This is the route for travellers who want the safari and the sand in one week without repeating a road. It runs downhill the whole way: elephants under Kilimanjaro in Amboseli, the lava country and underwater hippo window of Tsavo West, the red elephants of Tsavo East, and finally two nights on Diani Beach.
Most itineraries pick one Tsavo; crossing both is what gives this trip its range, from volcanic hills to open red plains in a single day. And because it ends at the coast, you fly out of Mombasa rested instead of spending your last day driving back to Nairobi.
South to Amboseli for an afternoon drive under Kilimanjaro.
A dawn drive for the mountain, then through Chyulu gate past the Shetani lava flows to Mzima Springs and the rhino sanctuary.
Morning game drive, then across to Tsavo East where the elephants turn red with laterite dust along the Galana River.
A short dawn drive, then downhill to the coast and an afternoon with your feet in the Indian Ocean.
A full free day, with optional snorkelling at Kisite-Mpunguti or a dhow trip.
A slow morning before your transfer to Ukunda airstrip or Mombasa, no backtracking to Nairobi.