2-Day Safari from Mombasa or
Diani to Tsavo East National Park
Tour overview
This 2-day safari from Mombasa or Diani takes you into the wild and expansive Tsavo East National Park, one of Kenya’s oldest and most famous wildlife reserves. The journey begins with an early morning departure from your hotel, followed by a scenic drive into Tsavo East, a park known for its vast savannah, red-dusted elephants, and rich biodiversity.
Over the two days, you’ll experience exciting game drives, visit key landmarks like the Aruba Dam and the Yatta Plateau, and enjoy the peace and serenity of this unique park. The safari also offers the opportunity to encounter wildlife such as lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and, of course, the famous red elephants that Tsavo East is known for. After an unforgettable experience in the park, you’ll head back to your hotel in the evening, with memories of the spectacular landscapes and wildlife.
Summary - Day -By-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up early morning from your hotel in Mombasa or Diani South Coast, drive to Tsavo East, enjoy a midday game drive, visit Aruba Dam, overnight at Voi Safari Lodge or Manyatta Camp (full board).
Day 2: Early morning game drive, visit Yatta Plateau, lunch at the lodge, transfer back to Mombasa/Diani South Coast for drop-off at your hotel.
- Best time to go: January to March, and June to December.
- Tsavo East National Park Arrival and departure options
By road 160 kms Approx. 3 hrs ,30 Minutes from Diani South Coast and 3h 16m (167 km) via Mombasa Road/A109 from Nyali Beach Mombasa North coast.
By Sgr train from Mombasa Terminals to voi Sgr terminus 1 hr 55 minutes where a safari vehicle can pick you from to proceed with your safari in Tsavo East National Park.
2 Days Tsavo East National Park Safari prices -2026
| No. of Pax | 1 Pax | 2 Pax | 3 Pax | 4 Pax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per person | USD 751 | USD 490 | USD 450 | USD 410 |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Mombasa / Diani to Tsavo East
The adventure begins early in the morning when your guide will pick you up from your hotel in either Mombasa or Diani South Coast. If you’re coming from Mombasa, the drive to Tsavo East takes around 3-4 hours, while from Diani it’s about a 2-hour drive. As you drive through the beautiful Kenyan countryside, you’ll pass rural villages, small farms, and lush green landscapes, giving you a glimpse of local life. Along the way, there will be a short breakfast stop to recharge before continuing the journey.
By around 10:30 AM, you’ll arrive at Tsavo East National Park, one of Kenya’s largest parks, covering about 13,747 square kilometres. The park is renowned for its vast plains, dense bush, and strikingly red elephants that are often seen dust-bathing in the park. As you enter, your guide will provide a brief overview of the park’s history, including how Tsavo East was established in 1948 and how it’s home to a wide range of wildlife, including the “Big Five” (lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinoceros), as well as cheetahs, zebras, and an abundance of bird species.
Your first game drive will begin around 11:00 AM, taking you through the park’s diverse habitats. Tsavo East is known for its open savannah and bush, where large herds of elephants roam freely. During this game drive, you’re likely to encounter these iconic red elephants, whose reddish-brown colouring comes from the clay soil of the park. Your guide will share insights into the park’s ecology, including the history behind the famous Tsavo lions, which were once part of the “Man-Eaters of Tsavo” legend. As you drive deeper into the park, you may also spot giraffes, buffalo, warthogs, and a variety of bird species.
Around 1:00 PM, you’ll head to your lodge for lunch. Recommended accommodations include Voi Safari Lodge or Manyatta Camp, both of which are located within or near the park. These lodges offer full-board meal plans, with lunch served in a relaxing setting, often overlooking the park or waterholes where wildlife can be spotted. After lunch, you can relax for a bit before continuing your adventure.
In the afternoon, you’ll visit Aruba Dam, one of Tsavo East’s most iconic landmarks. The dam is a popular watering hole for a variety of wildlife, and you’re likely to see herds of elephants, buffaloes, and other animals gathering around to drink. The area also offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching, with numerous species of waterbirds and raptors.
Later, you’ll embark on a short evening game drive as the light softens and the wildlife becomes more active. This is a prime time for spotting nocturnal predators such as lions and leopards, as well as other species like hyenas and jackals. After the drive, you’ll return to your lodge for a full-board dinner, with a variety of delicious local and international dishes on offer. The evening is yours to relax and enjoy the tranquillity of the park before heading to bed.
Day 2: Tsavo East to Mombasa /Diani
On your second day, you’ll wake up early for an early morning game drive. This is the best time to see wildlife in action, as predators are often hunting, and herbivores are grazing in the cooler temperatures. During this drive, you may spot lions lounging in the bushes or cheetahs stalking their prey. The early morning light also provides excellent photography opportunities, capturing the vast landscapes of Tsavo East and the wildlife in their natural environment.
After the morning game drive, you’ll return to your lodge for a hearty breakfast, which you can enjoy while taking in the views of the park. Afterward, you’ll check out of the lodge and head toward the Yatta Plateau, a natural landmark that stretches for about 300 kilometres, making it one of the longest lava flows in the world. The plateau provides stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, and it’s also an excellent place for spotting wildlife. The area is particularly good for birdwatching, with a variety of raptors and smaller species inhabiting the region.
By 11:00 AM, you’ll return to the lodge for lunch. The lunch break will allow you to relax and enjoy a final meal at your lodge, soaking in the sights and sounds of Tsavo East before your departure.
After lunch, you’ll start your journey back to Mombasa or Diani. The drive from Tsavo East back to Mombasa usually takes about 3-4 hours, with a few stops along the way to stretch your legs and take photos of the beautiful scenery. If you’re staying in Diani, the drive will be shorter, about 2 hours.
By 5:30 PM, you’ll arrive at your hotel in Mombasa or Diani South Coast, marking the end of your memorable 2-day safari. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the incredible landscapes and wildlife of Tsavo East, and the unique experiences that this park has to offer.
Accommodation options in Tsavo East National Park.
- Manyatta Camp: Aromantic Luxury Camp in Tsavo East- price range from USD125 per person sharing a twin room.
- Satoa camp: A Tented Camp within Tsavo East National Park near the Seasonal Voi River. – Price Range from USD 120 per person Sharing.
- Sentirm Tsavo lodge:- luxury Lodge Located 40 kilometres from the Buchuma Gate-Price Range from USD 90 per person sharing in a twin room.
- Voi Safari Lodge:- Mid range lodge located in Tsavo East national park, Price Range; from USD 120 per person sharing in a twin Standard tent.
Highlights & Fun Facts About Tsavo East National Park:
Tsavo East is known for its distinctive red elephants, which are one of the park’s most iconic features. The elephants get their red colour from the dust in the park’s soil, which they roll in for protection from the sun and insects. This unique characteristic sets them apart from elephants in other parts of Kenya.
The “Man-Eaters of Tsavo” refers to a pair of lions that famously killed a large number of workers during the construction of the Kenya-Uganda Railway in 1898. The lions’ skins and skulls were eventually brought to the Field Museum in Chicago, where they are still on display today.
The Aruba Dam is one of the most important water sources in Tsavo East, and it is an excellent spot for wildlife viewing, particularly during the dry season when animals gather in large numbers around the water.
Tsavo East also boasts a rich variety of birdlife, with over 500 species recorded in the park. This makes it a paradise for birdwatchers, with opportunities to spot everything from large raptors to smaller, colourful songbirds.
The Yatta Plateau offers a unique geological feature, as it is one of the longest lava flows in the world, stretching over 300 Kilometres. The views from the plateau are breathtaking, and the area is a great spot to reflect on the grandeur of Tsavo East.
2 Days Tsavo East National Park Safari prices -2026
| No. of Pax | 1 Pax | 2 Pax | 3 Pax | 4 Pax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per person | USD 751 | USD 490 | USD 450 | USD 410 |
Included Services
- Pick up and drop off at North coast Mombasa or at south coast Diani.
- All park-entry fees.
- 4×4 Special safari vehicle.
- Bottled water while on safari and snacks.
- Private Safari Driver-guide.
- 1 Nights at a Safari camp in Voi or within the Tsavo East National Park on FB Meal plan.
Booking Procedure
Upon booking your 2 days Tsavo East National Park Safari with Amet Adventures an invoice with our banking details will be shared, Deposit required upfront via wire transfer is 50% of the tour price and final balance to be settled 21 days prior safari date. Bookings made within 21 days to the trip date should be paid in full amount.