Kenya Safari Cost

Kenya can be expensive for budget travellers if you want to rent a car or go on organized safaris, especially in high season. By staying in B&Ls, eating in local places, and using public transport, you can get by okay on $30–50 a day. It’s always cheaper per person if you can share accommodation it’s not uncommon for hotels in Kenya to have three or four beds in some rooms, and you could ask to stay in a family room even at safari lodges and beach resorts. Getting around by bus and matatu is inexpensive, but you can’t use public transport to visit the game parks. Renting a vehicle, and paying for fuel and vehicle entry fees to the parks and reserves, will add at the very least $120 a day to your costs. However, if you’re in a group of three or more, it starts to become more reasonable. You could also visit the parks on a cheap camping safari, though check what you’re getting for the price – the cheapest companies don’t necessarily offer the best value for money, and if you’re only ever going once it’s worth considering spending more. On the coast, there are few cheap hotels away from the expensive all-inclusive beach resorts, but there’s the option of negotiating accommodation on a room-only basis or renting a self-catering cottage.

For those on a more comfortable budget, an all-inclusive safari with road transport plus accommodation in a lodge or tented camp will cost from around $300 per person per day, and a night in an all-inclusive beach resort from around $120 per person per day; both can rise to well over $1000 per day depending on the level of luxury. Then you need to add the cost of flights if you prefer to fly between destinations. That said, once you’ve forked out for those costs, you’re likely to find daily expenses refreshingly modest. Drinks in most hotels, tented camps, and lodges run from around Ksh200–400 ($2.50–5) for a beer or a glass of house wine, and the main course in a restaurant generally costs around Ksh800–2000 ($8–20). Taxis are reasonably priced, but you need to establish the fare in advance.