Quick Facts
| Duration | 3 days / 2 nights |
|---|---|
| Style | Private safari — your own vehicle and guide |
| Vehicle | 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep with pop-up roof |
| Destinations | Tsavo East National Park, Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Pickup | Watamu or Malindi hotels |
| Price From | USD 710–1,340 pp (season-dependent, 2–6 people sharing) |
| Best For | Coastal travellers wanting a real Big Five safari without giving up more than three days of a beach holiday |
This is a 3-day, 2-night private safari from Watamu to Tsavo East National Park and the Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. You travel in a private 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep with your own driver-guide. No group van, no shared itinerary, no fixed departure times.
Tsavo East is Kenya's largest national park. It's known for its red-dust elephants, the Galana River, and open savannah that holds game year-round. Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary sits next door, a private 28,000-acre reserve with lion, cheetah, giraffe, and over 300 bird species. Most travellers stay at Salt Lick Safari Lodge here, famous for its stilted rooms built over a floodlit waterhole.
This route works well if you're based on the coast and want a real Big Five safari without giving up more than three days of your beach holiday. Pickup and drop-off are at your Watamu or Malindi hotel.
Safari Highlights
- 3 days / 2 nights across two destinations
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep with pop-up roof
- Tsavo East's red-dust elephants, Galana River and Aruba Dam
- Mudanda Rock panoramic views
- Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, a private 28,000-acre reserve
- Over 300 recorded bird species
- Option to stay at Salt Lick Safari Lodge, over a floodlit waterhole
- Pickup and drop-off at your Watamu or Malindi hotel
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Watamu to Tsavo East
Early pickup from your hotel, around 6:00–6:30 AM. The drive to Tsavo East takes roughly 3 to 3.5 hours. You enter through the Sala or Buchuma gate and go straight into an afternoon game drive, covering the Galana River and Aruba Dam area.
Lunch is at your lodge inside or near the park. Expect elephants, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and good odds on lion. Dinner and overnight at a Tsavo East lodge (Voi Safari Lodge, Ashnil Aruba, or similar, depending on your package tier).
Day 2: Tsavo East to Taita Hills
Morning game drive in Tsavo East before checkout, often including a stop at Mudanda Rock for panoramic park views. After breakfast, drive to Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, about 1.5 to 2 hours.
Arrive in time for lunch at Salt Lick Safari Lodge or Taita Hills Safari Resort. Afternoon game drive inside the sanctuary. Dinner and overnight at your Taita Hills lodge, with waterhole views from your room if you're at Salt Lick.
Day 3: Taita Hills to Watamu
Early morning game drive in Taita Hills, if wildlife activity is worth the extra hour, then breakfast at the lodge.
Check out mid-morning and begin the return drive to Watamu, arriving early to mid-afternoon depending on traffic and pace. Drop-off at your hotel.
Get Free Quote ›Tour Cost & Pricing
Private safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep, per person sharing, in USD.
Season Guide
- Low SeasonApril to mid-June, November
- High SeasonJuly to October, late December to March
- Peak SeasonChristmas and New Year, 20 December–5 January
Private Land Cruiser Safari Rates (Per Person Sharing)
| Season | 2 People | 4 People | 6 People |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Season | $920 | $780 | $710 |
| High Season | $1,150 | $980 | $890 |
| Peak Season | $1,340 | $1,140 | $1,040 |
What's Included & Excluded
| ✓ | Private 4x4 Land Cruiser jeep with pop-up roof, no shared vehicle, no group tour |
| ✓ | Professional English-speaking driver-guide throughout |
| ✓ | Hotel pickup and drop-off in Watamu or Malindi |
| ✓ | All park entry fees (Tsavo East and Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary) |
| ✓ | 2 nights accommodation, per your chosen lodge tier |
| ✓ | Full board: breakfast, lunch, and dinner from Day 1 lunch to Day 3 breakfast |
| ✓ | All game drives listed in the itinerary |
| ✓ | Bottled drinking water in the vehicle |
| ✓ | 24/7 ground support from our team |
| ✗ | International and domestic flights |
| ✗ | Visa or Kenya eTA fees |
| ✗ | Travel insurance |
| ✗ | Alcoholic and bottled drinks at the lodge (outside of meals) |
| ✗ | Tips for your driver-guide and lodge staff |
| ✗ | Personal expenses, laundry, and phone/wifi charges at lodges |
| ✗ | Optional extras: night game drives, bush breakfasts, spa treatments (available on request, at extra cost) |
Getting There
You don't need to arrange anything. Your safari starts and ends at your Watamu or Malindi hotel. Our driver-guide picks you up in the private Land Cruiser and handles the full route: Watamu to Tsavo East (about 3 to 3.5 hours by road), then Tsavo East to Taita Hills (about 1.5 to 2 hours), then the return leg back to the coast on Day 3.
If you're flying into Kenya, arrive into Moi International Airport (Mombasa) or Malindi Airport, and settle into your coastal hotel before your safari start date. We build the safari around your existing hotel booking and travel dates, so there's no separate transfer to arrange.
