The Kenya Safari Planning Guide

This guide assumes you've never been to East Africa. It will not assume you don't know what a wildebeest is — but it will not pretend that planning a safari is as simple as booking a city break.

The two things to internalise before reading further:

• Kenya is one of the highest-density wildlife environments on Earth. Most first-time worries (will we see enough?) prove laughable within 24 hours of arriving.
• The cheapest path and the best path are rarely the same. A €1,500 mid-range trip done well will beat a €3,500 trip planned badly nearly every time. The leverage is on planning, not just budget.

Allow 3–6 months of lead time for high season (Jul–Oct), 4–8 weeks for shoulder season. Less is possible, but it limits where you can stay.

Your cost depends on dates, accommodation, group size, transport and park entry. The ranges below are broad planning estimates, not current quotes or guaranteed inclusions. Compare our Kenya safari packages and request an itemised quote for your dates.

The three tiers

What to check in your quote

• Accommodation, room sharing and meal plan
• Park and conservancy entry for each day
• Vehicle, guide, fuel and transfers
• Taxes, optional activities and cancellation terms

Park charges vary by visitor category, age, dates and activities. Check Kenya Wildlife Service park information for KWS-managed parks. Reserves and private conservancies have their own authorities and charges; confirm these in your quote.

What's usually NOT included

• International flights (budget €600–€1,200 from EU, €1,000–€1,800 from US)
• Kenya eTA, if required: check current fees on the official portal
• Travel health consultation and any recommended vaccines or medicines
• Travel insurance suited to your itinerary
• Guide and camp staff tips (see §8)
• Premium drinks, optional activities (hot-air balloon ~€420)

Ignore the operators who only tell you July–October. The Mara is spectacular every month of the year — the question is what trade-off you want.

Sweet spots most travellers miss

• Late June — dry, post-rain abundance, prices haven't spiked. Our most-recommended window for first-time visitors.
• Early November — short rains starting, lush landscapes, accommodation at low-season prices.
• February — peak photographic conditions, short grass, big cats highly visible.

If you only visit one park, pick Maasai Mara. It's the highest-impact single-park trip in Africa. If you have 6+ days, pair it with one of the others.

The three combinations we recommend most

1. Classic first-time visit (5–7 days): Maasai Mara (3 nights) + Lake Nakuru (1 night).
2. Photographic / wildlife focus (7–9 days): Maasai Mara (3 nights) + Amboseli (2 nights), connected by short flight.
3. Bush + beach (10–14 days): Maasai Mara (3 nights) + Tsavo East (2 nights) + Diani or Watamu (4 nights).

Visa

Check whether you need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) using the official Kenya eTA portal. Eligibility, exemptions, fees and processing options depend on your circumstances and can change. Follow the official instructions for your nationality and journey before booking travel.

Vaccinations

Arrange a travel health consultation ideally 4–6 weeks before departure. Vaccines and malaria prevention depend on your health history, destinations and activities. Yellow fever certificate requirements also depend on where you arrive from and your transit route. Read TravelHealthPro's Kenya guidance and discuss your itinerary with a qualified clinician.

Travel insurance — do not skip this

Check that your policy covers medical treatment, evacuation and the activities on your itinerary. Compare cancellation cover, exclusions, limits and emergency contact arrangements before purchasing.

Clothing — neutral colours win

• Choose comfortable, neutral-coloured clothing such as khaki, olive, beige or brown. Dust shows quickly on bright white.
• Layers: dawn game drives are cold (10–15 °C); midday hits 30 °C. A fleece + windproof shell + t-shirt covers the full range.
• Long sleeves and trousers for evenings (mosquitos).
• Closed-toe walking shoes; sandals for the lodge.
• Wide-brim hat, polarised sunglasses, sunscreen (SPF 30+).

Gear

• Binoculars — 8×42 is the standard recommendation. Transforms what you see at distance.
• Camera — bring at least a 200mm zoom for wildlife (mirrorless or DSLR ideal; modern phones are fine for landscapes).
• Plug adapter — Kenya uses Type G (UK 3-pin).
• Power bank — lodges have power, but vehicles often don't.
• Luggage — check your airline's baggage size, weight and bag-type rules before a fly-in safari.

Pharmacy

Bring your regular prescriptions and a basic first-aid kit. Ask your pharmacist or travel clinician which medicines and insect repellent suit you and your itinerary.

The typical safari day rhythm:

• 5:30 am — coffee/tea brought to your tent.
• 6:00 am — early game drive (3–4 hours). The animals are most active at sunrise.
• 10:00 am — return to camp for a proper breakfast.
• 10:30 am – 3:30 pm — downtime. Read, swim, nap. Heat keeps animals quiet so this is rest time for everyone.
• 4:00 pm — afternoon/evening game drive (3–4 hours).
• 7:30 pm — sundowner drinks, then dinner around the camp fire.
• 9:30 pm — bed. You'll be ready for it.

Some camps run a single full-day drive instead of two short ones (with picnic lunch in the bush). This is excellent during the Migration when you don't want to miss a river crossing.

Kenya is a tipping culture. Tips are a meaningful part of guide and staff income — budget for them upfront:

• Guide / driver — USD 10–15 per guest per day. Paid directly at trip end.
• Camp staff (general) — USD 5–10 per guest per day, dropped in the central tip box at the camp.
• Spotters / trackers (conservancies) — USD 5 per guest per drive if they did serious work.
• Porters at airports / camps — USD 1–2 per bag.
• Restaurant / city — 10% on top of the bill is standard.

USD or KES both accepted. Carry small bills.

1. Too many parks, too little time. A 7-day trip across 4 parks means you spend half of it in transit. Two parks done well beats four parks rushed.
2. Booking without checking the operator. Verify business contact details, advertised credentials, written inclusions and cancellation terms.
3. Overlooking insurance exclusions. Check medical and evacuation cover for your destinations and planned activities.
4. Over-stuffed luggage. Fly-in safaris cap at 15 kg in soft bags. We see this catch first-timers every trip.
5. Booking Migration trip with only 2 nights in the Mara. River crossings are unpredictable. Give yourself 4 nights minimum if it's the goal.
6. Showing up with brand-new boots. Break them in at home.
7. Not budgeting for tips. €100–€150 per traveller across a 7-day trip is normal.

4 weeks before

• Travel health advice reviewed with a qualified clinician
• Any recommended vaccines, medicines and required certificates arranged
• Travel insurance purchased (medical evac included)
• Passport valid 6+ months past return date

2 weeks before

• Entry requirements checked and eTA approved, if required
• International flights ticketed
• Lodge confirmations printed

1 week before

• Cash withdrawn (USD small bills for tips)
• Plug adapters packed
• Soft duffel within 15 kg limit weighed
• Insurance card, vaccination card, passport copies stored separately from originals

Day of departure

• Camera batteries charged
• Phone unlocked / international roaming set
• Operator's WhatsApp saved to phone