How much does a Kenya or Tanzania safari cost?

What our safaris start at

These are published catalogue rates for our budget-style departures, which use the same 4x4 Land Cruiser, guiding and wildlife route as the upgraded styles. Midrange and luxury versions of each route are quoted to your dates, because the accommodation changes the price materially.

• —3 days, Nairobi to Amboseli: USD 350, year-round.
• —3 days, Nairobi to the Maasai Mara: USD 420 from January to June, USD 620 from July to December.
• —4 days in the Maasai Mara: USD 570 (January–June) or USD 850 (July–December).
• —7 days, Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Naivasha and Amboseli: USD 920 (January–June) or USD 1,120 (July–December).
• —3 days, Arusha to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater: USD 650.
• —8 days across Kenya and Tanzania, Nairobi to Nairobi: USD 2,080 per person for two travellers, USD 1,800 for four and USD 1,720 for six.

Why July to December costs more in the Mara

Park fees are the largest single cost on most East African safaris, and they are set by the park authorities, not the operator. The Maasai Mara National Reserve charges non-resident adults per day, and that daily fee doubles from 1 July: USD 100 from January to June and USD 200 from July to December, as published for 2026. A safari with two or three full days inside the reserve therefore moves by a few hundred dollars between the two halves of the year before anything else changes.

Tanzania's parks work differently. The Serengeti charges entry per 24 hours and a separate concession fee for each night spent inside the park, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area adds a per-vehicle fee to descend into the crater on top of its per-person fee. That is one reason a short Serengeti trip costs more than a similar-length Mara trip.

What moves the price

• —Group size. The vehicle and guide cost the same whether two or six people travel, so the price per person falls as the group grows — visible in the 8-day circuit rates above.
• —Private or group-joining. Joining a scheduled departure shares the vehicle cost with other travellers. A private safari keeps the vehicle and guide to your party and lets you set the pace.
• —Accommodation style. Budget camps, midrange lodges and luxury camps can differ by more than the rest of the trip combined.
• —Season. Peak months (July to October, and the Christmas period) fill the best-located camps first and carry higher park fees in the Mara.
• —Road or air. Flying between parks saves long drives but adds the fare and luggage limits on light aircraft.

Compare quotations line by line

Two quotes with the same headline price can buy very different trips. Before you choose any operator — us included — check that each quotation answers these questions in writing:

• —Are all park, reserve, conservancy and crater fees included, for every day?
• —Is each night's accommodation named, or does it say “or similar”?
• —On a shared safari, does everyone in the vehicle stay at the same camp?
• —How many people share the vehicle, and does everyone get a window seat?
• —What time do game drives start and finish on full park days?
• —Are airport or hotel pick-ups and drop-offs included?
• —What deposit is due, when is the balance due, and what is the cancellation policy?

What to budget for on top

Most quotations exclude international flights, Kenya's electronic travel authorisation (eTA) and any Tanzanian visa, travel insurance, drinks, optional activities such as a hot-air balloon flight, and tips for your guide and camp staff. Since 1 October 2026 Tanzania also requires foreign visitors to hold its mandatory inbound travel insurance, reported at USD 44 per person. Your quotation should state which of these apply to your trip.