From €2,230 pp | 13 days
Combine the freedom of a road trip with the ease of a well-planned itinerary! This popular one-way self-drive takes you from Kenya’s iconic bush to the warm, sandy shores of the coast. It’s short, sweet, and packed with highlights.
This self-drive tour includes airport pick-up & drop-off, 4×4 car rental, a train ticket from Emali to Mombasa, a practical roadbook and hand-picked accommodations. Scroll below to view our day-to-day itinerary, including realistic driving times, route directions, and travel tips for Kenya.
Prices are per person, based on 2 people sharing a Land Cruiser Troopy and travelling off-season. You can choose your accommodation preferences below.
Peak season: July – September.
Prefer a private guided road trip? Travel with a driver-guide! This is an option you can select in the online booking form.
Handpicked lodges (a mix of full board and bed & breakfast)
4×4 car rental with unlimited mileage
2x airport transfers
Car delivery to and pick up from your hotel
Train ticket Emali – Mombasa
Car insurance
24/7 roadside assistance
Kenya roadbook and day-to-day travel notes
Driver – guide
Book your 4×4 self-drive tour with stays in campsites, mid-range lodges or luxury retreats – or tailor the trip completely to your wishes.
We hired a Toyota Land-cruiser for 3 weeks. Although they are not the newest models they’re simply the best vehicle to have (sorry Land Rover!). The Toyota’s at Road Trip Africa are well maintained with reassurance of a great support staff.
Kenya was our second experience with Roadtrip Africa. We decided to hire a driver-guide so we could all enjoy the safari experience without the potential car stress. We learned from his experience living in Kenya and he has great ideas for activities beyond game driving, which came in super handy.
We had a great experience with Roadtrip Africa from start to finish! Our guide Robert was a kind, knowledgeable, warm and organized local who made all the difference. We really got the local experience with him and had such a good time together.
We recommend 13 days for this Roads, Rails & Waves itinerary.
If you’re flying out of Mombasa, Moi International Airport is about 50 km (90 minutes) from Diani. Flying from Nairobi? You can take a domestic flight from Moi or Diani, or hop on the comfortable Madaraka Express train, which gets you back to Nairobi in about six hours.
Road conditions
Most main roads, especially those to and from Nairobi, are smooth tarmac and in good condition. The A109 highway between Nairobi and Mombasa is the exception: ongoing construction and heavy traffic from buses, cars, and slow trucks can make overtaking unsafe. It’s best to relax, keep your distance, and go with the flow.
For more tips, see our Driving in Kenya blog.
This 2-week itinerary can be travelled year-round.
Safari
Kenya is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit depends on what you’re after. The dry seasons (June to October & January to February) offer the best wildlife viewing, while the rains from March to May & November bring lush landscapes and fewer tourists.
Beach
Most travellers visit Kenyan beaches from December to March and July to October, when it’s sunny and dry. April to June and November bring more rain and higher humidity, though this also means fewer visitors and a chill vibe. For kitesurfing, Diani and Galu Beach are at their best from mid-December to March and again from June to September, when the winds are most reliable.
Check out our blog ‘The best time to visit Kenya’ for more details.
Masai Mara: when to go?
Wildlife viewing in the Mara is excellent all year. Your choice depends on the experience you want:
Tip: The Mara uses seasonal pricing. From January to June, rates are about USD100 per person per day. From July to December, rates rise to USD200 per person per day.
Kenya is the birthplace of safari, and hospitality here is an art. We work with small-scale, eco-friendly lodges that offer good value and a warm welcome. Our team knows Kenya well – we’ve worked and travelled here for years, so we make sure you’ll stay in places we genuinely recommend.
Nature, atmosphere and hospitality
From tented camps in the Maasai Mara to boutique lodges on the Indian Ocean, every stay combines comfort with nature and local craftsmanship. And then there’s the food. Bush breakfasts, sundowners, and dinners by the campfire; meals here are just as memorable as any game drive.
What our travellers love most? The diversity, the atmosphere and the famously warm Kenyan hospitality. Many lodges are community-run, so your stay directly supports conservation and local people.
Curious? Click the orange arrow to browse photos of some of the lodges you’ll stay in.
Our Roads, Rails & Waves tour is available in three styles and price ranges:
Travelling through Kenya on your own gives you a real sense of freedom. At the same time, preparing a road trip here takes some thought. From more than a decade of experience, we’ve seen that our travellers get the most out of Kenya when we help them plan their itinerary and accommodation – leaving more space to enjoy the journey itself. That’s what our self-drive tours in Kenya are all about.
This page brings together practical guidance for your trip. We’ve selected 12 important topics covering self-driving and independent travel in Kenya, including useful tips and common questions. They’ll help you prepare with confidence before setting off.
