How Much Does a Kenya Safari Cost?

Kenya is a tourism destination that appeals to all and sundry- from Hollywood glitterati, monarchs to the regular Joes of the world. That is primarily due to the country’s diverse product offerings and rich heritage.

Traditionally, however, Kenya did not always attract such a broad spectrum of visitors. In fact, in the past, the country’s tourism circuit was dominated by a small but elite class of westerners seeking an African adventure.

Suffice it to say that, like the rest of the continent, tourism in Kenya emanated from a dark past that involved unwarranted trophy game hunting and plunder of wildlife resources by colonial powers and their ilk.

Thankfully, upon independence, the ban on game hunting has led to a tremendous increase in wildlife populations and the industry’s growth.

Today, the country can attract visitors from all walks of life, including domestic tourists. Below, we look at the three main budgetary tour packages and their products.

Luxury safaris

Luxury wildlife safaris in Kenya can start for as low as $600 per person per night and soar to as much as $10,000 per person per night or even more.

It all depends on a range of factors, such as the mode of domestic transportation that you wish to be ferried in and the activities you hope to partake in.

Equally relevant is the time of year you schedule your visit. The peak season (which falls between July-December) typically attracts the highest rates across all classes of safaris.

On a luxury safari, transportation from the capital to the Maasai Mara may be via chartered or commercial flights.

Visitors wishing to sample other attractions en route to the Mara are advised to take a road trip. Your travel agent will avail of a luxurious safari vehicle for this purpose.

As for the activities included in a luxury safari, the options are innumerable and depend on the attractions you pick.

A significant advantage that comes with a luxury safari is that you not only get a wide range of options, but some professional travel agents will even allow you to customize your itinerary!

That means you can have an itinerary tailored to fit in with your preferences.

Besides the customization option, the lowest tier $600 per person per day luxury safari is inclusive of the following:

• Airport shuttle services
• Accommodation in 5-star hotels, camps, and lodges
• Full-board accommodation
• Park fees
• Professional drivers/ guides
• Private safaris and game drives for two.

Meanwhile, a premium package comes with added perks depending on your chosen activities.

These include high-end activities such as hot air balloon rides across the Maasai Mara, skydiving in Diani or scuba diving tours, to name a few.

4×4 safari vehicles – mostly Toyota Land Cruiser, Jeep Wrangler, or Land Rover, are used for transport and game drives in the luxury safari category. 

Mid Luxury safaris

Mid-Luxury or Mid-Budget safaris are popular among the average repeat travelers and range from $290 to $500 per person per night.

Unlike their luxurious counterparts, which may sometimes last 9-18 days, mid-luxury safaris often last between 3-7 days at a time.

This type of safari is favored because it affords travelers relatively comfortable amenities at a fraction of the cost associated with luxury travel.

Due to this balance between comfort and affordability, this class of safari is especially popular with regular folk, particularly couples, seniors, and small families/ groups.

For visitors jetting into the country, a mid-luxury budget Kenya safari includes airport pickups and drop-offs. Travelers hoping to have a beach safari on their itinerary fare better with a mid-luxury safari due to the quality of accommodation it carries.

Also, depending on the travel agent you go for, you can also be able to score a semi-customized itinerary. The agent will inform you of the attractions they cover under this category based on your travel goals.

Other amenities covered under a mid-luxury Kenya safari include:

• Accommodation in 4-star tented camps and safari lodges.
• Half-board accommodation.
• Safaris for groups of 3-5 persons.
• Structured itinerary as agreed with your travel agent.

Depending on the areas you plan to visit, these packages also include other staples such as game drives and transportation aboard a 4×4 Land cruiser or a minivan with a pop-up roof.

Like Luxury safaris, mid-luxury safaris can be scheduled at any time of the year. Due to their semi-customizable nature, they are flexible and can be slated to fall at any time of the year.

Nonetheless, the overall price of a mid-luxury safari varies according to the season in which you plan to visit. 

Budget safaris

At the lower end of the financial allocation are budget safaris which start at $195 per person per day.

It is the perfect choice for students, backpackers, campers, and budget travelers. 

Unlike luxury and mid-luxury safaris which invariably tend to cater to few numbers of people at a time, budget tours allow for larger groups.

They are, therefore, a welcome starting point for students and family groups who wish to sample their first safari together.

A typical budget safari also appeals to persons who thrive with basic amenities and aren’t too concerned with the plush 4-star or 5-star hotels. 

These include the adventurous campers and walking safari enthusiasts who would much rather be out exploring the wild during the more significant part of their stay.

A basic budget safari includes:

• Airport shuttle services
• Accommodation in 3-star hotels
• Road and railway transfer
• Breakfast
• Caters to groups of 6-8 persons

For the best budget safari, it is vital that you choose a local tour operator, as they are best placed to advise you on ways you can cut costs.

It is also worth considering whether you wish to have a guide included in your tour or whether you are ready to do a self-guided or self-driven tour.