While Kenya might be most famous for its wildlife and safaris, there is a lot to uncover in this culturally diverse country bursting with natural beauty. From the tranquil beaches of Lamu Island to the rugged landscapes of Mount Kenya’s wilderness, Kenya’s got range y’all. Where does one even begin? It is an excellent introduction to East Africa, and although it comes with its challenges, a great country for more seasoned backpackers and solo travelers.

A month is a good amount of time to spend in Kenya, more than enough time to give you a taste of everything the country has to offer. I planned on spending three weeks in Kenya, then kept finding excuse after excuse to extend my trip. Wildlife-spotting in the vast savannas of the Masai Mara, relaxing beach days on the Indian Ocean, and a multitude of cultural experiences in the throbbing capital of Nairobi or the sizzling coastal town of Mombasa. There is a ton to explore. Here is my one-month travel itinerary for backpacking Kenya.

This post contains affiliate links. That means that I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of these links

---

Nairobi: 3 Days

What better place to start than Kenya’s vibrant capital of Nairobi? As its largest city and busiest airport, it will be your best bet at finding a cheap flight into Kenya and East Africa in general. From the airport, head over to Jabulani Backpackers and make yourself at home. Drop your bags off, say hi to Susan for me, and take on the city. The best way to get around Nairobi is by matatu or boda (motorbike), although Uber is a fairly affordable option.

Walk into the CBD, Nairobi’s downtown and Central Business District. Get familiarized with the city, visiting some of the markets, grabbing a coffee or a meal at the Thorn Tree Cafe or ArtCaffe, and heading up the Convention Center for a panoramic view of the city. There are walking tours of Nairobi’s downtown, but for a unique experience, I’d book a storytelling tour with Nai Nami. This foundation is owned and run by former street kids who grew up homeless in Nairobi. It’s an intimate experience, with a maximum group size of two people per guide who will spend the next three hours walking you through downtown Nairobi and sharing their story of growing up in the underbelly of Kenya’s capital. It’s a great way to support a good initiative, as well as gain insight and advice from a local guide who is as real as it gets.

If you’re itching to experience the wildlife, a trip to Nairobi National Park, including the Giraffe Center and Elephant Orphanage, is a great way to dive in immediately. It is an affordable safari, although the Giraffe Center and Elephant Orphanage will incur additional costs. I’d recommend paying for the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, as playing with baby elephants and their baby rhino is a priceless experience. Outside of Nairobi’s activities, be sure to take advantage of Nairobi’s diverse culinary scene and vibrant nightlife options. There is no shortage of places to choose from for a fun night out.

Once you’ve found your footing and wrapped up in Nairobi, it’s time to hit the road. From Nairobi, head to the matatu stage at Accra Road and hop on one of the matatus with Naivasha written on it, and let’s dive into the wild.

Lake Naivasha: 3 Days

This matatu will take you to Naivasha town, but I’d hop on a boda-boda for an extra 40 minutes and stay at Fisherman’s Camp or Camp Carnelley’s. This will put you right by Lake Naivasha and a short bike ride from Lake Oloiden and Hell’s Gate National Park, which are the real highlights of this destination. I stayed at Fisherman’s Camp, rented a tent, and dozed off to the sounds of territorial hippos screaming the night away. Monkeys would awaken me in the morning, truly giving one a 24/7 wildlife experience.

Rent a bike for about $7 a day and begin your journey around Lake Naivasha. A trip to Lake Oloiden 10 kilometers away is a fun little excursion, and you’re likely to run into a few animals on your way there, including baboons, giraffes, and warthogs. Hell’s Gate National Park is the main attraction here. It costs about $30 to enter with your bike and right off the bat, you’ll see antelope, zebras, and more. There are no large predators here, so visitors to the park are allowed to go on a self-guided bicycle safari. The landscapes are gorgeous, and one can even go on a lengthy hike through the canyons deeper in the park.

Other things to do in Naivasha include a boat ride on the lake, a visit to Crescent Island, and a hike up Mount Longonot. Here’s my full travel guide to Lake Naivasha. I’d recommend three days here, although one could easily spend more just soaking in the cottagecore vibes and beautiful views.

Before you head off on an epic cycling safari, make sure you have a plan for staying connected. I use Saily eSIM to keep me online during my travels, ensuring that I have internet from the moment I land to the moment I leave. Navigating directions, coordinating travel plans with new hostel friends, booking a ride, and so on – having an eSIM makes life that much easier when you’re on the road. Data packages for Kenya start at just $7, and you can use my code “eli5” for an additional 5% off of your first Saily eSIM.

Don’t worry, there is much more wildlife to come. From Lake Naivasha, I would head straight to the Masai Mara. Most tour operators will happily pick you up in Naivasha, and it’ll save you two hours of driving compared to a Nairobi departure.

Maasai Mara: 3 Days

After three hours of driving from Lake Naivasha, you have made it to Kenya’s most famous national park, the Masai Mara. Depending on the tour you booked, you’ll be taken to your fancy lodge, or if you’re a backpacker like me, your shabby little tents. I stayed at Lenchada Camp, which honestly, was totally fine. Most trips to the Masai Mara consist of three days, and I paid about $400 for mine including the $100 daily entrance fees to the park.

Day one is typically the drive to the Masai Mara, followed by a late afternoon game drive that will have you back home shortly after sunset. The following day will involve around 10 hours of driving, leaving at sunrise and lasting until almost sunset. Although it sounds like a lot of driving, especially on the bumpy dirt roads of the park, it flies by fairly quickly. There is a lot to see, and I don’t think I ever tired of seeing the animals or even the long yellow grass of the Masai Mara. The driver will go all the way to the Tanzanian border, with a lunch stop close to the Mara River. There’s an optional hike along the river with an armed ranger who you’ll have to tip. His keen eye will help you spot hippos and crocodiles, and his submachine gun will come in handy if they get a little too close for comfort. It’s just for scaring them away, don’t worry.

Day three will typically just be the long drive back to Nairobi, but occasionally, some stops will be made depending on any extra activities the group wants to add on. The options are usually a visit to a Masai village and a boat ride on Lake Naivasha. Otherwise, you’ll be back in Nairobi by the mid-afternoon.

Nairobi: 1 Day

Soak in the city life after the past week in the wilderness. Get your fill of good Wi-Fi to catch your Insta-fans up on your cool adventures, eat some delicious food, and get a good night’s rest. The following day, you are hopping on the train to Mombasa. No, don’t take a bus or a matatu. You will want to take the train.

Mombasa: 2 Days

Why take the train to Mombasa? You will pass through several national parks, including the Tsavo National Parks and Amboseli. If you’ve got a clear day, you might even see Kilimanjaro in the distance as your train chugs along. If you want to visit one of these national parks, you’ll want to get off at Voi. However, safaris are expensive, and you can’t do them all. So for the sake of this expedited and budget-friendly itinerary, we are heading straight to Old Mombasa.

From the station, head to the Old Town. I’d recommend Tulia Old Town with its phenomenal view from the terrace. It’s got a great location in the Old Town and is within walking distance of the few attractions in the city. Two days should be enough in Mombasa, and on a more concise itinerary, even one might suffice.

However, Mombasa is the main transportation hub if you plan on traveling to Kenya’s stunning coastal destinations, the most famous of which is Diani Beach. From Mombasa, hop on the short ferry to take you off Mombasa Island and hop on one of the matatus heading south towards Diani Beach.

Diani Beach: 2 Days

Diani Beach is Kenya’s premier beach destination and a good spot to meet some fellow travelers and have a fun night out. Stay at Diani Backpackers and spend your days lazing away on the stunning beach and your nights lighting up the dance floor. One can spend a few short days in Diani, or if the vibe feels right, much longer. It’s up to you.

When you’re ready to leave, head back to Mombasa and hop on a bus or matatu heading north. Hop off in Kilifi, my personal favorite of Kenya’s coastal villages.

Kilifi: 3 Days

I can’t put a finger to it, but Kilifi was easily my favorite destination on the Kenyan coast. It’s hard to say why, because it doesn’t have the most beautiful beach or the most bumpin’ nightlife, but it just immediately felt like home. As soon as I walked into Distant Relatives hostel, all the stress of a chaotic travel day melted away once I found myself in the shade of its baobab tree, sipping a Tusker cider by the pool.

I spent six days in Kilifi, but three days should be enough to see the highlights. However, the laid-back vibe of Kilifi is immaculate, and I was happy to take the day slowly, planning very little and seeing what adventures Kilifi dragged me on. From motorbike adventures to the Vuma Cliffs and Takaungu Creek, to dhow rides at sunset and nighttime swims with the bioluminescent plankton, Kilifi was full of surprises. You won’t find much on the internet about Kilifi, but don’t overlook this severely underrated coastal destination. Here’s my full guide to visiting Kilifi.

An optional stop after Kilifi would be Watamu, one of the most beautiful beaches along the coast. I wouldn’t call it an essential stop, but it is a favorite among digital nomads and Italians. You can take a matatu or a taxi to Watamu. Otherwise, intercept the northbound Mombasa-to-Lamu bus from the side of the highway and hop on. It’ll be a bumpy five hours to Mokowe, the ferry port where you can hop on a boat to take you to Lamu town.

Lamu: 3 Days

Once you’ve arrived at Lamu’s old town, you can decide where you want to stay. There are two main tourist parts to the island, Old Town and Shela. They are about a 45-minute walk from each other, although bodas and boats are also an option. There are no cars on Lamu Island. I stayed in Old Town at JamboHouse, although walked to Shela almost every day to chill on the beach. I’d recommend staying at Lamu Old Town, just so you’re in walking distance to more restaurants and shops. It’s like a mini-version of the historic Stone Town in Zanzibar, but with more donkey poop.

Lamu is a fairly sleepy island, but it’s a great place to relax and has its fair share of excursions for the more adventurous traveler. Here’s my full guide to visiting Lamu Island.

After Lamu, catch a flight back to Nairobi. There are daily departures and flights cost around $70-100 USD with Safari Link or Jambo Jet. Otherwise, retrace your steps down the coast and endure the long voyage back to Nairobi by land.

Nairobi: 1 Day

As you’ll likely find on your own adventures through Kenya, you’ll be passing through here quite a bit. It started to feel like home at this point in my travels. In between all the excursions, it was nice to have Nairobi for some international food, good nightlife, and a reliable ATM. Do whatever your heart desires, because we’re wrapping up the Kenya adventures with one last big bang.

Nanyuki: 1 Day

In the morning, dive back into the throes of Accra Road’s chaotic matatu stage. Look for the express matatu to Nanyuki and hop on. Enjoy the lush, green scenery upon leaving Nairobi and approach the wilderness of Mount Kenya. Nanyuki is a small city right on the equator, and according to my local friend, people only go to Nanyuki to summit mountains or to party. I didn’t experience the nightlife scene here myself, but a night out here might be a good way to celebrate a Mount Kenya summit.

If you’ve already got your Mount Kenya trek booked, you’ll only be here for a short while before setting off. If not, stay a couple of nights while planning everything out. There are a number of other hikes to do in the area, including the beautiful Mount Ololokwe. I organized my Mount Kenya trek in Nairobi, paying $550 for the 4-day excursion, with everything included aside from tips and any equipment rentals. 

Mount Kenya Hike: 4 Days

If there’s one way to end your Kenya trip with a bang, it is by trekking to the summit of Mount Kenya, the highest point in the country and second-highest in Africa. Summiting Mount Kenya was the best thing I did in Kenya. The sheer variety of landscapes and environments you’ll encounter on the trek is shocking. The area around Mount Kenya alone makes Kenya one of the most naturally beautiful countries I’ve been to. Snowy peaks, sparkling turquoise lakes, vast meadows of alien-looking plants, jagged canyons, and so much more await on this bucket list hike.

Most trekkers will hike to Lenana Peak, the third-highest of Mount Kenya’s peaks. It is the tallest peak that doesn’t require any special equipment or mountaineering experience to summit. We followed the Sirimon Route to the summit and the Chogoria Route on the way back down. Both trails are breathtakingly beautiful, and going up and down two different routes maximizes the amount of natural beauty and different scenery you’ll see. Try to ensure that this is the route you’ll be taking.

The first day of this route will be mostly a warm-up day. We only did three hours of trekking, going from 2,600 meters to 3,300 meters above sea level. Day two was a longer day, covering about 15 kilometers and further adding 900 meters of elevation gain. The third day was a grind, starting at 3 AM for the summit attempt and reaching it shortly after sunrise. You’ll pass by several campsites on the way down, so discuss with your guides to decide where you’ll be camping. The fourth day will take you out of the park and to the small town of Chogoria. From there, you’ll hop on a matatu back to Nairobi to finish your trip or continue onward to new destinations.

Continuing Onward from Nairobi

That’s a wrap on your time in Kenya, but it doesn’t have to be a wrap on East Africa. Nairobi is the main transportation hub of the region, and one can catch affordable flights elsewhere on the continent from the international airport. Traveling by land to Arusha, Tanzania or Kampala, Uganda is also possible from Nairobi with direct buses or shuttles.

Buy Me A Beer!

If this post helped you out, show some love and support for the blog and help keep my adventures going by buying me a beer! My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated, and allows me to keep writing helpful travel guides and creating travel content to help you all travel the world on a budget.

More on Kenya

• The Backpacker’s Crash Course Guide to Traveling Kenya
• The Backpacker’s Travel Guide to Lamu
• Taking the Night Bus from Nairobi to Kampala
• The Backpacker’s Travel Guide to Lake Naivasha
• The Complete Travel Guide to Kilifi