Kenya Romantic Getaways by Season

Kenyan romance comes in two settings, the bush and the beach, and the calendar decides which one works best. A sunrise balloon over the Mara in August is a different trip, and budget, from a quiet lagoon in February.

January to June: lower fees, quieter plains

Mara gate fees for non-resident adults are US$100 a day in this half of the year, against US$200 from July. A sunrise balloon flight is the headline splurge, with secondary sources putting prices between about US$450 and US$635 per person. Book months ahead, as places are limited. To compare options, see Mara balloon and camp experiences .

Tented camps in the Mara conservancies charge a conservancy fee on top of lodging, commonly quoted at US$80 to US$120 or more per adult per day. The Mara is 5 to 6 hours by road from Nairobi, so most couples fly the roughly 45 minutes from Wilson Airport and stay 2 to 3 nights.

July to October: herds and the higher fee

From July the Mara fee is US$200 per adult per day. Herds arrive from about the third week of July, and river crossings peak from roughly mid-August to late September. Nothing guarantees a crossing, so build the trip around sunrise drives, bush dinners and slow mornings, and treat a crossing as luck.

November to February: the coast

Diani and Watamu make the second half of a Kenya honeymoon. Diani’s sand is public below the high tide line, so a long beach walk costs nothing. A sunset dhow cruise with tamarind juice and Swahili snacks is about KES 3,500 to 6,000 per person. Divers can look for whale sharks from November to February. Watamu has calm lagoon water and a sea turtle rehabilitation centre, and marine park fees there are about US$25.

Planning the order

Couples with 6 or 7 nights usually spend 3 in the Mara and the rest on the sand, because the bush is early starts and the coast is slow days. The Madaraka Express from Nairobi to Mombasa takes about 5.5 to 6 hours, with first class at KES 4,500, and tickets are sold at metickets.krc.co.ke . That gives a scenic way to reach the coast without a domestic flight.

Before you go

  • Most visitors need an eTA, about US$30, from etakenya.go.ke .
  • Pay Kenya Wildlife Service park fees on eCitizen .
  • Plastic carrier bags are banned, as are single-use plastics on beaches and in parks.
  • Check your government’s current advice, and keep to the main safari and beach areas.

For wider ideas, see Kenya multi-day trips . Tip: book the balloon first, then fit the camp and the beach around its date.