Advice for a 3-week itinerary in Kenya
 

Hello!

My wife and I are going to Kenya for 3 weeks starting August 30, and I’d like a bit of help planning our itinerary and answering a few questions. Here’s the draft I’ve made:

30/08: Nairobi (2 nights)
01/09–04/09: Masai Mara (3 nights, then back to Nairobi)
05/09–07/09: Rift Valley/Nakuru/Hell’s Gate/etc. (2 nights, then back to Nairobi)
08/09: Nairobi → Amboseli (2 nights)
10/09: Amboseli → Tsavo East (2 nights)
12/09: Tsavo → Mombasa (1 night)
13/09: Mombasa → Kilifi (2 nights)
15/09: Kilifi → Malindi → Lamu (3 nights)
18/09: Return to Nairobi
19/09: Departure at 23:40

I have a ton of questions, but I’ll try to summarize them:

• Do you have any affordable safari tour operator recommendations?
• Regarding Masai Mara: am I right to think that the conservancy stays are much more expensive overall?
• I’ve planned 11 days for the “safari” part from Masai Mara to Tsavo, with a lot of returns to Nairobi - is it possible to optimize this without booking a full tour with a single agency? Beyond the cost, I’m worried I won’t feel very free with a 9-day all-included experience, but maybe that’s what’s most recommended?
• Do all the destinations up to Mombasa require booking a tour and a guide in advance (or having your own vehicle), or are some more open to improvisation?
• We’d also like to meet people and not just do safaris, but the current itinerary doesn’t really allow for that - would you recommend limiting the number of safaris and visiting villages between Nairobi and the coast?
• We were also thinking of going to the Taita Hills if possible - what do you think?
• Is going to Kilifi a good idea? We heard it’s more authentic than Diani, and we’re interested in the bio luminescent plankton, but I feel like the detour might complicate the trip a bit.

As you can probably tell from my questions, our biggest doubt right now is about booking the safaris. We can’t really afford to spend $2000 each in 4 days, but we won’t be doing a trip like this again anytime soon, so we want to make the most of it!

I hope my questions make sense and that you’ll be able to help us - thank you and hope you have a great evening!

Camille

Your challenge right now is your very very very late to be planning for end of August (if you mean this year). It is high season right now through September in the Mara and rest of Kenya and many camps are booked a year+ ahead of time. I would find a safari planner or tour operator as soon as possible.

Hi Amyb, yeah we're aware we are late, but it's hard to book something without getting answers to this question first: do we need to go back to Nairobi every time with different tours, or is it smarter to take an all-included tour that does most parks in 9 days?

Instinctively, we don't really want to have an all-included tour and spend half of our holidays with the same group of people, but does it make sense if we're going to book tour in every destination anyway? Do we need to book a tour in every destination or is it just Masai Mara?

Thanks!

If you were to work with a safari planner or tour operator, you can create a bespoke itinerary that is just you and your traveling companions, not a group of other people you’re stuck with the entire time. I’ve done this every time I go. There is no way I would try to piece this together myself or even do part of it, and I’ve been to Africa 8 times! You don’t know what you don’t know, and I’d want someone to fall back on to resolve issues that come up. It is far better to have one person handle all the logistics for you to assure that no balls are dropped. You will need to book accommodations everywhere this time of year in Kenya. People don’t just go to the Mara, while they’re there they will also visit other places. It is incredibly foolhardy not to have it all booked before you go.

I don't understand why you are planning to return twice to Nairobi during your trip as that will add extra expenses. I am not as knowledgeable as many folks here having done just two safaris but both times I planned our own independent itineraries with the help of safari tour planners. We did not meet the same people at any of our camps. Both safari operators made wise suggestions as they knew far more than I did about the locations I wished to visit. They also kept my budget in mind.

I suggest reading tour reports here to see which safari planners people recommend. We were very pleased with The Wild Source for our trip to Kenya and I've read good things about Gamewatchers and Go2Africa here as well as others I can't immediately remember. It's a good idea to check with several different operators and discuss your wishes to see what they can come up with for you. Be certain you are choosing tours with companies that have received good reviews and are well-known and reputable.

Good luck with your planning!

Your itinerary looks exciting and well thought-out! A few quick tips
 

Hi Camille,

Your itinerary looks exciting and well thought-out! A few quick tips:

• Safari operators: Check out Bigfoot Adventures, Gamewatchers, or Kenya Tru Nomads—they offer good mid-range options.
  
• Masai Mara: Yes, conservancies are pricier but more exclusive. Staying just outside the main reserve can save money while still offering great game drives.
  
• Itinerary flow: Too many returns to Nairobi might waste time—consider a loop from Mara → Nakuru → Amboseli → Tsavo → Coast, using local flights (like from Mara or Amboseli) to cut travel.
  
• DIY travel: National parks like Nakuru or Hell’s Gate are easier for self-guided visits; Masai Mara and Amboseli are best done with a guide.
  
• Cultural experiences: Consider adding a visit to a community project or staying in a local village guesthouse (especially near Lake Naivasha or Taita Hills).
  
• Kilifi is a great, relaxed spot—quieter than Diani and worth it for the plankton if you time it right.
  

Booking shorter safaris with separate operators could give you more freedom and reduce costs.

Hope this helps and happy planning!

That's very helpful thank you! We actually booked our safari tour already and most of our decision match your recommendations. The only question we still have pending today is whether we should stay in Lamu Town or Shella Village while on the island.

Thanks again!