3-Day Tsavo East & West Safari from Diani Beach: Big Five

Hunt the big five across two parks in three days, timing each game drive for when the animals move.

A 3-day safari tour from Diani Beach into Tsavo East and West national parks with private transportation, unlimited game drives and two nights in lodge accommodation. You start with a pickup from your hotel, airport or port, drive through farmland to Tsavo East, then move west to see the Rhino Sanctuary and Mzima Springs before returning to the coast. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or German.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Diani to Tsavo East Safari

• Pick-up from hotel or airport
• Drive through coconut and cashew farms
• Enter Tsavo East via Bachuma gate
• Check into Tsavo East National Park
• Game drive searching for big five
• Visit Aruba dam for wildlife viewing
• Check-in and lunch at lodge
• Afternoon game drive
• Dinner and overnight at Ashnil Aruba Lodge

Day 2: Tsavo East to Tsavo West Safari

• Early morning game drive before breakfast
• Breakfast and lodge checkout
• Drive to Tsavo West National Park
• Visit Rhino sanctuary en route
• Check-in and lunch at Kilaguni Serena Lodge
• Afternoon game drive including Shetani lava flow
• Dinner and overnight at Kilaguni Serena Lodge

Day 3: Tsavo West to Diani Beach

• Early morning game drive before breakfast
• Breakfast and lodge checkout
• Mid-morning game drive to Mzima Springs
• Visit Mzima Springs and view wildlife
• Exit park and drive back to Diani Beach
• Arrive at Diani Beach in afternoon

The experience

The route leaves Diani Beach and crosses lush coconut and cashew farms on the way to Bachuma gate, the entry to Tsavo East. Your first afternoon includes a game drive in the park's open landscape: short vegetation makes wildlife easier to spot than in denser reserves. You'll visit Aruba dam, where animals congregate, especially in the dry season, then check into Ashnil Aruba Lodge for the night.

Day two starts before sunrise, when predators hunt and grazers browse fresh vegetation. After breakfast you drive to Tsavo West, stopping at the Rhino Sanctuary en route. The afternoon game drive takes you to Shetani Lava Flow, a volcanic formation with views of Mount Kilimanjaro's snow-capped peaks across the landscape. You stay at Kilaguni Serena Lodge, a 5-star property inside the park.

The final morning follows the same early rhythm: wildlife is most active before the heat sets in. After breakfast and a mid-morning game drive, you visit Mzima Springs, where you disembark to see the underground water source and watch hippos, crocodiles and migratory birds in the surrounding greenery. The drive back to Diani Beach takes the afternoon, so you arrive with daylight to spare.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel, airport or port.
• unlimited game drives across both parks.
• entry fees to Tsavo East and Tsavo West.
• two nights of lodge accommodation with meals.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or German.

Options for this experience

2 options

Three-day Tsavo East and West safari departing from Diani Beach, MombasaGuide in 5 languages · 05:30Pickup is included

Three-day Tsavo East West safariGuide in 5 languages · 05:30Two nights' accommodation at a lodge located within Tsavo East and West national parks; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

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 05:30

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Senior (71 to 90 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (2 to 4 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Eastern Vacations Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're covering both Tsavo parks in three days: the set route and included transport mean you move between them without backtracking, maximizing game drive time across both reserves.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (2 to 4 years): free.

What animals will I see on this 3-day safari?

The big five (lion, buffalo, giraffe, elephant and leopard) are the focus, along with zebra, warthog and varied bird species. Tsavo East's open plains make wildlife viewing easier, and Tsavo West adds rhinos at the sanctuary and hippos and crocodiles at Mzima Springs.

Why do the game drives start before sunrise?

Early morning is when predators hunt and grazers browse soft vegetation, so animals are most active and visible. The African sunrise over the savanna is part of what makes the timing work.

Where do I sleep on this safari?

Night one is at Ashnil Aruba Lodge, a 4-star property next to Aruba dam in Tsavo East. Night two is at Kilaguni Serena Lodge, a 5-star lodge inside Tsavo West national park.

Does the price include meals and drinks?

Private transportation, unlimited game drives and park fees are included. Meals are part of the lodge stay, but drinks and tips are separate.

What is Mzima Springs and why visit it?

Mzima Springs is an underground water source in Tsavo West that feeds a pool surrounded by greenery in semi-desert terrain. You disembark to see hippos, crocodiles, exotic fish and migratory birds in and around the water.