2-Day Tsavo East Safari from Diani Beach: Private Game Drives

Three game drives across Kenya's largest national park, watching elephants at Aruba Dam and lions at sunset.

A 2-day private safari from Diani Beach to Tsavo East National Park with hotel pickup, three guided game drives, overnight lodge accommodation, all meals and park entry included. Day one runs from early morning pickup through afternoon and evening game drives. Day two starts before dawn and ends with afternoon drop-off at your hotel. Choose between a safari van or a Landcruiser 4x4 depending on group size and terrain preference.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel and game drives in Tsavo East

• Pick up from hotel at 6:30 am
• Drive to Buchuma gate, arrive 10:00 am
• Begin game drive at Tsavo East
• Visit Aruba Dam and see wildlife
• Drive to lodge and check in
• Have lunch at lodge
• Rest for 2 hours
• Afternoon game drive until sunset
• Return to lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 2: Morning game drive and return

• Early breakfast at lodge
• Morning game drive in Tsavo East
• Depart for Mombasa/Diani at 9:00 am
• Arrive and drop off at beach hotel around 2:00 pm

The experience

The drive from Diani Beach to Tsavo East takes roughly three and a half hours along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway, with pickup at 6:30 am from your hotel. You arrive at Buchuma gate around 10:00 am and head straight into your first game drive, stopping at Aruba Dam (a waterhole built by the British Army in 1952), where elephants, lions, buffaloes and zebras gather. The park is Kenya's largest and holds herds large enough that wildlife sightings are the rule, not the exception. You drive until 1:30 pm, then check into your lodge (Voi Wildlife Lodge, Ngutuni Lodge or similar) for lunch and a two-hour rest.

The afternoon game drive departs after your rest and runs until sunset, tracking lions, giraffes, ostriches, gazelles and other wildlife across the park. Dinner and overnight accommodation follow at the lodge. The next morning you wake early for breakfast, then head out on a final game drive before departing around 9:00 am for the return journey to Diani Beach or Mombasa, arriving at your hotel by 2:00 pm. The itinerary is fixed across both days, so the timing stays the same regardless of which vehicle option you choose.

A live English-speaking guide leads all three game drives. Bottled water, lunch on day one, dinner and breakfast on day two, and park entry are all included. You cover any additional drinks and tips separately. The lodge accommodation is shared across the two nights, and the full round-trip transport from your hotel is part of the booking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup at 6:30 am and drop-off at your hotel on day two.
• three guided game drives with a live English-speaking guide.
• overnight lodge accommodation at Voi Wildlife Lodge, Ngutuni Lodge or similar.
• lunch on day one, dinner and breakfast on day two.
• Tsavo East National Park entry fee.
• and bottled drinking water throughout.

Options for this experience

2 options

By safari vanGuide in English · 07:00Pickup is included with the safari van.

By safari Jeep (Landcruiser 4x4)Guide in English · 07:00Pickup is included with the Land Cruiser 4x4 safari.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 30

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Bushdwellers Tours and Safaris

Is this one for you?Book the 2-day version if you want to see Tsavo East's wildlife across multiple game drives and different times of day (dawn, midday and sunset) rather than rushing through in a single day. The overnight stay lets you rest between drives and experience the park's rhythm without the fatigue of a long same-day return.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What wildlife will I actually see on the game drives?

Tsavo East is home to large elephant herds, lions, leopards, buffaloes and rhinos. The park's diverse landscape (including the Yatta Plateau, the world's longest lava flow) supports a wide range of species. Aruba Dam on day one is a reliable spot for elephants and other animals gathering at the waterhole, and the sunset drive targets lions and other predators active in the cooler evening hours.

How much driving is there, and when do I rest?

Day one includes the three-and-a-half-hour transfer from Diani to the park, then a morning game drive until 1:30 pm, followed by a two-hour rest at the lodge before the afternoon drive until sunset. Day two starts with an early breakfast and a morning game drive, then the three-and-a-half-hour return journey to your hotel, arriving around 2:00 pm. Most of the active time is spent in the vehicle on game drives rather than walking.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay extra for?

Park entry, accommodation, all meals (lunch day one, dinner and breakfast day two), three game drives with a guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, and bottled water are included. Soft drinks, beer, champagne and tips are not included and are paid separately at the lodge or on the return journey.

Should I book the safari van or the Landcruiser 4x4?

The safari van suits larger groups and offers good visibility from elevated seating. The Landcruiser 4x4 is smaller and better suited to rough terrain and smaller parties. Both vehicles complete the same itinerary and game drives. Choose based on your group size and whether you prefer a more rugged, off-road experience or a more comfortable ride.

What time does the safari start and end each day?

Day one pickup is at 6:30 am from your hotel, with the first game drive beginning around 10:00 am after arrival at the park. The afternoon drive runs until sunset. Day two starts with an early breakfast, followed by a morning game drive, and you're back at your hotel by 2:00 pm.