landscape. Sun & Safari curates authentic, community-benefiting cultural encounters that go far beyond the performative.
Maasai Manyatta Visits
Step inside a traditional Maasai homestead with a community elder as guide. Learn the significance of cattle in Maasai cosmology and observe traditional bead jewellery craft in progress.
Swahili Dhow Culture
The Swahili coast’s relationship with the Indian Ocean trade wind calendar stretches back two thousand years. A sunset dhow cruise from Lamu or Mombasa connects you to this maritime history.
Bomas of Kenya
The Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi presents living cultural villages representing forty-two distinct ethnic communities, with evening traditional dance performances spanning the full breadth of Kenya’s cultures.
Community Conservancy Walks
Northern Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau is home to community-run conservancies like Il Ngwesi and Lewa, where Maasai and Samburu communities have channelled conservation into economic empowerment.
Travel Planning
The Best Time to Visit Kenya — Seasonal Guide
Kenya straddles the equator and operates on a two-season rainfall pattern. Understanding the calendar is essential for aligning safari goals with coastal weather expectations.
January–February: Hot & Dry Bush Season
Excellent game viewing. Vegetation is short, concentrating wildlife around shrinking water sources. Coastal weather is warm and sunny with low humidity — one of Kenya’s best all-round months.
March–May: Long Rains Season
Safari rates at their annual low. The landscape transforms to vivid green. Exceptional value for travellers comfortable with afternoon showers, with good bird photography and newborn wildlife sightings.
July–September: Peak Migration Season
Kenya’s most popular travel window. The Masai Mara hosts the Great Migration river crossings. Book 12+ months in advance — the finest camps near the Mara River crossings sell out far ahead.
October–December: Shoulder & Short Rains
Short rains typically bring afternoon showers that clear within two hours. Game viewing remains very good, rates soften from peak levels, and the coast is at its calmest for water sports.
Pricing Options
Kenya Safari & Beach Holiday Pricing — Transparent Packages
All prices are per person based on double occupancy and include accommodation, internal flights, and park fees as specified. No hidden costs.
2 Days Tsavo East Safari
Per Person
- Access to All Activities
- Exclusive Tours and Experiences
- Personal Travel Consultant
- Flexible Payment Options
- Park Fees & Game Drives
- Full Board Accommodation
3 Days Amboseli National Park
Per Person
- Access to All Activities
- Exclusive Tours and Experiences
- Personal Travel Consultant
- Flexible Payment Options
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Kilimanjaro View Lodge
3 Days Maasai Mara Classic Safari
Per Person
- Access to All Activities
- Exclusive Tours and Experiences
- Personal Travel Consultant
- Flexible Payment Options
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Tailored Itineraries
Looking for a full 7-night bush & beach combination? Request a tailored quote — every itinerary is built around your dates and budget.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Planning a Kenya Holiday
Our travel consultants receive many of the same questions from first-time Kenya visitors. We have compiled the most important answers here. If your question is not covered, reach out directly — we typically respond within four business hours.
Still Have Questions?
Our Kenya specialists are available Monday–Friday, 08:00–18:00 EAT, and respond to email enquiries within one business day.
Ask a Specialist →Kenya introduced a visa-on-arrival system for most nationalities in 2024, and all travellers now apply for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) online before departure at etakenya.go.ke. The eTA costs USD 30 for most nationalities and is typically approved within 72 hours. East African Community citizens travel freely without visa requirements. We advise applying at least two weeks before travel.
Yellow Fever vaccination is required if you are arriving from or transiting through a yellow fever endemic country. You must carry the Yellow Card as proof. We strongly recommend being up-to-date with routine vaccinations (Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Tetanus) and consulting your GP about antimalarial prophylaxis, as Kenya is a malaria-endemic country, particularly on the coast and lake regions.
The wildebeest migration reaches the Masai Mara from Tanzania between late July and early August, with the most dramatic river crossings occurring from late July through September. October sees the herds beginning their return south. The exact timing varies by up to three weeks depending on annual rainfall patterns. Peak migration camps book out 12–18 months in advance.
The most common and time-efficient transition is via domestic air. A bush flight from the Mara airstrip connects to Nairobi Wilson Airport, where you board a second flight to Diani Ukunda airstrip or Mombasa Moi International Airport. Total travel time is typically 2.5–4 hours door to door. We handle all logistics including flight booking, airport transfers, and resort check-in briefings.
The core safari and coastal tourism circuit — including the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Diani Beach, Watamu, and Malindi — operates safely and receives millions of international visitors annually. Nairobi, like any major African city, requires normal urban caution. The northeast frontier region bordering Somalia carries higher risk and we do not route clients through that area.
Bush clothing should be neutral-toned (khaki, olive, tan — avoid blue which attracts tsetse flies) and layered. Soft-sided luggage is essential for bush flights where weight limits are typically 15 kg total. For the coast, add swimwear, a light rash vest for reef snorkelling, and reef-safe sunscreen. Good walking shoes and quality binoculars (8×42) are the two most important items first-time safari visitors under-invest in.
What Our Clients Say
Testimonials — Kenya Holiday Experiences Shared by Our Guests
Hear from travellers who have experienced the magic of a Sun & Safari bush-and-beach holiday first hand.
“The most incredible experience. From the early-morning lion sightings in the Mara to the hammock evenings at Diani Beach, every single moment was unforgettable. Sun & Safari handled absolutely everything so that all we had to do was show up and be present.”
“Sun & Safari made our family holiday seamless. Travelling with two teenagers who have completely different ideas of the ideal holiday — one wanted wildlife, one wanted the beach — this was the only format that kept everyone happy from start to finish.”
“A trip of a lifetime. We have done safaris in Tanzania and South Africa before, but the combination of adventure and coastal relaxation that Kenya’s bush-and-beach format delivers is genuinely unique. Our guide David in the Mara was the best we have ever had.”
Contact Us
Start Planning Your Kenya Bush & Beach Holiday Today
Share your travel dates, destination preferences, and any special requirements. A dedicated Sun & Safari travel consultant will respond within one business day with a personalised itinerary proposal — no obligation, no hard-sell, just expert Kenya travel advice.