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.

A Kenya safari can cost anywhere from €120 to €1,200 per person per day. That 10× range reflects real differences in accommodation, vehicle, group size, and which parks you visit.

The three tiers

Where the money actually goes

On a mid-range €300/day safari, roughly:

• €120 — accommodation
• €90 — park & conservancy fees
• €50 — vehicle, fuel, guide
• €25 — meals and water
• €15 — operations overhead

Park fees are non-negotiable. Maasai Mara: USD 100/day. Mara conservancies: USD 110–130/day. Amboseli: USD 70. Tsavo: USD 60. These rates are set by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the conservancies, not by us.

What's usually NOT included

• International flights (budget €600–€1,200 from EU, €1,000–€1,800 from US)
• Kenya eTA — USD 30
• Vaccinations (~€50 Yellow Fever, ~€40 anti-malarials)
• Travel insurance (€40–€80; non-negotiable)
• 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

Most international visitors need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation). It replaced the old e-Visa in 2024. Apply at etakenya.go.ke — costs USD 30, usually approved within 72 hours. East African Community citizens are exempt.

Vaccinations

• Yellow Fever — required if arriving from a country with risk of transmission; recommended otherwise. Bring your card.
• Anti-malarial prophylaxis — recommended for most safari areas. Speak to your travel clinic 4–6 weeks before departure.
• Routine updates — make sure tetanus, hepatitis A/B, typhoid are current.
• Optional — rabies, meningitis if you'll be in remote areas for longer trips.

Travel insurance — do not skip this

The single thing every operator agrees on. Get a policy that covers medical evacuation (€100k+ cover is standard; AMREF / Flying Doctors is the regional standard). Cancellation cover is also worth it given the lead time on bookings.

Clothing — neutral colours win

• Khaki, olive, beige, brown. Avoid bright white (dust shows immediately), navy/black (attracts tsetse flies), and camouflage (illegal for civilians in Kenya).
• 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.
• Soft-sided duffel bag — required for fly-in safaris (light aircraft have hard luggage limits, usually 15 kg).

Pharmacy

Imodium, paracetamol, ibuprofen, anti-histamine, oral rehydration sachets, plasters, hand sanitiser, insect repellent (DEET 30%+).

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 the cheapest operator without checking KATO membership. Kenya Association of Tour Operators sets standards. If they're not a member, ask why.
3. Skipping travel insurance. Medical evacuation from a remote camp without insurance can run €30,000+.
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

• Yellow Fever & routine vaccinations done
• Anti-malarials filled at pharmacy
• Travel insurance purchased (medical evac included)
• Passport valid 6+ months past return date

2 weeks before

• Kenya eTA approved
• 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