The short answer
- Budget
- About US$150 to 250 a day
- Mid range
- About US$300 to 500 a day
- Luxury
- US$700 a day or more
- Masai Mara fee
- US$100 (Jan to Jun), US$200 (Jul to Dec)
What's changed recentlyShow
- 1 Oct 2025New Kenya Wildlife Service fees took effect: US$90 a day for Amboseli and Lake Nakuru, US$80 for Tsavo and Nairobi National Park, for non resident adults. The new rates are under court review.
A Kenya safari costs more than most trips because so much of the price is fixed: park fees, a 4x4 vehicle with a driver guide, fuel and lodges deep in the bush. The biggest choices are where you sleep, whether you share the vehicle, and when you go.
Use the calculator below to estimate your trip, and check whether a cheap tour price really includes park fees.
Safari cost calculator
Estimated cost per person
US$820 to 1,100
About US$240 a day, for two people sharing, without international flights.
Park fees included in the estimate
- Masai Mara (3 days at US$200)US$600
- Total park feesUS$600
Non resident adult rates. The Masai Mara fee is US$100 a day from January to June and US$200 from July to December.
A rough guide from typical tour prices and published park fees (October 2026), not a quote. Prices vary by operator, season and group size.
Typical prices by comfort level
| Level | Per person per day | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget group joining | About US$150 to 250 | A shared minibus or Land Cruiser with up to 6 or 7 travellers, simple camps or budget lodges |
| Mid range | About US$300 to 500 | Lodges or tented camps with en suite rooms, often a Land Cruiser with a pop up roof |
| Luxury | US$700 or more | Small camps in private conservancies, expert guides and often flights between parks |
Including park fees, accommodation, meals on safari and game drives, for two people sharing. Private vehicles and single rooms cost more.
Park fees
| Park | Daily fee |
|---|---|
| Masai Mara National Reserve | US$100 (January to June), US$200 (July to December) |
| Amboseli, Lake Nakuru | US$90 |
| Tsavo East and West, Nairobi National Park | US$80 |
| Mara conservancies | About US$70 to 120 a night, usually built into the camp price |
Non resident adult fees per day, as published in October 2026. Kenya Wildlife Service fees (Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Tsavo, Nairobi National Park) took effect on 1 October 2025 and are under court review; the Masai Mara is set by Narok County. Check before you travel.
Tip: Very cheap three day Masai Mara safaris sometimes leave park fees out of the headline price. Two days of Mara fees cost US$200 to 400 per person, so a three day safari advertised for less than that can't include them.
Extras to budget for
- Hot air balloon flight: About US$500 per person over the Masai Mara, usually with a champagne breakfast.
- Flights to the Mara: Light aircraft from Nairobi save a 5 to 6 hour drive each way. Bags are usually limited to about 15 kg in soft bags.
- Tips: Plan on tipping your driver guide and camp staff; your operator can advise typical amounts.
- Kenya eTA: Around US$30 to 40, applied for online before you travel.
- Maasai village visit: Many camps offer one for a fee; ask how the money supports the community.
How to save money
- Travel from January to June, when the Masai Mara fee is half the peak rate.
- Join a group safari and share the vehicle.
- Drive rather than fly, and stay outside the reserve gates.
- Pick a shorter route: three days in the Masai Mara gives most of the highlights.
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Frequently asked questions
How much is a 3 day Masai Mara safari?
A budget group safari from Nairobi typically costs about US$450 to 700 per person including park fees, depending on the season. Mid range lodges and private vehicles cost more.
Are park fees included in Kenya safari prices?
Usually, but not always. Check the inclusions: some very low prices leave out park fees, which in the Masai Mara are US$100 to 200 per person per day.
Is a Kenya safari cheaper than Tanzania?
Often, yes. Kenya's parks are closer to Nairobi, so short safaris by road are possible, while Tanzania's Serengeti trips usually need more days or flights.
Sources we checked
Kenya month by month
More Kenya guides
Best time to visit Kenya: safari seasons, rains and the migration
June to October and January to February are the best months for a Kenya safari, with dry weather and animals gathered near water. July to October adds the Great Migration in the Masai Mara, at peak prices.
Updated 16 October 2026
The Great Migration in Kenya: when and where to see it
Around 1.5 million wildebeest, with zebras and gazelles, circle between Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Masai Mara. They are usually in the Mara from July to October, with river crossings peaking in August and September.
Updated 16 October 2026
Masai Mara safari guide: reserve or conservancy, how long and how to get there
The Masai Mara is Kenya's most famous safari, with big cats all year and the Great Migration from July to October. Choose between the busy national reserve and quieter private conservancies, and allow at least two or three nights.
Updated 16 October 2026
3 day Masai Mara safari from Nairobi: what to expect and how to choose
The most popular safari in Kenya: two nights in the Masai Mara with one full day of game drives. Group safaris from Nairobi cost about US$450 to 700 per person with park fees; check what's included before you book.
Updated 16 October 2026