Taita Hills Safari Game Drives from Diani Beach

24,000-hectare sanctuary game drives, wildlife viewing, meals at Saltlick Lodge, return to coast

A 2-day safari tour from Diani Beach to Taita Hills Game Sanctuary, staying at Sarova Saltlick Lodge with all game drives, meals and hotel pickup included. You drive 160 kilometers inland on day one, check in by early afternoon, and start your first game drive at 2:30 pm from the lodge's waterhole viewing area. Day two begins before dawn for a big cats game drive, then returns to the coast by mid-morning. The sanctuary spans 24,000 hectares of acacia forest, savannah and swamp where elephants, lions, cheetahs, zebras and giraffes roam, along with ostriches, kingfishers and weaver birds.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Taita Hills and game drives

• Pick up from hotel at 6:00 am
• Drive 160 km along Mombasa-Nairobi highway
• Drive 60 km to Taita Hills Saltlick Lodge
• Check in and have lunch at lodge
• Depart at 2:30 pm to Hilton Saltlick water hole
• Game drive from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm
• Dinner and overnight at Saltlick Lodge

Day 2: Morning game drive and return

• Wake up at 5:30 am and have coffee
• Early morning game drive before breakfast
• Breakfast at lodge around 8:30 am
• Drive back to hotel in Mombasa or Diani Beach

The experience

You're picked up from your Diani Beach hotel around 6 am and driven 160 kilometers inland along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway, then another 60 kilometers to Taita Hills. Arrival is early afternoon, giving you time to settle into Sarova Saltlick Lodge before lunch. The lodge sits within the sanctuary's 24,000 hectares, built in the early 1970s by Hilton and now a base for watching wildlife at the waterhole. Your first game drive leaves at 2:30 pm and runs until 6:30 pm, when animals come to drink in the late-day heat.

Day two starts at 5:30 am with coffee and an early morning game drive. The best time to spot the big cats. You return to the lodge for a full breakfast around 8:30 am, then drive back to your hotel in Mombasa or Diani. The sanctuary's terrain shifts between thorny bushes, acacia forests, arid savannah and swamp, so the animals you see change with the landscape. Your guide is trained in the area and speaks English throughout both days.

Park entry, all minivan transport within the sanctuary, lunch on day one, dinner and breakfast at the lodge, and your hotel pickup and drop-off are all included. You'll need to arrange your own drinks and tips. The drive back to the coast takes roughly the same time as the drive out, so plan for a late-morning arrival at your hotel.

What’s included

• Park entry fees.
• all game drives in a minivan with a well-trained English-speaking guide.
• lunch on day one.
• dinner and breakfast at Sarova Saltlick Lodge.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from Diani Beach or Mombasa.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:00, 06:30 and 07:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (16 to 55 years) · Youth (7 to 15 years) · Child (2 to 3 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 2

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 17 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by African Mosaic Tours and Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this 2-day tour if you're staying in Diani or Mombasa and want to see Kenya's wildlife without committing to a longer safari. The two-day format fits a long weekend or a break from the beach, with the early morning drive on day two timed to get you back to the coast by mid-morning.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 15 years); Child (2 to 3 years); Infant (under 2): 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 animals will I see on a 2-day safari at Taita Hills?

Taita Hills holds elephants, lions, cheetahs, zebras and giraffes, plus many bird species including ostriches, kingfishers, guinea fowls and weaver birds. The early morning game drive on day two is when big cats are most active.

How far is Taita Hills from Diani Beach, and how long is the drive?

Taita Hills is 220 kilometers inland from Diani (160 km along the highway, then 60 km to the sanctuary). The drive takes most of the morning on day one, with arrival by early afternoon.

What's included in the 2-day Taita Hills tour price?

Park entry, all game drives in a minivan, lunch on day one, dinner and breakfast at Saltlick Lodge, hotel pickup and drop-off, and an English-speaking guide are included. Drinks, tips and personal items are separate.

When do the game drives happen each day?

Day one has one game drive from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm after you check in. Day two starts with an early morning drive at 5:30 am (before breakfast) to spot big cats, then you return to the lodge and drive back to the coast.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to Taita Hills, or is pickup included?

Hotel pickup is included. A minivan collects you from your Diani Beach or Mombasa hotel around 6 am on day one and returns you after breakfast on day two.