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Kenya
Kenya Safari cost
Known as the birthplace of the African safari, Kenya is renowned as one of Africaโs top safari destinations, with incredible safari adventures like the Great Wildebeest Migration which stars millions of wildebeest, stunning scenery, and beautiful beaches, all of which contribute to the excellent safari experience that visitors have come to expect. Offering all types of safaris ranging from the Big five (elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, and rhino), memorable birding experiences, and exploratory hiking trails, to mention but a few, Kenya offers the most exquisite, but yet most affordable safaris to travelers from all over the world.
Kenya offers all kinds of safaris ranging from luxury to midrange and budget African safaris, each with its distinctive package of services and benefits. Nevertheless, every Kenya safari package is designed to suit all kinds of travelers whether they are budget travelers or luxury travelers. However, when planning for Kenya Safari cost, one ought to know that Kenya is not a cheap safari destination.
Given the tourism experience Kenya has gained over the many years, Kenya safari prices are generally higher than in other African countries. A safari in Kenya might be expensive and not even luxurious. However, as there are so many ways of killing a rat, there are various ways of making sure that your Kenya safari is less costly but so fulfilling.
More so, a range of factors plays a role in your Kenya safari cost, including your safari budget, when you would like to travel, and where you want to go. Most visitors often inquire about the approximate cost of a Masai Mara safari and Amboseli National Park safari, as well as whether affordable Kenya safari packages are available. Here is a breakdown of our Kenya safari costs;
Budget Kenya Safari cost
Most of us want to save money wherever possible, and spending hundreds of dollars a day to look at animals may seem excessive. A quick-fix three-day safari from Nairobi to the Masai Mara, Tsavo, or Amboseli national parks can be had for just about US\$250 all in for a Kenya budget safari. Meanwhile, this price includes transportation from Nairobi, lodging, meals, and two game drives. It may, however, not include park admission. Well, sounds great, but there are a couple of major caveats that should make you approach bargain deals like this with extreme caution.
To begin with, most of these budget safaris are extremely rushed, and a three-day point-to-point safari leaving and returning to Nairobi will almost certainly only give you one day on safari.
This type of safari is almost always conducted in battered old minibusses that are uncomfortable and provide poor or obstructed views. This is especially true if the vehicle is fully loaded, and more so, half of the passengers may not have a window seat at all. These vehicles are frequently old, and breakdowns are common. Due to breakdowns, it is common to lose a significant amount of safari time โ or even all of it.
Second, and this is not always a bad thing, accommodation on a budget safari will be in small dome tents set up on public campsites with no facilities other than a tap and a basic toilet block. Still, meals are prepared by the entire group and are frequently not what was promised. These safaris are always held in the main national parks and reserves, never in conservancies (from which they are banned).
Mid Range Kenya Safari Cost
A multiday, Kenya mid-range safari in some of the big game parks and reserves such as the Masai Mara and Amboseli National Reserve among others, will cost you around US$250-300 per person, per day. This includes three reasonable meals per day (full-board basis) and lodging in a comfortable if often uneventful, safari lodge or camp.
A mid-range safari in Kenya will also include park entry fees, which are typically around US$70 per person/day for the main parks (although at this time, all park fees had been reduced by 50% in response to the Covid-19 crisis), and a safari in a shared vehicle. This vehicle could be a high-quality, open-sided jeep with only a couple of other passengers, or it could be an overcrowded minibus.
Luxury Kenya Safari Cost
This is the best Kenya safari you can be sure of enjoying! If you want a better safari experience (and you should aim as high as you can), you should consider an exclusive safari in one of the incredible wildlife conservancies. These are community or privately run wildlife conservation areas that frequently border the borders of most of Kenyaโs main national parks and are run for the benefit of local communities as well as wildlife conservation.
A visit to one of these conservancies guarantees you one of the best safaris in the world. The entire experience will be very exclusive, with only a few other safari vehicles present. You will stay in luxury (but not over-the-top) safari tents and dine at world-class restaurants (with most alcoholic drinks included in the rates).
The cost will include a fantastic wildlife guide and safaris in specially designed open-sided vehicles and these vehicles are frequently reserved exclusively for your group. All conservation fees and park entry fees are also included in the price.
So, how much are we discussing? At a quiet time of year, expect to pay at least $350 per person, per night. However, for truly exceptional places with the best guides and wildlife experiences, prices can range from US$600 to $1,000 per night. And at these prices, youโll be glad that gin and tonic are included!
A solo safari is an excellent compromise between a budget safari and something more customized. Here, simply rent a good 4WD jeep with a driver (itโs also possible to go alone, but for safety reasons, weโd recommend having a driver; after all, it rarely adds much to the overall cost).
Throw a tent, a camping gas stove, and a pile of food in the back and youโre ready to go. Also, ensure you carry a map. Youโll be in charge of your itinerary and will be able to change it as you go (accommodation bookings aside). It will be far more comfortable than sitting in a minibus with a dozen other people, and you can alternate between nights spent camping and nights spent in quality lodges.
The cost of renting a jeep with a driver is typically around $150-200 per day, which includes fuel and the majority of driver expenses. You will be expected to pay for your lodging, food, and park admission.
This is a particularly rewarding mode of transportation for a family. However, most conservancies will not allow you to bring your vehicle. If you travel this route and intend to spend time in a conservancy, conservancy camp staff will meet you at the entrance and transfer you to one of their vehicles for the duration of your stay. Normally, your driver will be provided with lodging while he waits.
Flight Kenya costs
Kenya is well connected with international flights from Europe, Asia, and North America, as well as various other parts of the world; however, flight distances to Nairobi are typically long, adding to the overall cost of your Kenya safari. For visitors wondering how to get to Kenya, the majority of international flights arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO).
Tourists from the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, India, and Canada must typically obtain a Kenya visa. Visitors to Kenya can fly into Nairobi (NBO), Mombasa (MBA), Kisumu (KIS), and Eldoret (ELD) for safaris, safari lodges, and Kenya beach vacations (EDL).
Flights to Kenya can be costly due to the length of the journey. Moreover, flights from the United Kingdom or the United States can vary in price depending on the dates of travel and the airline.
National Park Entry fees
Kenya is one of the well-known Kenya safari destinations that visitors to the eastern part of Africa visit. Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Nairobi National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Tsavo East National Park, Meru National Park, Aberdare National Park, and Kora National Park are among the national parks in this East African Republic.
Hells Gate, Mt Longonot, Mt Elgon, and Ol Donyo Sabuk are some of the scenic parks in Kenya that can be visited during safaris. Marsabit, Mwea, Ruma, Saiwa swamp, Sibiloi, Central Island, Kakamega, Shimba hills, Ndere island, Chyullu hills, South Turkana, and South Island national parks are among Kenyaโs special interest parks.
The park entrance fee in Kenya often varies depending on whether the visitor is a nonresident, an East African citizen, or a Kenyan resident, and it also varies for children and adults as they visit different parks throughout Kenya.
Nonresidents visiting Amboseli and Lake Nakuru national parks during the low season pay a park entrance fee of 40 USD for adults and 70 USD during the high season, with children paying a fee of 20 USD in both seasons.
East African citizens and Kenyan residents are charged park entrance fees of 800 Kenya shillings in the high season and 600 Kenya shillings in the low season during safaris in Amboseli and Lake Nakuru national parks. The park entrance fee for children visiting Amboseli and Lake Nakuru national parks for safaris is 215 Kenya shillings, according to Kenya national park fees 2024.
Nonresident adults pay a park entrance fee of 40 USD in the low season and 60 USD in the high season, while children visiting Nairobi National Park pay a park entrance fee of 20 USD.
East African citizens and Kenyan residents who visit Nairobi National Park must pay a park entrance fee of 400 Kenya shillings in the low season and 500 Kenya shillings in the high season, while children must pay 215 Kenya shillings.
Nairobi National Park, located south of Nairobi, is Kenyaโs only urban national park.
Another attraction in Kenya is the well-known Tsavo National Park. The park is divided into two sections: Tsavo West National Park and Tsavo East National Park.
East African citizens or Kenya residents visiting Tsavo west and Tsavo east national parks pay a park entrance fee of 500 Kenya shillings in the high season and 300 Kenya shillings in the low season, while children pay a park entrance fee of 215 Kenya shillings, according to Kenya national park fees 2022.
Nonresidents visiting Tsavo West and Tsavo East national parks must pay a park entrance fee of $60 in the high season and $35 in the low season for adults, with children paying a fee of $20.
The park entrance fees for Tsavo west and Tsavo east national park are similar to the park entrance fee charged during tours to Meru national park, Kora national park, and also Aberdare national park.
Tours in Hells Gate National Park, Mt Longonot, Mt Elgon, and Ol donyo Sabuk are also available during safaris in Kenya. The park entrance fee for nonresident adults visiting the national parks listed above is 30 USD during the high season and 20 USD during the low season. Nonresident children who visit the parks must pay an entrance fee of USD 20.
East African citizens and Kenya residents who visit Hells Gate National Park, Mt Longonot, Mt Elgon, and Ol Donyo Sabuk must pay a park entrance fee of 300 Kenya shillings in high season and 250 Kenya shillings in low season, while children must pay a fee of 215 Kenya shillings.
East African citizens and Kenya residents who visit Marsabit, Mwea, Ruma, Saiwa swamp, Sibiloi, Central Island, Kakamega, Shimba hills, Ndere island, Chyulu hills, South Turkana, and South Island national park must also pay this entrance fee.
The entrance fee for visiting the various sanctuaries in Kenya, such as the Nairobi orphanage, Nairobi safari walk, Kisumu Impala, and Elementaita, is 250 Kenya shillings for adults visiting in the high season and 200 Kenya shillings for adults visiting in the low season, while children are charged 125 Kenya shillings, Kenya national park fees 2022. Adult nonresidents pay 25 USD and 20 USD, respectively, to visit the sanctuaries in Kenya during the high and low seasons, while children pay 15 USD.
Entrance fees for Marine Parks
Nonresident adults are charged an entrance fee of 15 USD in the high season and 10 USD in the low season to visit Kisite Mpunguti, Mombasa Marine Park, Watamu, Malindi, and Kiunga during tours to Kenyaโs marine parks. East African citizens/Kenyans visiting Kenyaโs marine parks pay an entrance fee of 200 Kenya shillings in the high season and 150 Kenya shillings in the low season, while children pay a fee of 125 Kenya shillings.
The park entrance fee is valid for a single visit to the national park, reserves, or sanctuary for 24 hours. Children under the age of 18 are considered travelers.
Safaris in Kenya can be taken at any time of year, with the low season lasting from March to June and the high season lasting from July to February.
Accommodation on Kenya Safari costย
Safaris in Kenya with basic accommodations and no frills begin at around $200 per person, per day. A mid-range safari with lodging costs $350 to $400 per person, per day, while a top-tier luxury safari with lodging costs $600 to $1,000 per person, per day.
Accommodation options range from simple safari lodges to Luxurious tented camps.. International flights, visa fees, vaccinations, travel insurance, and other incidentals are not included in these figures.
Inbound transportation in Kenya
A taxi ride in Kenya is significantly more expensive than public transportation. Previous visitors to Kenya spent an average of KES3,443 per person, per day on local transportation. In Kenya, transportation between cities and towns costs an average of KES8,358. Prices vary depending on the length of the route, the mode of transportation used, and the date.
Meal costs in Kenya
While meal prices in Kenya vary, the average daily food cost in Kenya is KES2,858. Based on previous travelersโ spending habits, an average meal in Kenya should cost around KES1,143 per person when dining out. Breakfast is typically less expensive than lunch or dinner. Food prices in Kenyan sit-down restaurants are frequently higher than fast food or street food prices.
Cost of Entertainment and tips
In Kenya, entertainment and activities typically cost KES4,081 per person, per day. This includes admission fees to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing costs.
The average price for Tips and Handouts in Kenya is KES470 per day. Theย usual amount for a tip in Kenya is 5% โ 15%.
