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Everything You Need to Know About Kenya Safari
Sometimes, it may be hard to get the perfect safari in Africa as there are many destinations and options. Over the years, Kenya has been identified as among the best destinations to travel owing to different factors attributing to it. Kenya boasts an extensive network of protected zones comprising 65 national parks and game reserves.
Some of the most prominent parks in Kenya include Masai Mara, Amboseli, Aberdares, Lake Nakuru, and both Tsavo East and West National Park.
The Great Migration at Glance
Kenya is part of the World’s famous Great Wildebeest Migration where over 1.5 million wildebeest 400,000 zebras, 12,000 eland, and 30,000 Grant’s and Gazelle trek annually from the Southern Serengeti to the Masai Mara ecosystem. This year-long animal activity is a great phenomenon with its timing being pegged on various dynamic factors including weather and the animals themselves.
In summary, the migration happens because of rain.This migration is unique as it is a circular movement between the Serengeti and Masai Mara in search of greener pastures, water, and minerals.
Highlights of the Great Migration
As the great Migration happens every year in July, the Wildebeests, Zebras, and Gazelles are met by lethal predators along the way. Apart from threats from big cats, the herds are also faced with the threat of over 3000 crocodiles marking along the muddy riversides of the Mara River. To say the least, witnessing the fragile herds jumping blindly to the crocodile-infested river Mara is just spectacular to see just before they are rewarded with the greener pastures of the open Masai Mara National Reserve.
For short times, life in Mara becomes better not until the pastures dwindles when they also move away to find better pastures.
Why go to Kenya on Safari?
How to Book Kenya Safari
How Much Does Kenya Safari Cost?
Although safari is not a cheap holiday option, it is a once-in-a-lifetime event that you will remember forever. Kenya is not one of the cheapest safari destinations, but it is worth every penny.
Some key Kenya safari highlights include the Great Migration at Masai Mara, Mount Climbing at Mt Kenya National Park, the hot springs of Lake Bogoria, and the Flamingoes and white rhino of Lake Nakuru National Park.
To start with, let us see the last park increase in some of the Kenya parks and how it will have an impact on your overall cost of safari.
Starting January 2024, park fees in Masai Mara national reserve Increased by 100%.
Category | Fee(USD) from 1st Jan 2025-30th June 2025 | Fee(USD) from 1st July 2025 to 31 Dec 2025 |
Non Resident Adult | 100 | 200 |
Non-Resident Child(9-17 yrs) | 50 | 50 |
Non Resident Child (0-8 yrs) | Free entry | Free entry |
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The consensus of park fee increase in Masai Mara is because the parks nowadays get too busy with safaris. Therefore, through the wisdom of KWS and Narok Country, it was decided to increase park fees in order to reduce numbers while at the same time maintaining the same income level to protect the park.
With the parking fee being around 30% of the safari cost, therefore each safari package would likely increase by the same percentage. For instance, if per day at Mara was costing $300 then it would be increased by $90 to become $390.
To lower the cost of the overall safari, most tour operators would lower the number of days being spent on major National parks such as Masai Mara.
Even though having a high price is not something to celebrate, this one has the benefit of having a better experience in the park as it will now be less crowded enhancing better wildlife viewing opportunities.
Alternatively, it can be rewarding to spend more time at less expensive parks such as Lake Nakuru National Park, Amboseli, and Tsavo and have a better wildlife experience at affordable rates.
While park fees can increase the overall cost of a safari, other factors also include the comfort level of the safari.
East African Safaris are divided into three, Budget & camping, mid-range, and Luxury (With Luxury plus).
Comfort levels mostly refer to accommodations but can also affect the transportation means with mini busses and pop-up roof vans being commonly used at the lower end while Landcruiser and safari jeeps are widely used by high-end and luxury users.
For each of the 3 different comfort levels, I will analyze each of them and show the cost when booking each of them through the DIY(Do It Yourself) approach. This is for anyone interested in Private safari -Self-drive, Group Joining, shared safaris, Local companies, and international companies.
Kenya Budget Safari at Glance
Kenya Budget safari is the cheapest way to experience the typical Kenyan safari where you get to drive through the national parks and view wildlife.
Within the budget safari type, there is also budget camping and budget lodges. Budget camps are those that are semi-permanent and basic tents that are comfortable with private bathrooms.
If you opt for group sharing safari, then most likely you will have budget camping as an accommodation option. These types of safaris are organized by local tour operators on fixed dates, typically 3-6 days.
This type of safari is perfect for solo travelers as they lack the flexibility and comfort of private safaris and can start anywhere from $400.
If in case you are more in number say 2 or more, the cost becomes more affordable as you will be sharing fixed costs such as driver/guide, with other people on the same safari.
Difference Between Budget and Mid-Range
The most common difference between the two is the choice of accommodation and type of safari vehicle. Most probably if you are on a budget safari you will move between parks using the road as internal flights are quite expensive.
The difference between Kenya and Tanzania budget safaris which makes it affordable is that Kenya parks allow for minibuses and safari vans in the parks whereas the Tanzania counterpart only allows Land cruisers which makes Tanzania budget safari more expensive.
When comparing budget and mid-range safaris, accommodation options create the biggest difference. The options available can range from small tents and sleeping bags for group camping to comfortable tented camps with private bathrooms.
The Mid-range of accommodation options are comfortable, have bigger rooms and private space.
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Mid -Range- Safari Cost
In Kenya, mid-range safari are the most popular and widely used. In my opinion, Mid-range safari is the best option as they are just 30% higher than the budget option. This type of safari offers a higher standard of accommodation, with comfortable beds having private bathrooms.
Since the amount of money being spent on Park fees is higher, then it would make sense to spend a little more ranging from $74 to $100 per person daily, and have fantastic accommodation.
Also, you will have a spacious land cruiser option just for the two of you for a more experienced safari.
Luxury Kenya Safari Cost
Kenya has a lot more variety of Luxury safari options with incredible safari accommodation options.
The luxury safari booking through a local tour operator may cost anything between $600 per adult daily to $1500 and can go up to $5,000 and beyond.
With the option of having chartered flights, the long drives between parks are cut off and now you can have 2 daily game drives inside luxurious parks.
When you choose an international travel agent, the cost might be a little bit higher as you will be paying off overhead costs on top of making profits.
In most cases, the luxury safari option perception is sold as the end consumer may not be price sensitive and may be thinking will have additional value than the rest options of safaris.