3 Tips to Pay Less for a Safari in Kenya

Going on safari in Kenya is an incredible experience, but it can also quickly become one of the most expensive parts of your trip.

After doing my own safari in Kenya, there are definitely a few decisions I would make differently next time (if any).

We had an amazing driver and safari guide, Lulu, who was funny, incredibly nice to us and genuinely committed to making sure we saw the best wildlife possible. So I absolutely loved that part of the experience.

But when it comes to the way I planned and spent my safari budget? I learned a few things.

I book through a travel planner. It saved me some time but I should have been more insistant about the options to lower down the cost.

Here are 3 ways I would recommend paying less for a safari in Kenya.

1. Travel during low season

This is probably the first thing I would change.

Safari prices can vary significantly depending on when you visit Kenya and the difference isn’t only about accommodation.

Take the Maasai Mara.

During low season, the entrance fee for an international visitor can be around $100 per adult per day. During peak season, it can reach around $200 per adult per day.

That’s twice the price just to enter the reserve.

For two people spending three days in the Maasai Mara, that difference alone could represent $600 extra.

Peak season is particularly popular because it coincides with the Great Migration. And yes, seeing thousands of wildebeest moving across the ecosystem sounds incredible.

But there is something important to remember:

Nature doesn’t work according to our travel itinerary.

Paying peak-season prices and being in the Maasai Mara during migration season doesn’t guarantee that you’ll witness one of those spectacular river crossings you see on Instagram or in documentaries.

Paying less can also give you more room in your budget for an extra safari day, better accommodation or another experience in Kenya.

💡Tip: Before choosing your safari dates, check both accommodation prices and park entrance fees during low and high seasons. The difference between seasons can completely change your safari budget.

2. Share your safari vehicle 🚙

Your safari vehicle, fuel and driver-guide represent another significant part of the cost.

If you’re travelling solo or as a couple, booking a completely private safari means those costs are divided between only one or two people.

Joining a small group can make a big difference.

Instead of two travellers paying for the vehicle and guide, you might have four, five or six people sharing those costs.

Of course, there is a trade-off.

A private safari gives you much more flexibility. You can potentially spend longer at a sighting, discuss your priorities with your guide and have a more personalised experience.

And the guide really matters.

We were lucky with ours.

Our driver and safari guide, Lulu, was fantastic. He was really funny, very nice with us and genuinely committed to making sure we had the best experience possible and saw as much wildlife as we could.

So even if you decide to save money by joining a group, I wouldn’t automatically choose the cheapest operator.

Check reviews and, when possible, look specifically at what previous travellers say about the guides.

A great guide can make a huge difference to your safari.

💡 Talla Tip: Before joining a shared safari, ask how many people will be in the vehicle. Saving money is great; spending your entire safari fighting for a window isn’t.

3. Look beyond the famous safari parks 🐘

When most people imagine a safari in Kenya, one destination immediately comes to mind:

The Maasai Mara.

But Kenya has so many other options.

Depending on your itinerary and what animals or landscapes you’re interested in, you can also explore places such as Amboseli, Tsavo East, Tsavo West, Lake Nakuru or Samburu.

And sometimes choosing a less famous park can make your safari more affordable.

This is probably another thing I would reconsider after my experience.

I enjoyed the Maasai Mara, but the game-drive experience was slightly different from some of the safaris I’ve done before.

The guides in the Mara seemed extremely well connected with each other.

When someone spotted something interesting, information travelled quickly between vehicles.

That’s obviously a huge advantage if your goal is to see as much wildlife as possible.

But it sometimes meant that the experience felt like:

“There’s something over there — let’s drive to that spot.”

rather than:

“Let’s explore and see what we can find.”

And I realised that I personally really enjoy that second part of a safari.

I like driving through the landscape, looking around, searching for animals and experiencing that moment when you or your guide suddenly spot something.

We still had those moments in the Maasai Mara, of course, but I felt the difference compared with some of my previous game drives.

There was also another reality: our accommodation was extremely standard.

We stayed in a large tent with an attached bathroom and toilet, but everything was very rustic.

There’s nothing wrong with that type of accommodation. safari camps don’t need to be luxurious.

But when the total price of your safari is high, it’s easy to assume that you’re also paying for high-end accommodation.

That’s not necessarily the case.

A significant part of your budget may actually be going toward park fees, the vehicle, fuel, guides and other logistics.

So don’t assume:

expensive safari = luxury safari.

If you’re mainly interested in wildlife and the experience of a game drive, compare several Kenyan parks before automatically choosing the most famous one.

You may find that another park gives you exactly the type of safari you’re looking for but for less money.

💡 Talla Tip: Compare the total safari cost, not just the park entrance fee. Look at transportation, accommodation, park fees and how many nights you actually need.

What I would do differently next time

I don’t regret doing the Maasai Mara.

We saw wildlife, had a great time and, most importantly, had a guide who really wanted us to have an amazing experience.

But knowing what I know now, I would probably plan my next Kenyan safari differently.

I would travel during low season and go to another national park.

Because there’s a difference between wanting to go on safari in Kenya and wanting to go specifically to the Maasai Mara during the Great Migration.

If the second one is your dream, then the premium might absolutely be worth it.

But if what you really want is wildlife, beautiful landscapes and the excitement of a great game drive?

Kenya gives you plenty of other options.

And sometimes, choosing the less obvious one might save you money and give you the safari experience you were actually looking for.

Talla 🌍