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Kenya by Train

The Kenya by Train Tour is a 12-day private guided itinerary taking you through the Southern Kenya. This is a safari and beach holiday. The program starts in Nairobi, taking in magnificent views of the Kilimanjaro Mountain, the vast savannah taming with wildlife, the green rolling hills of Chyulu and then descending to the paradise white sand beaches and the turquoise waves of the Indian Ocean. Parts of this journey can be done by train. You will be wowed by the scenery and the abundant wildlife, visiting several different national parks – Amboseli, Tsavo West and Tsavo East. The dreamy Diani beach comes at the end, a well deserved relaxation. Depending on your international flights in and out of Kenya, you can add days at both ends of the trip to fit well with the schedule and activities. You can also start the trip at the coast, in Mombasa, and finish off in Nairobi.

12 Days – From £2,500 per person 

*equivalent in USD, EUR accepted

Itinerary: Nairobi, Amboseli, Tsavo West, Tsavo East, Diani Beach/Mombasa

  • Price is per person, based on two people sharing 
  • Accommodation (full board)
  • All wildlife game drives with professional guide
  • 4×4 vehicle, fuel, drivers’ allowance
  • All transfers on a private basis
  • First Class Train Tickets
  • All mandatory daily park fees and local taxes
  • Visa (More Info)
  • International Flights (See Flights to Kenya)
  • Domestic Flights 
  • Personal Expenses
  • Insurance
  • Tips & Porters
  • Additional Drinks

International flights are not included in the package price. We give you the freedom to use miles and choose your preferred airline, and if you are stuck we can help you find the right connections to fit well with the start and finish of your trip. Return flights to Kenya start from £700 per person, depending on the connections and time of the year. 

We can arrange domestic flights internally, shall you choose to move around by air within Kenya.

Send us a message on WhatsApp or Email to discuss your requirements, check availability and get a confirmed price. 

This is a sample itinerary and prices are correct at the time of writing. We can tailor the itinerary to suit your plans by changing the length of the trip or the order of activities. More days can be added. Other hotels can be chosen, according to your liking. For more travel inspiration check these itineraries.

Day 1 - Arrive in Nairobi

Today you will arrive at NBO Airport. You will be met and transferred to the hotel. Nairobi is one of the largest cities in Africa. Being located just south of the equator, it enjoys a spring like climate. Although Nairobi can be quite hectic, there are charming hidden places, surrounded by tall lush trees and blooming exotic flowers. Spring is really colourful in Nairobi with all the purple jacaranda trees in bloom. What a sight! Dining and shopping are very good here. Today enjoy a relaxing time at the lodge or head out to one of the good local restaurant for a dining experience. Overnight at Tamarind Tree.

Giraffe kissing a girl in Nairobi

Day 2 - Sightseeing in Nairobi

Today visits to the Giraffe Centre, where you can hand-feed the giraffes and watch them at eye level from a raised platform. In the afternoon, visit David Sheldrick Centre, where orphaned elephant and rhinos are raised and later reintroduce into the wild. Watch the animals being fed and put to bed. Continue to Ocean Sole, a small enterprise that recycles flip-flops and turns them into art (mostly animals), handcrafted by a team who cut, mold and sand the flip flops. After the tour have lunch at the Talisman restaurant and drive back to the hotel. Overnight Tamarind Tree 

feeding an orphaned elephant at Sheldrick Animal Orphanage in Nairobi

Day 3 - Nairobi to Amboseli

After an early breakfast, depart to the train terminal and take the train at 08:00 to Amboseli National Park, getting off at Emali station. Arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive. This park sits on the border of Kenya and Tanzania in the shadow of Africa’s tallest mountain, the snow peaked Kilimanjaro. Amboseli is home to huge herds of elephants and Kenya’s most spectacular displays of wildlife – lion, leopard, rhino, cheetah, buffalo and a host of plains game. Enjoy a spectacular view of the surroundings and exciting wildlife. At night observe the starry skies and listen to the sounds of nature. Overnight at Amboseli Serena.

game drive in Amboseli national park in Kenya, with a view to Kilimanjaro mountain

Day 4 - Amboseli

Choose to have breakfast as a picnic in the savannah or at the lodge after the morning drive. With Kilimanjaro towering high in the backdrops, explore the park for the day. The mountain is generally best seen in the morning so wake up early to see this unique sight. A part of the park is composed of a dried-up lake bed which produces mirages in the shimmering heat. The swamps, fed by underground rivers originating from Kilimanjaro’s melting snows, attract wildlife in times of drought and are home to colonies of birds, among which pink flamingos. Overnight at Amboseli Serena.

game drive in Amboseli national park in Kenya, with a view to Kilimanjaro mountain

Day 5 - Amboseli to Tsavo West

After breakfast and a morning game drive, drive towards Tsavo West National Park – home to Kenya’s ’red elephants’. On the way, visit the Shetani Lava Flows, reminding about the volcanic activity in the area. Arrive at the lodge in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive. Tsavo is split in two, the Western part and the Eastern part, divided by the highway connecting Nairobi to Mombasa. Together, they form the biggest national park in Kenya (bigger than Wales) and one of the largest wildlife conservation areas in the world. There are great wildlife viewing opportunity here, as well as several unique sights. Dinner and overnight at Kilanguni Serena.

Day 6 - Tsavo West

Tsavo West has a huge variety of habitats, from the lush forests, that wrap the shoulders of the Chyulu Hills, to arid desert plains and the lava flows at Shetani. This is definitely not a all-flat park. In the morning, you will set on another wildlife experience and will see the lonely giant baobab. After the game drive, visit the crystal clear Mzima Springs, an oasis fed by Kilimanjaro’s snows. An underwater observation post offers the chance to watch crocodiles, pods of hippos and schools of fish. After the afternoon game drive, finish the day with a sundowner picnic at Poachers Lookout with a view to the giant Kilimanjaro. Overnight at Kilaguni Serena.

Day 7 - Tsavo West to Taita Hills

After breakfast, check out and drive towards Taita Hills sanctuary, through beautiful hills and valleys, arriving on time for lunch. The water holes located below the lodge attract many animals and provide a wonderful opportunity to view wildlife at close proximity within the comfort and confines of the lodges. In the afternoon you will have an opportunity to explore the savannah on a 4×4 safari and view a diverse array of wildlife within the sanctuary. Later in the evening return for dinner. Hopefully, you will have the chance to see different animals behavior. Overnight at Salt Lick Safari Lodge.

Day 8 - Tsavo East

After breakfast, check out and drive towards Tsavo East National Park. This park is dominated by the Galana River. Lunch at the camp before exploring the park on an afternoon game drive. Tsavo East is very different to Tsavo West; they host quite different ecosystems and bear entirely different faces: Tsavo East is flatter and much drier than Tsavo West. Along the sandy banks of Galana river, beneath the shade of doum palms, you’ll witness huge herds of elephant slaking their thirst and slapping mud to their skin. The river is buffered by the huge Yatta Plateau, 300 Km of platter-flat lava flow that stretches across the river’s east and north bank. Overnight at Ashnil Aruba.

Elephants at the waterhole in Tsavo East national park in Kenya

Day 9 - Tsavo East

After breakfast, check out with packed lunch for a full day game drive. Tsavo East National Park forms one of the largest protected area in Kenya and is home to the most of the larger mammals, vast herds of dust-red elephants, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard, pods of hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, lesser Kudu, gerenuk and more. The prolific bird life features hundreds of species, making the park lively and colourful. Later return for dinner and enjoy a beautiful sunset over the savannah, before you will head off to the beack the next day. Overnight at Ashnil Aruba.

Day 10 - Tsavo East to Mombasa

After breakfast and a morning game drive, take the train at 12:06 at Voi and get off at the terminal station in Mombasa at 14:00. The next three days give you an opportunity to unwind away from 4×4 vehicles as you sink your feet into the soft white sands of Kenya’s Coast. Upon arrival at Mombasa terminus you will be met and transferred to Diani beach. You can choose to relax on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, dipping into the turquoise waters of the warm Indian Ocean, watching the ancient dhows sailing past, and being pampered with spa treatments or do some active sea activities. Overnight at Leopard Beach.

camel rides and turquoise waters on Diani Beach in Kenya

Day 11 - Diani Beach

Diani is one of the longest, whitest and most impressive beaches on the East Africa’s coast. The beach is made of pearly white sand against the turquoise water of the Indian Ocean. Take the time to relax on the beach and do nothing at all or spend the day enjoying something more active. Diani can offer a myriad of activities, including diving, snorkeling, canoeing, kitesurfing or camel riding. You can also venture out on a day trip to the impressive Wasini Island in the south to see dolphins. Overnight at Leopard Beach.

sailing in a traditional wooden boat in Diani, Kenya

Day 12 - Departure from Diani

Today is the time for one last beachfront breakfast before you’re transferred to the airport or the train station in Mombasa, depending on your further travel plans. If your international flight is from Nairobi you can choose to travel back to Nairobi in several ways. One of them is taking the Madaraka Express train from Mombasa. There are three departures per day and you can choose to have a city tour in Mombasa old town before taking the train. Another way of getting to Nairobi is to fly from Ukunda Airstrip, which is very close to Diani Beach or from Mombasa Airport. There are also international flights leaving from Mombasa Airport directly. Choose the most convenient way.

Diving with turtles in Watamu, Kenya

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