Kenya – Is seven days enough?
When choosing to visit a country, it’s difficult to know how many days you should dedicate to it. Various factors can contribute to the amount of time you spend, such as the number of days you have available as well as the overall cost of the trip. Each day traveling has an associated expense. Whether its lodging cost, food, or experiences, the price can add up quickly. Thus choosing the optimum number of days to explore and see the sights is a difficult task. However, we at Tikur Travel are here to help you overcome those challenges. We provide solutions to the dilemma of choosing how many days to travel to various destinations across Africa.
We have designed a quick breakdown of how you could spend seven days in Kenya. We think seven days is a great way to start for a first time visitor. Seven days is enough time to see the various landscapes within Kenya while giving you just a taste of what the country has to offer and creating the intrigue to return again.
Day one:
Arriving in Nairobi, the largest city in Kenya will offer a variety of benefits. From a busy urban core with markets, shopping, local cuisine, banking, and a burgeoning technology sector, there is much to be discovered in Nairobi. Your first day would be a good day for a city tour, or it can be a day to explore on your own. Spend the day getting acclimated to the time zone, the local customs and traditions, and check out the local food scene. It’s also a great day to set the barometer for any gifts or souvenirs you may want to purchase. You can see different prices at different markets and get an idea of what you may wish to take home.
In the city center are skyscrapers and towers such as the cylindrical KICC building, which houses the conference center and is close to attractions such as the Nairobi National Museum, dedicated to art, artifacts, wildlife, and early humans of Kenya. You could also visit The Bomas Cultural Center in Nairobi, offering a glimpse into the most influential ethnic groups in Kenya and into traditional tribal life. Here you can shop for Tribal arts and crafts that are sold on the Maasai travel market as well.
Day Two:
Nairobi is actually more than just a city; there is also a national park just beyond the city limits where you can see and experience African wildlife. Nairobi National Park, a vast wildlife sanctuary known for rearing endangered black rhinos and home to giraffes, zebras, and lions. The city is often as a starting point for safaris elsewhere in Kenya.
For those with a wildlife interest, a must-visit is the suburb of Langata and the Giraffe sanctuary, where they have a manual feeding platform. You could also start an expedition to complete a Safari in the Masai Mara area of Kenya near the Serengeti plans. We recommend a short a 2-3 day Safari to get the experience without having to invest a significant amount of time from your trip.
Day 3
If you start a Safari from Nairobi, then enjoy your Safari today and Tomorrow. If you prefer to keep exploring the country, then we would recommend taking a quick trip from Nairobi. Either choose to hike Mt Kenya or visit Nakuru lake and wildlife sanctuary. Both excursions will offer amazing experiences to see Kenya from different perspectives.
Mount Kenya:
Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second-highest in Africa, after Kilimanjaro. The highest peaks of the mountain are 5,199 meters (17,057 ft). Mt Kenya offers the freedom and space to walk in a variety of ecological zones. Adventurer walks provide relaxation and a unique view of the local environment. It takes almost a day to ascend and descend the full mountain, but you can also choose to do shorter hikes or even have a bike trip on Mt. Kenya.
Nakuru
It takes 3hrs to drive to Nakuru from Nairobi. It is northwest of Nairobi in the Great Rift Valley. The adjacent area of Lake Nakuru National Park is home to rhinos, giraffes, lions, and leopards. Lake Nakuru is filled with algae that attract thousands of flamingos. Baboon Cliff and Lion Hills are such views that offer views of birds, the lake, and mammals, including warthogs and baboons. North of the city, Hyrax Hill, is an archaeological site with evidence of prehistoric habitation dating back to the Neolithic and the late Iron Age. The Hyrax Hill Museum contains artifacts collected on-site and at other sites in the valley. From the 12th to the 15th century, it was once inhabited by the Sirikwa people.
Day Four:
Fly or ride the train to Mombasa, Keyna’s second-largest city. Mombasa is also a port city that has been an essential point of trade for centuries. Surrounding Mombasa, there are amazing beaches and gorgeous sunrises off the Indian ocean. You also have access to some of Kenya’s other National Park and opportunities to do a safari with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background of your pictures. You can also work with local organizations to complete a day of volunteering and giving back to the community that is providing so much to you from transportation, accommodations, and overall hospitality. Spend day four exploring the sites of Mombasa from the local markets to the rich historical and cultural heritage of this city by the sea.
Tourism and specifically Safari tourism are significant contributors to several country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), accounting for upwards of nearly 15% in Rwanda and 10% in Kenya. Travel to the African continent is approaching 70 Million visitors annually, and Africa is now the second-fastest-growing travel market in the world. With the influx of new tourists, the desire to enjoy a Safari will only continue to grow. However, with the dynamic African tourism industry of tropical beaches, bustling centers of commerce, rainforest, deserts, and volcanoes, Safari’s are still among the most popular destinations.
Unfortunately, tourists will often focus a trip exclusively on visiting Safari country and commit 5,7,10,14 or even 21 days to see all there is to experience in the “bush” (a term used to describe the wild outdoors). I can understand the desire to complete a bucket list adventure of experiencing a Safari. However, I would NOT recommend a new traveler or tourist to Africa, committing so much time to that experience exclusively. It’s rather easy to add a Safari onto a trip and make it a part of a more substantial experience. Think of adding a safari on as dessert or maybe as an extra side item to the larger meal of traveling to Africa.
Day Five:
Wake up early as the city life starts before sunrise in Mombasa. You’ll be picked up by your Safari driver and prepare for a long but memorable journey to Tsavo National Park. The drive is over 200 km and will be on the highway as well as scenic dirt roads. It can be bumpy and rough, but the pictures and sights you’ll see will be worth it. It’s important to leave early in the morning so you can arrive in Tsavo in time to check-in to your Safari Lodge and experience the wildlife at the peak of the day. During the heat of the day, it’s not uncommon to see predators and prey adjacent to each other. They know in the heat of the day when temperatures can reach over 100°F/ 40°C. After your safari ride through the park, head back to your lodge, have lunch, and unpack and explore your lodge.
Tsavo Safari Lodge, Kenya
Just before sundown, you can head back out with your Safari guide and see how much the landscape changes as dusk approaches. The park is extensive and covers a wide range of regions, from rivers and lakes to high plains of grasslands and distant mountain ranges in the background. Look left and right all around and capture the breathtaking moments you’ll see giraffe, zebra, elephants, gazelles, lions, and more. You’ll head back to your lodge for dinner, and if you choose to, you can complete another safari ride in the night to witness the predators in their peak hours. Call it a night and get some rest. You’ve earned it from your early start and day in the sun.
If you choose to stay in Mombasa, make it a beach day and enjoy one of the many resorts lining Diani Beach. The clear water, tropical climate, and abundance of palm trees will make you think you’re on a tropical island in the Caribbean; however, soak in the moment and realize, no, this is Africa (TIA)!
Day Six: 
Another early start to the day as you set out to witness the wildlife in the element where they are most active. The period of dusk and early morning is when the temperatures are low, light is plenty, and the morning activities can commence. From grooming of baboons or Lions and gathering nourishment from the grasslands and thousands of gazelles, buffalo, and others graze in the light of the morning. After your early morning Safari ride, you can head back to the lodge for breakfast. We recommend Sarova Salt Lick Lodge in West Tsavo national park. The lodge is position over a watering hole, and it’s not uncommon to have breakfast with elephants below bathing, playing, and drinking.
After breakfast, you can prepare for your day and collect your luggage as you’ll be checking out and venturing out for another Safari exploration before the sun gets to its peak heat. After which you’ll head back to Mombasa and journey back to your hotel in Diani beach. You’ll have earned a relaxing evening on the sands overlooking the Indian ocean.
If you are in Diani and starting your day, then venture out into the city of Mombasa. Visit the local shops and markets and see the culture by the sea. Mombasa has an array of cultural sites and attractions, so a city guide may be the best way to experience it. You can also opt for a city food tour and taste and smell your way through the city with local dishes prepared for you at the cities best dining facilities.
Day Seven:
Waking up early should be more manageable by this day, and as you’ll have witnessed, its a normal part of the culture. Head to the beach or balcony of your hotel and enjoy the sunrise over the Indian Ocean for one last time. Make sure to look up in trees because you’ll see monkeys enjoying the morning rays of sunshine as well. As this is your last day in Kenya, spend it however you wish if you haven’t bought souvenirs, head to the local markets, and start your negotiations. If you are enjoying the warm tropical waters, spend it by the beach.
However, if you are taken back by all you have experienced, make this day a chance to volunteer and give back to the community. Whether it’s working to help build a home or assisting an NGO in well-building projects, if you are passionate about giving back, there are several ways to mark your mark and assist or help others. Buy local, support the local economy, and ensure that some of your dollars arrive in the hands of someone who could benefit from it.
If you are interested in exploring Kenya or having a custom trip like this designed, allow our team here at tikurtravel.com/ to build an unforgettable experience. We hope this guide helps inspire you and provide ideas that will bear fruit in your mind and drive you to towards Visiting Africa.