How Much Would A Safari In Kenya Cost? : Travelers are spoiled for choice with all the amazing options available for a safari in Kenya. You can travel to the Masai Mara, see Amboseli, Samburu, or Buffalo Springs’ arid landscapes, and unwind on the beaches of the Lamu Archipelago, Watamu, or Diani. How much will a safari in Kenya set you back, though? The first thing you should consider when figuring out how much a safari in Kenya will cost is that East Africa as a whole, including Kenya, is not as inexpensive as you might think.
A safari in Kenya can be done in almost as many different ways as there are stripes on a zebra, and how, when, and where you go will greatly affect how much you pay. Here is a breakdown of how much a safari in Kenya will cost, along with a suggested budget:
How much does a safari in Kenya cost?
- Safaris on a budget cost $200 to $350 per person per day.
- Mid-range safaris: in an all-inclusive tented camp, from $350 to $600 per person per day
- High-end and opulent safaris start at $700-$1,000+ per person per day
KENYA SAFARI COSTS AND PRICES
Costs for mid-range safaris
You should budget between US$350 and US$600 per person, per day, for a multiday, moderate safari that includes some of the well-known parks and reserves. This includes three decent meals per day in a comfortable, if frequently uninspiring, safari camp or lodge.
In addition, it will include a safari in a shared vehicle and park entry fees, which for the main parks are frequently around US$70 per person per day. This vehicle could be a high-quality, open-sided jeep with only a few other passengers inside, but it could also be an overstuffed minibus.
Costs for luxury and high-end safaris
A private safari in one of the amazing wildlife conservancies is what you should consider if you want a better safari experience (and you should aim as high as you can). These are privately or community-run wildlife conservation areas that frequently border the major national parks and are managed with the aim of preserving wildlife and assisting local communities.
One of the best safaris in the entire world is guaranteed if you visit one of these conservancies. There won’t be many other safari vehicles around, making the entire experience very private. You will experience world-class dining (with the majority of alcoholic beverages included in the rates) while staying in luxurious (but typically not excessive) safari tents.
A fantastic wildlife guide and safaris in specially made, open-sided vehicles are included in the price. This vehicle will frequently be exclusively your group’s. All conservation fees and entrance fees to parks are also included in the price.
So, how much is being discussed? You can expect to pay no less than $350 per person, per night in a low season. But it’s not at all unusual to pay anywhere between US$700 and $1,000 per night for truly exceptional locations with the best guides and wildlife encounters. You’ll be grateful that gin and tonic were included in the price at these prices!
Now, before you immediately recoil at these prices, you should take some time to understand what you’re paying for and why you should strive for a top-notch safari in a conservancy, no matter what it takes.
A conservancy is typically found on private ranchland or on communal land that is owned by the entire community. The local communities on a community conservancy lease the land to the tourism stakeholders (the safari camps) under the condition that the land is managed in a way that benefits both people and wildlife. Your membership fees go toward funding community and environmental projects as well as the costs associated with leasing the land.
In the meantime, private ranchland conservancies must generate enough revenue for the landowner to justifiably justify giving up cattle ranching in favor of wildlife conservation and tourism. In other words, staying in a conservancy is not just a fantastic safari experience—it’s also great for the ecosystem in the area.
Costs for Budget safari
Spending hundreds of dollars per day to observe animals might seem a bit excessive to those of us who prefer to save money wherever we can.
A three-day, quick-fix safari from Nairobi to the Masai Mara, Tsavo, or Amboseli parks can be purchased for under US$300 total. You will receive transportation from Nairobi, lodging, meals, and a few game drives for this cost. Park entrance fees might not be included, and the tour operator might forget to mention this.
It sounds great, but there are a few very important caveats that should cause you to proceed with the utmost caution when considering bargain offers like this.
First off, the majority of these cheap safaris are extremely hurried, and a three-day point-to-point safari that departs from Nairobi and returns there will probably only give you one day on safari in total.
This type of safari is almost always conducted in worn-out, outdated minibuses that are uncomfortable and have poor or obscured views. This is particularly true if the car is full (and the safari company will probably take all reasonable measures to make sure the car is full). There may not even be a window seat for half the passengers. These cars are frequently old, and breakdowns are frequent. Breakdowns frequently cause a significant portion, if not the entire safari, to be lost.
Expect little in the way of compensation from the operator if this occurs. On these low-cost tours, some of the drivers are excellent, extremely knowledgeable, and passionate about the parks and wildlife. But regrettably, some businesses cut costs by hiring matatu (public minibus) drivers in Nairobi who have no interest in or familiarity with the parks and wildlife.
Even worse, they might not be aware of or adhere to park policies. These people are primarily to blame for the horrifying pictures of forty or fifty cars crammed close together around one poor cheetah that you may have seen.
Second, and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, a budget safari’s lodgings will be in tiny dome tents that are erected on public campsites with no amenities other than a tap and a basic toilet block (and sometimes not even these). The entire group prepares the meals, which frequently fall short of expectations. These safaris never occur in conservancies, where they are prohibited, and only in the major national parks and reserves.
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE COST OF A KENYA SAFARI
The overall cost of a Kenya safari, which can vary greatly, is influenced by a number of factors. The time of year you’ll be traveling, the parks and reserves you’ll visit, and how exclusively you’d like to travel are the most crucial considerations.
Length of stay
The cost per day does not always decrease the longer you stay in Kenya or in a specific park or reserve. The cost of entering a park is always assessed per person, per day, and it does not decrease the longer you stay there. Safari camps and lodges occasionally run special promotions where the fourth or fifth night is on the house. If you rent a Jeep and driver for a longer period of time, the cost per day is always less.
Level of comfort of accommodation
Accommodations for a safari in Kenya can be very expensive. Numerous safari camps cost several hundred US dollars per night, and there are many locations that cost significantly more than €925. The good news is that a safari in Kenya doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive if you’re willing to live more simply in the bush. A small tent on a basic camping site can be set up for very little money, and it may provide a more genuine experience. An excellent selection of more affordable lodging options is available between these two extremes.
Location of the accommodation
Perhaps nothing affects the price of a safari in Kenya more than location. A safari camp located deep within the Masai Mara National Reserve is significantly more expensive than a similar-caliber establishment located close to the protected areas. Staying outside the park’s boundaries may also result in lower admission costs.
Group size
Joining a planned group safari will almost always be less expensive than planning a safari on your own, and the larger the group, the more affordable the daily expenses will likely be. Hiring a car and driver, creating your own itinerary, and reserving your own lodging on the fly can all be fantastic add-ons. High-end safaris are almost always customized for specific individuals or very small groups.
When you want to go
The Masai Mara National Reserve is visited by the wildebeest migration from July to October, which is high season. From mid-December to mid-January, there is a second peak period. November and March through mid-May are considered low seasons (also known as the “Green season”). Low season is the most affordable time of year to go on a Kenya safari, with prices frequently 50% lower. However, some safari accommodations close during this time. A great compromise between the two, mid-season (shoulder season) guarantees excellent wildlife viewing, fewer crowds, and lower prices.
How to get around
Traveling by air is the most convenient but also the most expensive option. Many national parks are connected by small planes. However, even the shortest hop will probably set you back at least €100 per person. If you’re traveling in a group, hiring a jeep and driver (from €100 per day) will be less expensive than flying, but if you’re traveling alone, it will be about as expensive. The cheapest way to get around Kenya is by taking a scheduled mid-range or low-budget safari, but keep in mind that you’ll spend most of your time on the road rather than viewing wildlife.
Where do you want to go?
If seeing elephants beneath Mt. Kilimanjaro’s snowy peaks is your ideal of Kenya, expect to pay top dollar to do so. But Kenya’s delight is that it has so much more to offer. You’ll see an amazing variety of wildlife if you visit less well-known parks and reserves, like Meru and Hell’s Gate National Parks, and you’ll almost always pay less for the privilege.
Add-ons
Hot-air balloon rides over the plains are a common safari add-on, but be prepared to pay at least €400 per person. Bush breakfasts and walks are two additional safari add-ons that may incur a fee.
Extensions
Sensibly, many travelers who go on safari in Kenya choose to include some beach time. Diani and Malindi are the two beach locations that are most well-liked. There is enough lodging in both of these resort towns to ensure that competition keeps costs low.
Specialized interests
Paying more for a knowledgeable guide may be necessary if you are taking a vacation with a special interest, like one centered on bird watching. On the other hand, you might visit some less popular parks that are less expensive as a result, saving you money on lodging and park admission.
KENYA SAFARI PRICES FAQS
How much to tip on safari in Kenya?
The drivers, guides, and hotel staff will all expect tips at the conclusion of a safari. Paying each employee the equivalent of one extra day of work is the norm, as a general rule. This can add up very quickly.
How to save money on a Kenya safari
There are a few ways to reduce your spending. The two most obvious ones are the season you travel on safari and the safari destination.
Seasons
Naturally, the most expensive months are high season (July through September) and low season (March through April and November). For lodging, the price difference between the two times can be as much as 50%. It follows that you will save a lot of money by going on safari during the low (green) season.
But since wildlife viewing is far from optimal at this time of year and many camps are actually closed, we would recommend going on safari during the middle of the season (late May to early June and October are excellent). Prices are likely about 25% less than during peak season, but there are significantly fewer visitors and frequently good wildlife viewing.
Where to find cheaper safaris
Visit well-known parks like the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Samburu, and Tsavo if you want to see the Big Five (elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, and leopard). However, Kenya has a remarkably diverse range of wildlife, and regrettably, many equally fascinating animals are disregarded in the quest for yet another lion picture.
In addition to getting a more varied picture of Kenya’s environments and wildlife, if you’re willing to broaden your animal checklist and visit some of Kenya’s lesser-known or smaller parks, you’ll also save a ton of money because everything, from park entry fees to lodging, is almost always a fraction of the cost of the well-known parks.
Such parks and reserves are particularly abundant in the western part of Kenya. Some recommended “off-the-beaten-path” parks that are less expensive include:
Kakamega Forest Reserve: When you visit this park in the far west, you can stroll through a dark, dense rainforest and catch glimpses of raucous hornbills and graceful colobus monkeys.
There is a raised wooden boardwalk that runs above a swamp where rare sitatunga antelope live in Saiwa Swamp National Park, also in the west.
Towering roan antelope and one of Kenya’s healthiest (yet elusive) rhino populations can be found in Ruma National Park, which is also in the west.
The Rift Valley’s Hells Gate National Park offers visitors the chance to rent bicycles and ride through classic open savannah grasslands past herds of zebra.
Combining several less-known parks with a few days in the famous parks is ideal.
Not going to a national park or reserve at all is another way to save money. There is a lot of wildlife roaming freely outside of all the designated protected areas; some estimates put this number at 70% for Kenya.
There are an increasing number of Maasai-run small, affordable camps and even home stays in the Loita Plains and Hills region, which is to the north of the Masai Mara National Reserve.
A few days at one of these will give you a wonderful understanding of Maasai culture, will benefit the neighborhood, and will enable you to observe grazing herds up close as you simply stroll around.
Then, we reach the ‘urban’ national parks, like Nairobi and Nakuru. Both parks are impressive and home to a wide variety of megafauna (rhinos can often be seen there). Even though the cost of the entry ticket is high, the fact that you can simply rent a jeep or sign up for a half-day tour from the city centers of Nairobi or Nakuru, return, and then spend the night in the city means that you can experience the thrills of wildlife in a short amount of time with little effort or expense.
CONCLUSION: HOW MUCH DOES A KENYA SAFARI COST?
Answering this question is more difficult than it seems because there is so much to offer. At a quiet off-peak time of the year, you can anticipate paying around US$300 per person per night for a low-cost, no-frills safari. You should budget anywhere between US$700 and US$2000 per person, per night, to experience a Kenya safari in style with popular attractions and top-notch guides.
Decide on your budget after deciding where you want to go and what you HAVE to see. Talk to one of our knowledgeable Kenya travel consultants with these two criteria in mind, and let them use their safari magic to get you the Kenyan safari you’ve always wanted.
