“How much will a safari cost?”

“ Is going on safari affordable?”

Let’s have a look at the logisitics of the costs involved in a safari, to put things in perspective.

Why do we go on safari? For the privilege of observing unique wildlife in their own habitats, and to experience soul stirring landscapes and wilderness areas. To access these experiences we need to travel to remote areas, and this very remoteness makes it costly to get there. It is also more challenging to run a safari camp in the middle of a remote area, and this translates to higher accommodation rates. Finally, remember that the small safari camp in which you stay is also supporting the conservation efforts and sustainability of thousands of hectares of wilderness, as well as supporting the communities around.

Therefore, affordability is a relative term when it comes to safaris in Kenya.

So, maybe the question you need to ask is “How can I make it more affordable?”

Here are some tips………

  1. Choose your travel dates carefully.

Avoid travelling during the holiday seasons like Christmas, Easter, school holidays etc when accommodations are priced at their highest and are crowded at best. If you can, travel during the green season when prices are at their lowest, and accommodations and services are better, due to lower visitor numbers.

  1. Take the road ‘less travelled’.

Some of the parks and reserves in Kenya, have been featured in well known wildlife TV channels like National Geographic, and as a consequence are on every visitor’s bucket list. Kenya has an abundance of parks, reserves and conservancies, and staying at one of the lesser known ones will reward you with far better experiences, in a less crowded environment and at a lower cost.

  1. Use the expert guidance of a tour operator

There are literally hundreds of choices available to the would-be traveler to Kenya, and even with the best possible research, you won’t be able to research them all. Using a tour operator to plan your safari allows you to take advantage of their expertise and superior knowledge, saving you $$$ in the long run.

  1. Understand the classification of the lodges and camps.

There are many different levels of luxury when it comes to choosing your accommodation on safari. While all of them may be equally luxurious, the difference in cost may be enormous and sometimes you end up paying for the name, although the services and amenities are similar to other lower priced camps.

  1. Look out for deals

Most operators have deals on offer at certain times during the year – these deals could involve discounts if staying longer i.e pay for 3 and stay for 4 nights, or discounts if staying at a particular combination of properties within a portfolio.

At the moment we have a deal for a 10 night luxury safari on which we are offering more than 10% off for travel upto mid October.

Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media to take advantage of these and more offers.

  1. Travel less

Most safari itineraries will have you staying a maximum of 2 nights per park. As most of these parks and reserves are located away from major towns and cities and are not serviced by low cost airlines, you either have to travel there by light aircraft (schedule or charter) or drive long distances to get there. All this adds onto the cost of the safari. By staying longer and travelling less, you will spend less and enjoy your safari more as you won’t be constantly packing and unpacking, but will have more time to engage in all the experiences offered.

  1. A final word

Finally, remember that safaris are an investment and require planning. With the right guidance and enough time for planning, all your requirements can be catered for, within your budget.