How to see the wild nature of Africa with your own eyes — if not cheap, then at least in an affordable way — and enjoy it? Here are a few tips to help you organise a safari tour to Kenya on your own.First, you need to decide on the travel dates.The peak (and therefore most expensive) season runs from July to the end of September, when the Great Migration passes through the Maasai Mara. In addition, summer is the holiday season in most parts of the world, so tourists choose this time for their trips. Kenya and neighbouring Tanzania have many beach resorts, and tourists often fly from the beaches to the national parks for a couple of days. As a result, the reserves get crowded with visitors.
If the Great Migration isn’t the main goal of your trip, consider visiting in October. There are fewer tourists, accommodation prices are lower, and you can still see herds of migrating wildebeest — although, of course, not as many as in summer.
Another good period for an affordable safari is the second half of January and February. These are dry and hot months, and the grass is still short, making it easier to spot animals. After this period comes the rainy season, followed by the high migration season.
You’ve now chosen your time frame.
Now let’s talk about the most expensive components of a safari tour: flights, accommodation, transport, and entrance tickets to national parks.
Flight to Nairobi. There are many options here — you just need to keep an eye out for flight deals. In my experience, the cheapest tickets were with Egypt Air via Cairo or Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. Generally, it’s also convenient to travel via Doha with Qatar Airlines or via Dubai with Emirates. For those who prefer Aeroflot, there’s an option to fly to Dubai and then continue with Kenya Airways to Nairobi. The cheapest tickets I’ve managed to buy in 2023 cost 54,000 rubles.
Accommodation is the second (and sometimes the first) major expense item. Almost all lodges and camps in Kenya’s national parks offer full‑board accommodation. During the low season, many small camps in some parks — for example, in the Maasai Mara — are closed. But those that remain open offer attractive prices. With some effort, you can book a tent with all amenities (toilet/shower) and meals for 70–80 USD per night for two people.
An important tip: try to choose accommodation inside the reserve rather than outside it. It’s not much more expensive, but you won’t lose 1.5 hours every day entering and exiting the reserve. Considering that a budget trip is likely to be rather short, it’s a pity to waste even one hour on extra travel.
If you book accommodation via Booking.com, note that the prices listed there don’t include a 16 % tax and a 10 % service charge. In other words, you need to add another quarter to the quoted price.
Transport is an expensive affair in Kenya. Typically, good guide‑drivers charge 250–300 USD per day for a large (7‑seat) off‑road vehicle. For a less comfortable minivan, the rate is 150–200 USD — and this is only for driving within the reserves, not including long‑distance transfers.
A transfer from Nairobi Airport to the Maasai Mara, which takes about 5–6 hours, costs on average 150 USD by minivan and 280 USD by jeep. As you can see, it’s not a cheap pleasure.
However, if you ask about the cost of these services during the low season, you can get a good offer right away or negotiate a price that’s acceptable to you. It’s quite realistic to get the price down to 200 USD for a jeep and 150 USD for a minivan. The price should include fuel, the guide‑driver’s work, and drinking water. If you suddenly can’t find affordable drivers on your own, feel free to contact me.
Entrance tickets to national parks are also a significant burden on your budget. Since January 2024, ticket prices have gone up considerably. Now, a one‑day ticket to the Maasai Mara Reserve costs:
- 100 USD (from 1 January to 31 May);
- 200 USD (from 1 June to 31 December).
In my opinion, the two most interesting reserves are Amboseli and the Maasai Mara.
Amboseli is a great choice for those who love elephants and scenic views — Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, is nearby.
As for the Maasai Mara, it’s a paradise for anyone interested in Africa’s wildlife.
To fully experience the wild, you’ll need at least three full days — five would be even better. However, a lot will depend on your guide‑driver. Your overall impression of the trip will entirely depend on their ability to locate animals. And their skill also affects the price: a good guide can’t come cheap.
So, you should think carefully: save 50 USD and hire a driver from Nairobi, or opt for a more expensive and experienced guide from among the Maasai people?
Additional expenses include a 32.5 USD fee for a Kenyan visa and a 20 USD special insurance policy called “flying doctor”, which allows you to call emergency medical assistance directly to the reserve. In urgent cases, a doctor will fly to you by plane or helicopter.
When looking for guides and drivers, you’ll often come across package tour offers on Kenyan travel agency websites: three‑day/two‑night trips to the Maasai Mara for 150–200 USD, including a guide‑driver, accommodation, meals, and insurance. I wouldn’t really recommend accepting such deals. This price is actually below cost. You’ll end up in a minivan with seven strangers — for example, travellers from India or China. Just imagine having to sit in the middle of such a group. What will you get to see? Nothing! And even if the guide is good, spending three days in these conditions most likely won’t give you any joy from experiencing nature.
If you’re still thinking about whether to go or have already made up your mind, here are a few links to articles that may help you decide or better organise a safe trip:
