Can you combine safari and beach in Kenya?
Can you combine safari and beach in Kenya?
Can you combine safari and beach in Kenya? One of the few places on the planet where you can see a lion hunting in the morning and drink a coconut on a pristine white beach before the sun goes down is Kenya. It is not only feasible to combine a safari with a beach holiday, but it is also one of the highly favored ways to explore the country since it gives your vacation a perfect “peaks and valleys” rhythm.
A safari is a naturally exciting and high-energy activity with early morning (5:00 AM) wake-up calls, dusty game drives, and the adrenaline rush of constantly spotting the “Big Five.” After spending a few days intensely watching wildlife in the savannah, going to the coast for a few days offers a very nice way to “decompress.”
The stark contrast between the golden, dry plains of the interior and the verdant, tropical turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean makes the whole trip seem like two separate vacations combined into one nice itinerary.
Most travelers follow a “bush-to-beach” path to make this combination work efficiently. It is generally recommended that you do the safari first. The reason is that safaris are very physically demanding—you are often trembling in a 4×4 vehicle and spending a lot of time in the sun.
By saving the beach for the last days of your trip, you can use those days to really relax, sleep in, and let the ocean wash off the red dust from the plains. The most famous combination is the Maasai Mara and then Diani Beach.
Kenya’s local aviation network being well-developed allows you to hop on a small “bush plane” right from an airstrip in the Mara and in about two hours you can be landing at the Ukunda Airstrip in Diani. This way you don’t have to go back to the busy Nairobi streets and you get to spend more time on the sand.
Alternately, the “Southern Circuit” is an excellent choice for those who want a more scenic or budget-friendly way to transition. The Circuit includes Amboseli National Park, famous for its Mount Kilimanjaro views, and Tsavo West and East, Kenya’s largest protected wilderness areas. Since these parks are located closer to the coast, you can take the state-of-the-art “Madaraka Express” train from the park’s edge all the way to Mombasa.
The train journeys as a mini-safari since some sections of the track run through the national parks and you can often see elephants and giraffes from your window while sitting comfortably in an air-conditioned cabin. A mere drive from Mombasa train station brings you to the well-known northern or southern resorts, thereby simplifying and making the logistics more affordable.
In addition to the great variety of safari experiences available in Kenya, you will also find an equally varied menu of coastal “flavors” at the Kenyan Coast. Diani Beach is probably the most popular destination on the coast and boasts the widest stretches of beautiful white powdery sand and an array of upscale shopping boutique establishments; however, if you’re looking for a unique destination with an amazing coral reef and great snorkeling opportunities, Watamu to the north is considered a “hidden gem,” with a protected marine national park that boasts incredible marine life.
For visitors wanting to experience culture and history after their days spent in the wilderness, the island of Lamu provides a truly unique car-free locale that contains some of the oldest examples of traditional Swahili architecture and a maze of narrow streets formed from rocks/stone.
Whether you want an adrenaline injection via kitesurfing, deep-sea fishing, or simply lounging in a hammock, the Kenyan Coast offers a great balance of excitement from the bush and tranquility from the sea.
By planning your transport accordingly (that is, flying domestically if speed is important to you and/or taking the train if scenery is important to you), you can create an itinerary that features all the diverse aspects of the true essence of Kenya in as little as 8 to 12 days.
Kenya is the ultimate destination for the best of both worlds: a vacation combining safari with the relaxing beaches. If you wish to experience Kenya, your safari adventure must take place early in the day at locations such as the Maasai Mara or Amboseli.
The reason for this timing is due to the fact that animal-watching can be hard work. Once you’ve enjoyed the thrill of seeing lions and elephants up close (along with the other wildlife in these areas), you can then either fly or take a train to Kenya’s Coast (the beach) to relax. Your best bet for beautiful white sandy beaches would be along Diani Beach or other destinations throughout the coast, such as Watamu or Lamu, where you can either swim or snorkel, or where you can learn about the history of Kenya.
Never has it been so easy to enjoy an adventurous holiday in nature (the wild); along with the calmness of the ocean, you can have both fun and relaxation.
