Upgrade to an overnight2-Day Tsavo East & Taita Hills Safari
2 days / 1 night · Tsavo East · Taita Hills
From Diani, Mombasa
Price on request
View trip →One Day Tsavo East Safari from Diani, Mombasa & Malindi
Leave your beach hotel before sunrise, spend the day on game drives in Tsavo East, Kenya's largest national park, and be back in time for dinner.
- Duration
- 1 day
- Departs from
- Diani, Mombasa, Malindi & Watamu
- Pick-up window
- 05:30–06:30
- Back at your hotel
- In time for dinner
- Parks & places
- Tsavo East National Park
- Vehicle
- Pop-up-roof safari vehicle
- Meals
- Lunch break (not included)
- Best months
- June–October and January–February
Overview
Tsavo East is Kenya's largest national park, about 13,747 km² of red earth, open plains and the palm-shaded Galana River, and it's within a day's reach of the south coast. This day trip is built for travellers who want a real safari without giving up their beach holiday. We collect you from your hotel before sunrise and drive inland on the Mombasa–Nairobi highway, so you reach the park as the animals are still active. With the roof up, your driver-guide spends the day searching for Tsavo's famous red-dusted elephants, lions, cheetahs, buffalo, giraffes and zebras, and some of the more than 500 bird species recorded in the park. You leave the park in the mid-afternoon and are back at your hotel in time to wash off the red dust before dinner.
- Tsavo's red-dusted elephants, often seen in large family herds
- A full day of game drives with the roof up
- Chances of lion, cheetah, leopard, buffalo, giraffe and zebra
- More than 500 bird species recorded in the park, from hornbills to secretary birds
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off: no packing, no overnight bag
Itinerary
Coast to Tsavo East and back
05:30–06:30
Pick-up from your hotel in Diani, Mombasa or Malindi. Drive towards Tsavo East with comfort stops on the way.
Morning
Enter Tsavo East National Park. Pop the roof up for an on-route game drive, looking for red elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards, buffalo, zebras, giraffes, impalas and other antelopes, and birds such as secretary birds, vultures, starlings, kingfishers, eagles, owls and hornbills.
Midday
Lunch break.
Afternoon
Game drive until about 15:00, then exit the park.
Evening
Drive back to your hotel, in time for a shower to wash away Tsavo's red dust before dinner.
Driving times: Diani to Tsavo East about 3–4 hours; Mombasa to Bachuma Gate about 2–4 hours.
Route map
- 1Pick-up in Diani, Mombasa, Malindi & Watamu
- 2Tsavo East National Park
- Diani → Tsavo East: About 3–4 hours
- Mombasa → Bachuma Gate: About 2–4 hours
Prices
Price on request
Tell us your dates and group size and we'll send an exact quote.
Get a quote for this tripWhat changes the price
- Group size and whether the vehicle is private or shared
- Vehicle type and lodge choice
- Season
- Residency: Kenyan residents and African citizens pay lower park fees
What's included
Included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Pop-up-roof safari vehicle
- English-speaking driver-guide
- Game drives as described
- Drinking water in the vehicle
Not included
- Tips
- Drinks
- Items of a personal nature
Confirmed in your quote: whether park entrance fees are included in the price, and the fee that applies to you.
Good to know
The red dust
Tsavo's soil is red laterite. Elephants dust-bathe in it, and it clings — wear clothes you don't mind washing.
Malaria
Tsavo is a malaria area, with the highest risk around March–May and November–December. Ask your doctor or a travel clinic for advice.
Park hours
Gates open 06:00–18:00. We leave the park by about 15:00 so you're back at your hotel for dinner.
What to bring
- Light jacket for the early start
- Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Binoculars and camera
- Cash for tips and drinks
Getting there and pick-up
Pick-up is between 05:30 and 06:30, depending on where you're staying. We collect from hotels in Diani, Mombasa, Malindi & Watamu.
Pick-up areas in Diani
- Diani Beach Road (north, central, south) · from 05:30–06:30
- Galu & Kinondo · from 05:30–06:30
- Tiwi · from 05:30–06:30
- Ukunda · from 05:30–06:30
Pick-up areas in Mombasa
- Nyali, Bamburi, Shanzu & Mtwapa (North Coast) · from 05:30–06:30
- Mombasa Island · from 05:30–06:30
Pick-up areas in Malindi & Watamu
- Malindi · from 05:30–06:30
- Watamu · from 05:30–06:30
Reviews
“An excellent safari, nice game drives and sunsets”
“We had a very beautiful trip with lots of wild life.”
Frequently asked questions
Is a Tsavo East day trip from Diani worth it?
Yes, if you have one free day and want a real safari. You'll spend a full day on game drives in Kenya's largest national park. The trade-off is the early start and a drive of about 3–4 hours each way from Diani. If you can spare a night, the 2-day safari adds sunset and early-morning drives and splits the driving over two days.
How long is the drive from Diani to Tsavo East?
About 3–4 hours each way, depending on traffic and the route. From Mombasa, Bachuma Gate is roughly 100–110 km away. We leave between 05:30 and 06:30 to arrive while the animals are still active.
What time is pick-up?
Pick-up is between 05:30 and 06:30, depending on where you're staying. We leave the park at about 15:00 and head back to your hotel.
Will we see the Big Five?
Elephants and buffalo are seen on most game drives, and lions are regularly seen in Tsavo East. Leopards are shy and rhinos are rarely seen on a day trip, so we never promise the Big Five. Your guide will spend the day looking for as much as possible.
Can children come on the day trip?
Yes. It's a long day for young children; the 2-day safari splits the driving over two days and adds a night at a lodge.
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