2 Weeks Kenya Self-Drive Itinerary: My Honest Review
2 Weeks Kenya Self-Drive Itinerary: My Honest Review. Following our exceptional self-drive safari in Uganda, we opted to embark on a self-drive road adventure in South Kenya, which we highly endorse! We procured a 4×4 Land Cruiser Prado equipped with a rooftop tent and a sun deck for seeing wildlife in the National Parks, which proved to be an excellent choice! We camped directly in Hells Gate National Park on a picturesque mountain, so conserving substantial funds by avoiding accommodation in a premium lodge in Masai Mara. The autonomy afforded by possessing your own vehicle is unparalleled. In Masai Mara, you can employ a Masai guide for 20 USD per day, who will operate your vehicle and provide comprehensive insights. We integrated the National Parks with several days at the beach at the conclusion. If you have more days, you may also consider ascending Mount Kenya or visiting Pemba Island.
A Detailed 2 Weeks Kenya Self-Drive Itinerary
THE SAFARI OF A LIFETIME
1. Nairobi and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Day 1-2
What to do:
- Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (reserve a ticket as soon as possible, 4000 KES)
- Giraffe Center (honestly we don’t have the best feeling about this place, so we didn’t visit. They let the giraffes eat from tables in the hotel Giraffe Manor every day, which doesn’t seem very natural)
Where to eat:
- Boho Eatery: The best restaurant we’ve been in Kenya! The interior is so beautiful and they have a lot of healthy vegetarian and vegan food options.
- Art Cafés are always a good option for a coffee, you can find them everywhere in Kenya.
Where to stay:
- Jungle Junction: A campsite in a gated community in the South of Nairobi. A lot of people leave their car or caravan there until their next holiday. The owner is a funny german guy.
2. Hell’s Gate National Park, Day 2-4
What to do:
- Drive to the beautiful campsite for sunrise or sunset (entrance fee for the National Park 30 USD per person for a 24 hour ticket).
- Rent a bike at the entrance of the National Park and drive on the main road to the canyon.
- Get a guide at the canyon who shows you where Lion King and Tomb Raider was filmed.
Where to eat:
- There was no great place for eating. If you don’t stay in a lodge, bring some cooking gear and cook some food yourself!
Where to stay:
- Naiburta Campsite directly in the National Park with the best view from a hill!
- There are also two other campsites in The National Park: Ol Dubai and Endachata, but we found Naiburta the most beautiful one!
3. Masai Mara National Park, Day 4-8
What to do:
- Do a self-drive safari through Masai Mara National Park (only 12 hour tickets: 80 USD per day per person + 800 KES fo the car, 70 USD when you pay additionally for a campsite in the National Park)
- Get a Masai guide for a game drive: We can highly recommend Johnathan Lenjir! He knew every small path in the whole Masai Mara and could tell us exactly about the behavior of any animal.
- Visit a traditional Masai Mara village! On every gate there are several Masai villages who welcome tourists. Just ask your guide or your camp.
Where to eat:
- Honestly the best way is to eat either in a lodge or to bring a gas stove and something to cook. There are no nice restaurants. But you can get some bananas and water in the really small stores there.
Where to stay:
- Talek Gate: Rover Public Campsite (1.000 KES per person per night, outside the NP but only 5 minutes from the gate)
- Sekenani Gate: Oseki Camp (2.000 KES per person per night, nice owners, also very close to the gate)
Inside the National Park there is only Sand River Camp and a camp in the Mara triangle
Good to know:
- The street from Talek to Sekani Gate outside the National Park is very bumpy. Drive through the National Park instead!
- There are several gas stations (only cash payment) in Talek.
- Talek has an ATM.
- They just changed the 24 hour ticket to a 12 hour ticket.
- It’s allowed to enter the Mara triangle through the gate from Masai Mara NP with the normal ticket in the day. But to stay the night in Mara triangle, you have to tell them when buying the ticket. They didn’t let us drive to a camp in the Mara triangle in the evening, because we didn’t tell them before. The rules are very confusing there, and not really transparent.
- You can buy the 12 hour ticket directly at the gates with credit card.
- There are allot of women trying to sell jewelry in front of the gate, but there was no queue when we’ve been there.
4. Amboseli National Park, Day 8-9
What to do:
- Drive through Amboseli National Park yourself (honestly we don’t really think a guide is necessary, because you are only allowed to drive on a few big streets, 60 USD per person for a 24 hour ticket, you can buy it at the gate).
- Enjoy the views of Kilimanjaro. You can already see the mountain on your way to Amboseli!
Where to eat:
- It’s best to bring some food and cook yourself, since there is not a lot around Amboseli NP. Or you ask in some lodges.
Where to stay:
- Winni’s Campsite (1500 KES per person including firewood, very close to the gate)
5. Tsavo West National Park, Day 9-10
What to do:
- Do a self drive safari (52 USD per person for a 24 hour ticket, you can buy the ticket at the gate)
Where to eat:
- It’s best to bring some food and cook yourself, since there is not a lot around in Amboseli NP. Or you ask in some lodges.
Where to stay:
- Kudu Campsite (You can find it at the website of Kenya Wildlife Service, it’s located 2km from Rhodesia Gate Bridge, near Kilaguni lodge on the Tsavo River)
6. Beach days in Diani (South of Mombasa), Day 10-13
What to do:
- Nicest beach: between Soul Breeze and Pallet Café very calm and beautiful beach with no local sellers
- Kongo River sunset boat tour
- Secret beach: a small cove surrounded by rocks
- sail on a little wooden boat (ask the boatmen)
Where to eat:
- Salty Squit (nice and beautiful beach)
- Pallet Café with kite school
- Tribeearth: Ethopian restaurant with very nice people and smoothie bowls, try the traditional curry plate
Where to stay:
- We booked a small airbnb bungalow with a kitchen for 40 USD per night.
End of the 2 Weeks Kenya Self-Drive Itinerary