2 Weeks in Kenya: The Complete Safari and Coast Itinerary
Two weeks gives you room to slow down, let the park rhythms settle, and do the trip without feeling rushed. This itinerary covers Kenya’s north (Samburu, Laikipia), south (Masai Mara, Amboseli), and finishes on the Indian Ocean coast. It works as a single circuit with internal flights connecting the sections.
The routing goes north first (less visited, more unusual species), south second (iconic Big Five), coast last (relaxed finish). You can reverse the order depending on flight connections.
Days 1–2: Nairobi
Day 1: Arrive. Rest and acclimatise. Nairobi is at 1,700m — not enough for altitude sickness but noticeable for visitors arriving from sea level.
Evening: Dinner in Karen (Talisman Restaurant, KES 2,500–4,500 per person) or Westlands (Artcaffe for reliable mid-range dining, KES 1,200–2,000).
Day 2: Nairobi National Park morning drive (USD 52 entry, hire a driver for approximately KES 5,000–7,000 for 3 hours). Black rhino, lion, and giraffe against the Nairobi skyline.
Afternoon: Giraffe Centre (approximately USD 15) and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (11am–noon booking required, USD 10).
Accommodation:
- Budget: Jungle Junction (Westlands, dorm KES 2,000)
- Mid-range: Nairobi Serena Hotel (from KES 20,000/room)
- Luxury: Giraffe Manor (if booked months in advance, from USD 600/person full board — resident giraffes join guests for breakfast)
Days 3–4: Samburu National Reserve (2 Nights)
Fly Nairobi Wilson Airport to Samburu (1–1.5 hours, Safarilink/AirKenya, from USD 150). Alternatively, drive 5–6 hours north via Nanyuki.
Why Samburu first: The north has the Samburu Special Five species not found in southern Kenya — Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich. Seeing them before the south means you appreciate the contrast.
Day 3: Afternoon arrival, evening drive along the Ewaso Ng’iro River — crocodiles, hippos, and elephants at the water.
Day 4: Full day — morning and evening drives. The gerenuk (standing on hind legs to browse) is usually found in the riverine woodland. Ask your guide specifically for Grevy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe.
Accommodation Samburu (per person/night full board):
- Budget: Samburu Simba Lodge (KES 12,000–18,000/person)
- Mid-range: Samburu Sopa Lodge (approximately USD 150/person)
- Luxury: Elephant Bedroom Camp (from USD 400/person, tented camp on the river)
Entry fee: Approximately USD 60/day non-resident.
Days 5–6: Ol Pejeta Conservancy or Laikipia (2 Nights)
Fly or drive from Samburu southwest to Nanyuki (1 hour by air, or 2.5 hours drive). Ol Pejeta is Kenya’s most important large-animal conservancy and home to the last northern white rhinos on earth.
Day 5: Afternoon game drive. Visit the Ol Pejeta Chimpanzee Sanctuary (the largest in East Africa outside Uganda — chimpanzees rescued from illegal trade, approximately USD 80 for a guided sanctuary visit).
Day 6: Morning — see the northern white rhinos at close range. Only two remain (Najin and Fatu, both female). Their last viable embryos are in cryopreservation — this is the closest you can come to witnessing an extinction-level event. A morning dedicated to this encounter is worthwhile.
Afternoon: Ol Pejeta has all the Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo are all resident.
Accommodation Ol Pejeta (per person/night):
- Mid-range: Sweetwaters Serena Camp (from approximately USD 200/person full board)
- Upmarket: Ol Pejeta Bush Camp (from approximately USD 350/person)
Entry fee: Approximately USD 90/day for Ol Pejeta (includes all activities).
Day 7: Mount Kenya Foothills or Lake Nakuru
Option A — Mount Kenya: If you want highland landscapes and forest wildlife, spend a night at Serena Mountain Lodge on Mount Kenya’s south slopes (from approximately USD 200/person). Game viewing from a raised platform above a floodlit waterhole — elephant and buffalo nightly, bongo possible.
Option B — Lake Nakuru: Drive from Nanyuki south to Lake Nakuru (approximately 3 hours). This Rift Valley soda lake has both black and white rhino in a fenced sanctuary, lions, and Rothschild giraffes. Entry USD 60/day.
Days 8–10: Masai Mara (3 Nights)
Fly from Nanyuki or Nakuru to the Masai Mara (connections through Nairobi Wilson Airport if no direct service). 3 nights gives 4 game drives — enough to find all the major predators with patient driving.
July–September: River crossing season — position at the Mara River crossings in the morning and afternoon for wildebeest crossings.
Days 8–10 activities: Morning and evening game drives. Day 9: hot air balloon option (dawn, approximately USD 450, book through your lodge). Day 9 afternoon: Maasai village visit.
Accommodation (per person/night full board):
- Budget: Mara Explorers Camp (from USD 80/person)
- Mid-range: Keekorok Lodge (from approximately USD 200/person, oldest lodge in the Mara)
- Luxury: Mahali Mzuri (from USD 900/person, Richard Branson’s camp, private conservancy)
Days 11–12: Amboseli (2 Nights)
Fly Masai Mara to Amboseli (via Nairobi Wilson, approximately 2 hours total).
Africa’s most approachable elephant population. Kilimanjaro views, June–February. Bulls with metre-plus tusks. The Enkiama swamp with hippos. Over 400 bird species.
Day 11: Afternoon drive, swamp and open plains. Day 12: Pre-dawn position for clear Kilimanjaro shots (6am–8am before cloud builds). Full morning drive.
Days 13–14: Diani Beach
Fly Amboseli to Ukunda Diani Airport (via Nairobi, approximately 3–4 hours total) or fly to Mombasa and transfer by road.
Two nights minimum to properly decompress from the safari intensity. Diani’s reef snorkelling, long beach, and evening seafood are the ideal close to a two-week Kenya trip.
Day 13: Arrive, beach, sunset at Forty Thieves Bar. Day 14: Reef snorkelling or whale sharks (October–March). Depart from Ukunda Airport (5 minutes from Diani hotels) or Mombasa Moi International (45 minutes from Diani).
14-Day Budget Summary (Per Person)
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa | USD 50 | USD 50 | USD 50 |
| Internal flights | USD 600–800 | USD 700–1,000 | USD 1,200–1,800 |
| Accommodation (13 nights) | USD 600–1,000 | USD 2,500–4,000 | USD 8,000–14,000 |
| Park / conservancy fees | USD 700–800 | USD 700–800 | USD 700–800 |
| Food (non-full-board meals) | USD 100–200 | USD 200–350 | USD 400–700 |
| Activities | USD 80–150 | USD 200–450 | USD 600–1,500 |
| Total (approximate) | USD 2,130–3,000 | USD 4,350–6,650 | USD 10,950–18,850 |
Prices are per person estimates only. Book 6+ months ahead for Mara peak season (July–September).
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What can you do in 2 weeks in Kenya?
- Two weeks is enough to cover Kenya's major safari destinations plus the coast. A classic 14-day itinerary: Nairobi (2 days), Samburu (2 nights), Laikipia or Mount Kenya (2 nights), Lake Nakuru (1 night), Masai Mara (3 nights), Amboseli (2 nights), and Diani Beach or Lamu (3–4 nights). Internal flights make this circuit manageable.
- Should I do the north or south Kenya circuit in 2 weeks?
- Do both. The southern circuit (Mara, Amboseli) and the northern circuit (Samburu, Laikipia) show completely different ecosystems and species. Two weeks allows a north-then-south loop with coast at the end, using internal flights to move efficiently between destinations.