Kenya was the first African country I ever visited. It was at the turn of September and October 2025, during the great animal migration. I went there with my travel buddy Klára — her priority was safari, mine were people and volunteering. When it came to beaches, we both agreed without hesitation. In this article, I’ll share our full 22-day itinerary with activities and information that will come in handy if you’re planning a trip there.
22-DAY ITINERARY
Day 1–2: NAIROBI (capital city)
Day 3–6: SAFARI (Masai Mara & Nakuru)
Day 7–10: ELDORET (inland volunteering)
Day 11–15: WATAMU (coast)
Day 16–19: DIANI BEACH (coast)
Day 20: MOMBASA (Kenya’s second largest city)
Day 21–22: NAIROBI (Kibera slum)
NAIROBI
In Nairobi we did three main activities: feeding giraffes, feeding elephants, and visiting Africa’s largest slum – KIBERA.
You can find everything about the elephants on the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nursery website, but keep in mind that in addition to the $20 cash fee at the entrance, you must also purchase a Nairobi National Park entry ticket in advance for about $45. The whole visit lasts only one hour and always takes place in the morning. More info at the link above.
As for feeding giraffes, it cost only $10 and the timing is flexible throughout the day. At the entrance you’ll receive a bowl of granules to feed the giraffes yourself. A fun experience, but once was enough. More info HERE – Giraffe Center.
My biggest highlight, however, was the KIBERA slum. It is the largest slum in Africa with an estimated population of up to 1 million people. I received a contact from a friend for two brothers — the VONYA BROTHERS — who grew up and still live in Kibera. They guided us safely through the slum for $25 per person. I highly recommend them; it was an unforgettable experience to see the conditions people live in.
SAFARI
Safari is probably an inseparable part of visiting Kenya. After all, Kenya is the birthplace of safari. Where you go is entirely up to you, but we decided to witness the great migration of animals in the most famous and probably the most expensive national park: Masai Mara.
Just the entrance fee to this park is $200 per person for 12 hours during the high season. Ouch!
We did a 4-day safari trip with JUNGLE ROAM SAFARIS — it cost us $700 per person (probably the cheapest we found, recommended by a friend, and now I can highly recommend them too). In addition to two nights in Masai Mara, we also spent one night in Nakuru and visited Lake Nakuru National Park, known especially for rhino spotting.
Even though animals and I don’t have the best relationship, I absolutely loved my first safari and I was more than satisfied with the company. So go for it without hesitation.
ELDORET – VOLUNTEERING
I wrote a separate article about this experience, which you can find HERE – Volunteering in Kenya.
In short: I spent 5 nights in Eldoret at the St. Bakhita House of Hope educational center, dedicated to young women being trained as hairdressers and tailors. For me personally, these 5 days were the biggest highlight of my entire trip to Kenya.
WATAMU (coast)
We flew from Eldoret to the coast with a layover in Nairobi — $140 per person with Jumbo Jet airline. We landed in Malindi, where Daniel Cehuľa picked us up; he works on the coast under the University of St. Elizabeth. I also volunteered at their school in the village of Msabaha for a few days — another wonderful experience. I wrote about that HERE as well.
We stayed in the village of Watamu in a luxury villa of our couchsurfing host, completely free, for 5 nights. During our free time we visited Watamu village itself, Malindi town, the village of Msabaha, Garoda Beach, Papa Remo Beach, and Lichthaus — an Instagram spot perfect for sunset. The usual tourist attractions.
DIANI BEACH (coast)
From Watamu to Diani Beach we took public transport — a “matatu” a local minivan. We booked an apartment called Ocean Blue, not far from the beach, for €110 for 4 nights for two people.
We spent our days on the beach with the guys we met during safari, as well as with new friends we met there. And the evenings? Dancing in clubs. There’s nothing better than watching talented locals move to Afro beats — moves I couldn’t imitate even in a hundred years. And we both felt truly safe.
Near Diani Beach, I recommend visiting Galu Beach and the beach café Pallet Cafe, where the staff are all deaf and mute. It’s a literal paradise on earth with the friendliest waiters.
MOMBASA
We spent just one night and one day in Mombasa, but we made the most of it. Geoffrey from Couchsurfing took us around the slum where he grew up, showed us the BEST of the city, and introduced us to his friend and family.
From Mombasa we took a train to Nairobi for €10. The ride took exactly 6 hours without any delay. We bought the ticket about a week in advance online.
EXTRA RECOMMENDATIONS for KENYA
- The ETA permit cost €29 — arrange it online in advance.
- Upon arrival, get a Safaricom SIM card at the airport (about €7 for 10GB).
- Set up M-Pesa right away — the local mobile payment system.
- Cash (Kenyan shillings) is great mainly for tipping.
- ALWAYS negotiate when buying souvenirs.
- Don’t hesitate to try local dishes in local “hotels” — that’s what they call their restaurants.
CONCLUSION
Kenya was love at first sight — and so was Africa as a whole. I believe I’ll eventually return to Africa not only to travel more, but also to volunteer for longer periods, not just a few days. Because people there not only need help, but truly deserve it from those who have more than enough.
And I think that back home in Slovakia, we really do have enough — even if many don’t realize it and take things like drinking water, a flush toilet, or a warm shower for granted.
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