"How much does a safari cost?" deserves a straight answer with numbers in it. Here is how pricing actually works, using our own 2026 rates.
The three price bands
- Camping safaris - roughly $150-200 per day. Proper tents, camp cooks, the same parks and the same animals. Our 3-day Mara camping safari is the classic budget entry.
- Lodge safaris - roughly $250-330 per day. En-suite rooms, buffet dining, swimming pools inside the parks. The 6-day Big Three (Mara + Nakuru + Amboseli) at $1,400 is our most-booked lodge itinerary.
- Premium & specialist - $380+ per day. Photography vehicles with guaranteed window seats (5-day photo safari, $1,900), private guides, luxury camps.
Where the money actually goes
On a $1,400 safari, roughly: park entry fees 25-30% (the Mara alone is $100+ per adult per day in high season - set by the counties, identical for every operator), vehicle/fuel/driver-guide 25%, accommodation and meals 30-35%, and the rest is operations and margin. When a quote looks too cheap, one of those first three has been cut - usually the vehicle or the guide's pay.
What is (and isn't) included with us
Included: park fees, transport in a 4x4 or safari van with pop-up roof, professional driver-guide, accommodation, three meals a day on safari, water. Not included: international flights, visas, tips, drinks. That's the whole list - the price on the tour page is the price.
Three honest ways to pay less
- Travel in the green season (April-June): same parks, fuller rivers, 20-30% lower lodge rates.
- Join a group departure instead of booking private - the vehicle cost splits.
- Mix camping and lodge nights; many guests camp in the Mara and lodge at Nakuru.
Browse all itineraries with transparent pricing →
Photo: Danijel Mihajlovic, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
