Tsavo East Safari from Diani Beach: 4WD game drive with lunch

Hunt for lions and elephants across Tsavo East's red plains

A dawn-to-dusk safari from Diani Beach to Tsavo East National Park in a 4WD jeep, with an English-speaking guide, park entry, lunch and hotel pickup included. The 2.5-hour drive crosses the Likoni ferry and the Nairobi–Mombasa highway to reach the park before sunrise, leaving at least 6 hours for game viewing. You'll search for the ecosystem's 700 Tsavo lions, dust-red elephants, rhinos, buffalo, leopards and giraffes across two separate drives, with a midday break at a lodge overlooking the plains. Drop-off back at your Diani hotel or beach resort happens around 6:30 PM.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tsavo East National Park Safari

• Depart Diani before dawn
• Cross Likoni ferry
• Drive 2.5 hours on Nairobi-Mombasa highway
• Stop for breakfast or refreshments
• Begin game viewing in Tsavo East
• Have lunch at rustic restaurant or safari lodge
• Extra game viewing after lunch
• Depart Tsavo East for Diani beach
• Arrive Diani/Tiwi beach around 6:30 PM

The experience

The jeep picks you up before dawn at your Diani Beach hotel and heads inland. After crossing the Likoni ferry, the 2.5-hour drive along smooth tarmac passes through farmland and scrub before reaching the park gate, where there's a short stop for breakfast or water (at your own cost). Once inside Tsavo East, the real work begins: two separate game drives with your guide scanning the red dust and grassland for movement. Herds of elephants, prides of lions, solitary rhinos and buffalo moving across the plains. The park's 700 Tsavo lions are the draw, but you're equally likely to spot cheetahs, leopards, hippos, giraffes, gerenuk and dik-dik.

Lunch happens midday at a rustic restaurant or safari lodge with views across the Tsavo East plains: a buffet meal included in your price. After eating, if time allows, there's another game drive before the long return journey. The jeep leaves the park in the late afternoon and retraces the highway back to Diani, arriving around 6:30 PM. The round trip covers roughly 400 kilometers, and the whole day runs from before sunrise to after sunset, so bring sunscreen, a hat and a camera with a full battery.

What’s included

• Private 4WD jeep transportation from Diani Beach.
• Likoni ferry crossing.
• park entrance fees.
• services of an English-speaking safari guide (Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language available).
• buffet lunch at a lodge or restaurant.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• hotel pickup and drop-off at Diani, Tiwi or other South Coast locations.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 41 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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Natural World Kenya Safaris Diani

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Diani Beach or the South Coast without a rental car. The jeep collects you from your hotel before dawn, handles the ferry crossing and the full 400-kilometer round trip, and returns you by evening, so you don't arrange any transport yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

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 am I most likely to see at Tsavo East?

Tsavo East is home to nearly 700 lions, so sightings are common. You'll also see dust-red elephants in large herds, rhinos, buffalo, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles and smaller species like gerenuk and dik-dik. What you spot depends on the season and where the herds are grazing on the day you visit.

How long is the drive from Diani Beach to the park?

The drive takes approximately 2.5 hours along the Nairobi–Mombasa highway after you cross the Likoni ferry. You'll depart Diani before dawn, so the journey happens mostly in the early morning while it's still cool.

Is lunch included in the safari price?

Yes, a buffet lunch at a lodge or rustic restaurant overlooking the Tsavo East plains is included. Breakfast or refreshments at the park gate are not included, so bring cash if you want to eat or drink there.

What time does the jeep pick me up and drop me off?

The jeep collects you from your Diani Beach hotel before dawn to catch the African sunrise. Drop-off back at your Diani or Tiwi beach hotel happens around 6:30 PM after the return drive.

Do I need my own transport to get to Diani Beach for pickup?

No, pickup and drop-off at your Diani Beach, Tiwi, Mombasa port, Bamburi or Kilifi beach hotel or resort is included in the price. Tell the operator where you're staying when you book.