12-Day Itinerary to Explore & Connect to the Bush in Kenya

You're likely to arrive in the Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO.) Check into your hotel and then grab a cocktail and explore the different cuisines at the Nairobi Street Kitchen designed as a food hall so you can get a taste of what Kenya has to offer. The best quick snack is the mandazi bread. The dish is a form of fried bread originated from the Swahili Coast.Then, head to the rooftop for dinner or shop for a stylish gift.

Roam the City

Get to know the city and surrounding area in Nairobi before you head to the next one. Learn about the Kenyan culture by booking a City Street Tour Guided by Children. Walk through the African Heritage House to explore the luxurious rooms and African art and furnishings with modern appointments. Then, grab a bite to eat at the MAMA Oliech Restaurant. For the ladies, you can get your hair braided for a very reasonable price at the Divas Beauty Spot.

For dinner, I recommend dinner at Carnivore Restaurant for all your eat buffet or try some new exotic dishes.

There are various options to offer when it comes to connecting to the bush and what type of safari experience you might be looking for. Head of the Giraffe Centre (NBO) to get close and comfortable to giraffes right in the heart of the city. Or visit the Nairobi Animal Orphanage is located in the Nairobi National Park. It serves a treatments and rehabilitation centre for wild animals. The Orphanage hosts lions, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, serval cats, rare Sokoke cats, warthogs, leopards, various monkeys, baboons and buffalo. Various birds can also be viewed including parrots, guinea fowls, crowned cranes and ostriches.

Then, explore the Nairobi National Park Elephant Orphanage /Giraffe Center that offers Souvenir Shopping Tour.

If you want to heighten your safari experience. Then, you can catch a short flight or book a Masai Mara Safari (2 Day Trip) that returns back to Nairobi. This takes you through a driving safari including intensive wildlife viewing drives in search of the Big Five.

Enjoy this amazing safari in a customized pop-up roof Natural World 4×4 Safari Jeep that has: Portable fridge/Cooler Box, 4 Binoculars, long-range high-frequency radio, Sand bags, 4G/LTE broadband WIFI connectivity, Power Outlets AC 230V, First Aid Kit, Safari Guide Books, Baby Seats (on request), Side steps (on request) and above all a professional multi-lingual safari guide that will ensure you have a memorable safari experience.

The Overnight Express Masai Mara safari departs Nairobi before dawn to maximize on wildlife viewing possibilities.

The Beach Side and Street Style - Catch a one- way flight from Nairobi (NBO) to Diani Beach (UKA.) Then, check into The Villa Luxury Suites Hotel. After you have explored the hotel and unpacked your bags, head over to the beautiful and luxurious Swahili Beach Spa and Resort. This a great option to stay in as well. You can relax at the pool and spa for the day here. There are great spa services to offer and access to the sandy beach and blue waters.

Then, enjoy a magical fine dining experience that look at the stars inside an exotic cave at the Ali Barbour's Cave Restaurant. Looking for more fun? Catch a tuktuk to the Tandoori Bar for drinks and local music.

But don't stay out too late because you pack you bags and head to Mombassa.

From Diani Beach, catch a hour taxi to head to Mombassa to immerse in Ethiopian culture and try various street foods and learn more about the street style. This city is better-known for the Polynesian Street food. I highly recommend grabbing lunch at Barka (visited by Obama) or Polynesian street food nearby on the near by strip. Then, hop in a tuktuk and explore the Mombassa City Tour or visit the Old Town and Temples.

End the night at the Tamarind Mombasa - Dhow and Restaurant to look over the marineaand enjoy their blacken salmon dish.

Are your tired yet or want more? Continue your adventure side and drive to Malindi (1 hour) from Mombassa. Check into a beautiful compound, resort or hotel. Then, adventure for a morning beach walk to the Mambrui Dunes. Walk the beach and indulge in a photo opportunity to capture the golden sand and sandy dunes. Most tuktuks venture out to this quiet hidden beach. Malindhi has a heavy Italian cultural and beautiful big houses, you might even see Naomi Campbell's.

Then, transport from your accommodation by taxi or minibus to Marafa Hell's Kitchen for a quick dune hike with only an entrance ticket fee. Then, cool off at dinner at Seafront Swahili Dishes.

Lamu, Kenya is a very religious town but has resort and restaurants for tourist within a 5 minute boat ride away. Great experience for a more old African town culture and upmarket hidden luxury beach clubs and houses.

Fly from Mobasa (Moi International Airport)to Lamu (Manda Airport) - on a Local Airline.
Then by arrangement or availability, you can catch a $5 boat from the airport to the town.
Check into a Airbnb suites (there are many beautiful compounds with Swahili style complexes) or Lamu House Hotel.

Lamu has two towns that have very distinctive lifestyles to choose from. Old Town gives you the Swahili heritage culture, while the Shela Village gives you the upmarket and boutique luxury living. Then, grab a dinner experience or arrange a chef to dine at the Lamu House Moonrise Restaurant. And don’t forget to book your sunset sailboat cruise with a bag of wine to set out with other locals to watch the sunset at sea.

If you weren't able to explore the city of Nairobi like you wanted you can give yourself the option to visit places you were not able to visit or wind down before your flight back to home. You can also check into your hotel and spa and catch the Giraffe House right in the city where you can feed and eat with the giraffes. Explore the large shopping malls and collect last minute souvenirs at the local city market.