How much does a Safari in Kenya Cost?

Written by: Felix Abel, Local Expert

There’s no easy answer to the question, “How much does a Kenya safari cost?” Safaris in Kenya can range from bare bones to over-the-top luxurious, which means the price of your safari in Kenya will range too. The birthplace of the African safari is over 7,000 miles from the United States, over 4,000miles from Europe, over 5,000 from China, and over 5,500 from Russia so we already know airfare will be steep. But what about everything else?

Settling on a budget

The first thing to do when you start planning your safari in Kenya is decide how much you would like (or are able) to spend. At Natural World Kenya Safaris, you can tailor the cost of your safari, depending on the season you go, the number of people in your party, and your choice of accommodations. One key factor to keep in mind is whether or not you are willing to share your game drive vehicle (and therefore driver and guide) with other guests or prefer a private party safari.

Sharing a vehicle by making a private safari group can significantly reduce your Kenya safari price and can often be an enjoyable experience as you bond with your fellow travelers over the sights and sounds of the African bush.

Kenya safari prices: a basic cost breakdown

Safaris in Kenya with basic accommodations and no bells and whistles start at about $200 per person, per day. A mid-range safari with lodging runs $350 to $400 per person, per day while a top-of-the-line luxury safari and accommodation ranges from $600 to upwards of $1,000 per person, per day.

Accommodations range from basic safari lodges to luxury tented camps. These numbers do not include international flights, visa fees, vaccinations, travel insurance and other incidentals.

Choosing where to go

Kenya has over 40 National Parks and wildlife reserves ranging from well-known parks like the Masai Mara National Park, Amboseli National Park, and Tsavo to off-the-beaten track parks like Samburu National Reserve and Lake Naivasha. Most travelers to Kenya are eager to see wildlife so naturally, the most popular parks are those where you will see the most animals on your game drive. In Kenya, that would be Masai Mara National Park and Amboseli National Park.

Another thing to consider when deciding where to go on safari is whether or not you want to add a beach vacation to your Kenyan safari. A relaxing stay at one of Kenya’s Indian Ocean resorts sunning yourself on the sandy shores is often the perfect end to an action-packed safari in Kenya and is especially popular with honeymooners. It will also, of course, increase your Kenya safari cost.

When is the best month to go on an African safari?

Masai Mara and Amboseli are the most popular parks and so, they are also the most expensive, especially during peak season which runs from June through October plus January. Also known as the dry season, this is considered the best time to go on safari as lack of rain forces game out in the open to seek water, making them easier to spot.

The wildebeest migration also usually starts in July. This is a spectacular sight where hundreds of wildebeest cross the Mara River in search of better grazing. Known as the Great Migration, this is a spectacular event for safari-goers, often called “The Greatest Show on Earth” by wildlife enthusiasts.

For these reasons and more, peak season is the most expensive season. When choosing when to go, keep in mind that witnessing the Great Migration is the experience of a lifetime and one you will never forget. Such astonishing experiences are, essentially, priceless.

What’s included in a safari package – and what’s not

The cost of a budget safari in Kenya includes meals, transport, accommodation, game drives, park fees, a professional driver/guide, all transportation and bottled drinking water. It will not include airport transfers, accommodation before and after your safari, local flights and any special meals and drinks you may wish to enjoy that are not included in your itinerary. Here’s an example of a 3-day Masai Mara Safari with Natural World Kenya Safaris.

A mid-range safari would include airport transfers and may include some flights within Kenya. Special meals and drinks might also be included on some days, depending on the accommodation. And safari vehicles would generally be less-crowded than on a budget safari. Natural World Kenya Safaris’ 6-Day Beach to Nairobi Safari ticks all the boxes of an exciting mid-range safari.

The price of a luxury safari in Kenya generally includes international flights (at an extra cost), private airport transfers and safari vehicles, baggage handling, laundry service, and WiFi. Natural World Kenya Safaris 12 Day Magical Kenya Experience will help you discover eight astonishing national parks and reserves and cradle you in the lap of African luxury.