8-Day Masai Mara & Diani Bush & Beach Fly-In Safari

Masai Mara & Diani

Rates From $5,580

FamilyFly-InLuxuryMulti-DestinationSafari & Beach7–9 DaysKenya
Explore Kenya Safaris

About This Tour

This classic journey balances the raw energy of Kenya’s premier wildlife reserve with the quiet relaxation of the Indian Ocean coastline. Designed primarily for couples and families seeking a classic, unhurried introduction to East Africa, the trip provides a seamless transition between two distinct ecosystems. Travelers experience world-class game viewing before flying directly to the coast to unwind.

The adventure begins with a flight from Nairobi into the heart of the Masai Mara for a three-night immersion among the resident wildlife. Days follow the natural rhythm of the wilderness with early morning and afternoon wildlife drives. From the open plains, a direct domestic flight carries travelers south to Diani Beach for four nights of coastal rest beside the warm ocean waters.

Travelers move between destinations with ease, utilizing scheduled flights to eliminate long road journeys. The pacing allows for deep exploration in the bush followed by completely open, unscheduled days by the sea. This balance ensures guests return home feeling thoroughly restored rather than fatigued by travel.

Our Community Impact

Every journey directly supports local communities by paying mandatory conservation fees that protect ancestral lands and sustain indigenous livelihoods. The safari prioritizes properties that hire staff from neighboring villages, ensuring that tourism revenue directly funds local families, health initiatives, and education.

Our Sustainability Promise

Johnbow partners exclusively with eco-conscious lodges that practice responsible waste management and actively reduce single-use plastics. By utilizing scheduled domestic flights and shared open-vehicle game drives, the itinerary minimizes the overall carbon footprint per traveler while protecting fragile wildlife habitats from overcrowding.

Why This Safari Works

The layout of this itinerary succeeds because it respects traveler energy levels and eliminates the exhaustion of long overland driving. Spending three full nights in the Masai Mara allows guests to settle into the wilderness without feeling rushed, maximizing their chances of witnessing diverse wildlife behaviors. Moving straight from the dusty savanna to a four-night coastal stay provides a profound physical and mental reset. It works exceptionally well for first-time safari guests and couples who want a mix of high-intensity wildlife viewing and total coastal relaxation. Gentle personalization, such as adding a hot air balloon flight, is easily accommodated.

Your Trip at a Glance

A snapshot of your entire experience, from key highlights to where you'll stay and what to expect each day.

  • Beach Activities
  • Big Five Experience
  • Bush Breakfast / Bush Dinner
  • City Tours
  • Couple
  • Cultural Visits
  • Family
  • Flight Transfer (Fly-in)
  • Fly-In Safari
  • Full Board
  • Game Drives
  • Great Migration

Trip Summary

  • Day 1: Nairobi to Masai Mara
  • Day 2: Masai Mara National Reserve
  • Day 3: Masai Mara National Reserve
  • Day 4: Masai Mara to Diani Beach
  • Day 5, 6 & 7: Diani Beach
  • Day 8: Diani Beach to Nairobi

Destinations

  • Masai Mara National Reserve
  • Diani Beach

Where You Stay

  • Masai Mara: Sand River Masai Mara (3 Nights)
  • Diani Beach: Nomad Beach Resort (4 Nights)

Safari Highlights

  • Flying over the Great Rift Valley on a scenic flight to the Mara.
  • Watching herds of elephants traverse the seasonal Sand River.
  • Experiencing morning light filtering across the open African savanna.
  • Toasting the sunset with a traditional drink in the middle of the bush.
  • Flying directly from the wild bush to the white sands of the coast.
  • Walking along the quiet, soft sands of Diani Beach.
  • Dining under the stars within sound of the breaking ocean waves.
  • Spotting resident pods of dolphins in the warm Indian Ocean waters.

Featured Destinations

Where You Stay

Route Map

Day-by-Day Itinerary

8-Day Masai Mara & Diani Bush & Beach Fly-In Safari

Itinerary Highlights

  • Board a scheduled morning flight from Wilson Airport over the Rift Valley.

  • Touch down on the Mara plains and take a slow drive to camp.

  • Head out on an afternoon wildlife drive as the air cools.

Itinerary information

Travelers leave the bustle of Nairobi behind on a short, scenic flight that lands directly in the wilderness. After settling into the permanent tented camp, the first afternoon drive introduces the rich wildlife of the region. The day closes with a quiet dinner surrounded by the sounds of the bush.

  • Meals: Lunch and Dinner

  • Accommodation: Sand River Masai Mara

Itinerary Highlights

  • Set out into the dew-covered savanna during the crisp morning hours.

  • Watch apex predators tracking game across the golden grasslands.

  • Share stories over an outdoor lunch served beneath an acacia tree.

Itinerary information

The day follows the traditional safari rhythm, split between early morning and late afternoon excursions when wildlife is most active. Guides navigate the tracks to observe elephants, lions, and plains game going about their day. Midday hours are reserved for resting at the camp overlooking the river corridor.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

  • Accommodation: Sand River Masai Mara

7 Day Amboseli & Masai Mara Fly In Safari

Itinerary Highlights

  • Enjoy a complete breakfast set up in a remote corner of the reserve.

  • Follow the river’s winding paths to spot resident hippo pods.

  • Watch the sky turn deep orange during a classic sundowner stop.

Itinerary information

A dedicated full day in the reserve provides the flexibility to venture deeper into outlying areas. Travelers spend hours observing complex wildlife interactions without a rigid schedule. The final evening in the Mara concludes with a peaceful drink out on the plains as dusk falls.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

  • Accommodation: Sand River Masai Mara

Diani Beach

Itinerary Highlights

  • Take a final look at the savanna during the morning airstrip transfer.

  • Board the coastal flight and watch the landscape turn to blue ocean.

  • Step onto the white sands of Diani Beach by late afternoon.

Itinerary information

After a final breakfast in the bush, travelers board a scheduled flight out of the reserve. The plane leaves the grasslands behind and lands directly on the coast. Guests unpack for a multi-night stay, trading the sounds of cicadas for the rhythmic lap of the sea.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

  • Accommodation: Nomad Beach Resort

7-Day Samburu, Laikipia and Masai Mara Fly-In Safari

Itinerary Highlights

  • Wake up to the gentle breeze blowing through the palms.

  • Walk along the soft shoreline before the midday heat arrives.

  • Dine on fresh, locally caught seafood right by the water.

Itinerary information

The coastal slowdown begins with a day entirely free of schedules. Travelers can swim in the warm Indian Ocean, lounge by the pool, or read a book under a shaded canopy. The atmosphere is completely relaxed, letting the impressions of the safari sink in.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

  • Accommodation: Nomad Beach Resort

Itinerary Highlights

  • Enjoy a final tropical breakfast looking out at the sea.

  • Meet your driver for the short transfer to the local airstrip.

  • Fly back to Nairobi to connect with your onward travel.

Itinerary information

After checking out, a brief road transfer brings travelers to the airstrip for their flight back to Nairobi. The journey concludes upon arrival at the domestic hub, leaving guests ready for their international flights home.

  • Meals: Breakfast

  • Accommodation: End of Itinerary

JohnBow Safari Expert Insight

❝ We intentionally choose scheduled flights for this bush and beach combination to save you twelve hours of bumpy road travel, preserving your energy for the wilderness and the waves. ❞

~JohnBow Safari Expert Team

Rates

Competitive rates for unforgettable experiences

SeasonDate Range2 Guests4 Guests6 Guests
Peak Season1 July – 30 Sept, 2026$6,590$5,655$5,580

Important Rate Notes

  • Room rates and internal flight seats vary dynamically based on seasonal occupancy levels.
  • Single room supplements apply to solo travelers or bookings requiring separate rooms.
  • Child policies and age limits vary significantly across safari camps and require validation.
  • Internal flight schedules may shift slightly, but our ground team manages all adjustments seamlessly.

What's Included

  • Accommodation and Meals: 7 nights of accommodation on a full board meal plan as detailed.
  • Transport and Logistics: All airstrip, airport, and hotel transfers handled in private vehicles.
  • Internal Flights: Scheduled domestic flights connecting Nairobi, the Mara, and Diani Beach.
  • Park Fees and Activities: All reserve entry fees and twice-daily scheduled game drives.
  • Guiding and Support: Professional English-speaking local driver-guides and mineral water during drives.
  • Special Experiences: One bush breakfast or lunch experience and a sunset sundowner stop.

Optional Addons

  • Maasai Cultural Visit: Meet a local community to learn about traditional homestead life.
  • Hot Air Balloon Safari: Float over the Mara plains at sunrise, followed by a champagne breakfast.
  • Wasini Island Excursion: Board a dhow to snorkel and look for marine wildlife.
  • Bora Bora Wildlife Park: Take a guided walk through a preserved coastal forest sanctuary.

What's Not Included

  • International flights to and from Nairobi.
  • Entry visas for Kenya and personal travel or medical insurance.
  • Premium drinks, alcoholic beverages, and laundry services at the properties.
  • Tips, gratuities for guides and staff, and personal spending money.
  • Midday picnic lunch boxes on transfer days.
  • Costs for any optional excursions or activities chosen on-site.

Plan your journey

Practical reading to help you compare routes, timing and costs.

Ready to start planning your Safari? Tell us your travel dates, who you are traveling with, and what matters most to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Driving between these two points requires an exhausting two-day overland journey back through Nairobi. Flying takes less than two hours, which saves you an entire day of travel and allows you to go from a morning game drive straight to an afternoon walk on the beach.
Because the internal flights use smaller aircraft, there is a strict limit of 15kg (33lbs) per person, and bags must be soft-sided. Soft duffel bags pack easily into the tight cargo holds, whereas hard plastic suitcases cannot fit and will be rejected at the gate.
The migration herds typically visit the Mara between July and October. However, this itinerary works beautifully year-round because the Sand River area hosts exceptional resident lion prides, leopards, and elephants that stay in the territory permanently, even when the migratory herds are away.

See What Our Travellers Have To Say

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Dorcas Munga profile picture
Dorcas Munga
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Great planning and communication. My trips have been smooth. All expectations met 💯
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Mike Bourassa profile picture
Mike Bourassa
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Our driver, Patrick, made the experience even more special with his outgoing personality and his knowledge of each park. He always made certain that he positioned his vehicle just right so we could get a perfect photo. He shared a lot about African culture an answered our questions. His keen eye spotted a cheetah from a long distance and we experienced the animal stalk and catch his prey (only to have a hyena steal it from him at the end). The accommodations were excellent at Massai Mara but were a bit too primitive at Amboseli. The large openings between the sleeping area and the bathroom brought way too many bugs into the tent. Wonderful memories of the entire experience!! We hope to come back next year and Patrick will be our choice of guide.
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Kate Mandere
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Wonderful team, very warm, helpful and well coordinated!
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Emmy Chepkoech
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I recently booked my 1st trip with Johnbow Tours and Travel and it was an outstanding experience from the start to finish. The team was professional, well-organised, helpful and incredibly friendly. Transfer to my hotel room and back was handled smoothly allowing us to relax and enjoy our journey. The fact that they allow lipa mdogo mdogo was not overwhelming paying for the package...I can't wait to book again with Johnbow 😊
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Gloria Kikete
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Jonbow has offers seamless travel service with a personal touch.
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Lolo Chgn
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Safaris de 5 jours depart Nairobi et arrivée à Diani beach Visite des parcs d’amboseli, tsavo ouest et est , t.hills Découverte d une faune magnifique Notre chauffeur Chombo a tout fait pour rechercher les animaux et il était à notre écoute ! Dépaysement total garanti Les hôtels étaient tout confort avec des conditions d’alimentation en eau et électricité précaire ! Nous remercions vraiment Morris et Chombo pour ce magnifique Safari
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Irene Nduku
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Excellent services, the team was friendly, efficient and went above and beyond to meet my need.Their service was prompt and effective. I highly recommend
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Cheyenne van den B
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We had a two day tour with Johnbow Tours & Travel to Tsavo West. The park itself is not that good to be honest, but we stayed at Salt Lick lodge and that was amazing. The animals are coming so close to the lodge, it is really beautiful to see. The driver Pius was also really nice and he had a lot of knowledge about the animals. I have been in contact with Morris and that was also really pleasant because of the arrangement we had.
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virginia mumo
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As a team of 12pax..we had an exceptional good experience with the Johnbow team. Well informed and humble team who contributed a lot to an enjoyable trip and creating memories.
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Stay06810033473
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Customer Servive Customer service was great!Communication was timely and effective especially as there were some flight changes.Either way the bookings were perfect, customer service was exceptional and we even got a treat for our anniversary, at no extra costElijah and Sam were very helpful.
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Annette M
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Exceptional Experience with Johnbow Tours and Travel! I had an unforgettable trip to Bali and Thailand, the guides were amazing, the places beautiful and the itinerary on point. Bali has very many temples and beautiful rice terraces, the swings and sunset views unforgettable. thank you Johnbow for the tour.
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KSP
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Memorable Safari with a Great Team and Guide We had a really good experience with Johnbow Tours during our Kenya safari. Morris, our main point of contact, was communicative and professional throughout. He stayed in touch via WhatsApp both before and during the trip, answering all our questions quickly and clearly, which gave us a lot of confidence going in.The pricing felt fair for what we received, and the Land Cruiser was comfortable, especially considering the long drives. They also provided snacks at the start of the trip upon request, which was thoughtful.Our guide, Paul, was very knowledgeable. He had a sharp eye for spotting animals and shared interesting facts about everything we saw. We had plenty of game drives and were lucky to spot a wide variety of wildlife.The only small issue was around water. We had been told water would be included throughout, but at a couple of the lodges, we were charged for drinking water, tea, or coffee during meals. It wasn’t a big deal, but having clarity on that from the start would’ve been helpful.Overall, it was a smooth and enjoyable safari. The team was dependable, the schedule was well planned, and we felt taken care of from start to finish. I’d absolutely recommend Johnbow to anyone planning a private safari in Kenya.
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Alain V
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A great experience, a must for everyone who reads this Jonbow, our driver who has the same name as the agency, took very good care of us. He was on time for the appointment. Once on the road he was super attentive. In the park he was always the first to spot the game. He gave us very good explanations about all the animals we saw. No effort was too much to make us spot all the game. Super friendly and helpful guy. He operates from Mombasa/Diani Beach. He made sure that our safari will remain unforgettable.
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winnie a
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Dubai tour 2024 was a birthday gift to my son who turned lucky number seven. I writing to thank you for coordinating our trip to UAE, dubai. Everything was perfect; the flight, the hotel was clean and all staff were friendly and professional. Special thanks to Mary Gathua as she was the one who coordinated everything for us.The tour guides were excellent! They made things as easy for us as possible. I really appreciate these and that indicate the quality services that they provide.We had dubai town tour and our guide, Mr. Albert did exceptionally well. We learnt about the origin of UAE and the important features in dubai. We had dhow cruise with dinner, and the dessert safari with dinner.Desert safari was the best of the trip (the driver , Mr . Zaheer was very professional, and the overall experience was thrilling and amazing). The desert safari remains in my priority to do list when I visit dubai next.I would certainly recommend Johnbow Tours and travel to anyone wanting to visit Dubai. Thank you again and look forward to plan our next vacation with you.
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maryanne o
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Awesome Best tour company ..travelled to Dubai in Emirates .Booked the best hotel in Dubai..Johnbow staff are friendly and accommodatve I rate them10/10 they're affordable too .
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M A
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Superb service Happy New Year! Eunice managed our travel plans superbly, and I’m grateful. Our stay at Pride Inn was delightful; the staff’s service, food, attention, and entertainment made our holiday special and memorable. Thanks again for your excellent services.
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gladys n
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Efficient Eunice of John Bow ,was pretty helpful from getting us a hotel to SGR tickets, and transfers to the hotel.She also called to ensure we arrived safely.I loved the seamless process and especially because we chat on whatsapp mostly. Johnbow tours keep their word! I would choose them again.
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Christine N
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Awesome experience This travel company was very efficient. I engaged them on whatsapp in the morning and by afternoon they had finalised everything including the sgr tickets. Their staff Eunice was readily available even at night because we did night travel. And early morning at 4 am, she called to find out if the driver had picked us. I would recommend them anytime
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Sabina M
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It was a time of relaxation and fun. The trip was well planned from Nairobi to Maasai Mara. We had so much fun and took so many photos. We saw lions, cheetahs, elephants and other animals. If we could do it again, we would still chose Johnbow tours and travel.