A Kenya safari with Cherish Africa Safaris starts at $617 per person for 5 days on our budget Maasai Mara and Lake Naivasha trip in low season, $1,052 for 7 days on our budget Mara trip, around $1,506 for 5 days at mid-range, and from $2,520 for 6 days when you fly between parks. The final number depends mostly on three things: how many people share your vehicle, when you travel, and whether you drive or fly between parks. If you are asking how much does a Kenya safari cost 2026, below is the line-by-line answer, based on our own trips.
Every price below comes from the tour pages on this site, and we checked them again on 12 October 2026. They are “from” prices, per person sharing, in US dollars. A “from” price is the lowest rate shown on the tour page, which is for the largest group size (and low season where a tour has seasons), so smaller groups and high season cost more. Park fees, accommodation, meals, your driver-guide and the vehicle are already inside them.
Kenya safari prices at a glance (2026)
| Trip | Style | From, per person | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-day Maasai Mara Big Five | Road safari | $665 | $665 with 10 in the vehicle, $1,438 for 2 people |
| 5-day Maasai Mara migration and Lake Naivasha | Budget | $617 | Low-season price per person. In high season it is $1,550 with 6 guests and $2,025 with 2 |
| 5-day Mara, Lake Nakuru and Naivasha | Mid-range | $1,506 | Based on the largest group; smaller groups cost more |
| 5-day Amboseli, Nakuru and Mara | Road safari | $1,817 | $1,817 with 8 in the vehicle, $2,399 for 2 people |
| 5-day flying safari, Amboseli and Lake Elementaita | Fly-in | $2,278 | Includes the bush flight |
| 6-day luxury flying package | Luxury | $2,520 | Same rate for all group sizes |
| 7-day budget Mara, lakes and Hell’s Gate | Budget | $1,052 | Based on the largest group; smaller groups cost more |
| 7-day highlights on a budget | Budget | $1,829 | $1,829 with 10 in the vehicle, $2,699 for 2 people |
| 7-day classic Mara, Nakuru and Naivasha | Classic | $2,897 | Based on the largest group |
| 7-day luxury flying, Meru, Loisaba and Mara | Luxury | $4,570 | Star beds and bush flights |
| 10-day Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Nakuru, Tsavo and Amboseli | Road safari | $2,181 | Low season. High season is $2,371 to $3,450 depending on group size |
| 10-day luxury, Samburu, Mara and Diani Beach | Luxury | $3,350 | July to October: $3,350 with 6 people, $4,000 for 2 |
Our full list is on the Kenya safari tours page. If your dates or group size are not on a tour page, we price it for you.
Why two people pay more than a group of eight
This is the part most price lists skip. The vehicle, the driver-guide and the fuel cost the same whether two people or eight sit in the van. The more people share, the less each one pays.
The 3-day Maasai Mara trip shows it clearly. Per person sharing, it is $1,438 for 2 people, $808 for 4, $728 for 6, $689 for 8 and $665 for 10. The 5-day Amboseli, Nakuru and Mara trip goes from $2,399 for 2 people to $2,011 for 4, $1,881 for 6 and $1,817 for 8.
The only exception is a flying safari. You pay for each seat on the flight, so the rate does not fall as the group grows. That is why our 6-day luxury flying package is $2,520 whatever the group size.
If you are travelling as a couple or alone, ask us about joining a small group departure or sharing a vehicle. It is the easiest way to bring the price down. We cover the trade-offs in our guide to private versus group safaris.
What is included in the price
On the tours above, the price covers your accommodation, meals (full board on most itineraries; the itinerary on each tour page shows the exact meals), national park entrance fees, a professional driver-guide, a safari van or Land Cruiser, and drinking water.
Each tour page also lists what is not included. In general, that is:
- International flights to and from Nairobi
- Tips for your guide and camp staff
- Alcoholic drinks and laundry
- Souvenir photos
- Your Kenya eTA and travel insurance
Optional extras such as a hot air balloon ride over the Mara are priced separately. Ask us for the current rate when you request a quote.
Park fees: where a lot of the money goes
Entry fees are one of the biggest parts of any safari price, and they are charged per person per day. For non-resident adults in 2026, the Maasai Mara reserve charges $100 a day from 1 January to 30 June and $200 a day from 1 July to 31 December. Children aged 9 to 17 pay $50 a day and younger children enter free. The Narok County Government sets these fees, so they can change. Most other national parks and reserves we use, such as Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Samburu, Tsavo and Nairobi National Park, charge roughly $70 to $90 a day. Children pay less.
These figures come from published 2026 rate lists, and the Kenya Wildlife Service can change them without notice, so check the official rates at kws.ecitizen.go.ke before you budget by hand. On our tours the fees are already in your price, so you do not have to add them up yourself.
A Mara trip in July costs more than the same trip in May partly because of this fee.
Budget, mid-range or luxury: what you are really paying for
The three tiers differ in where you sleep and how you get around, not in how much wildlife you see. The animals do not care which camp you booked.
- Budget trips use simple lodges and tented camps and travel between parks by road. The 7-day budget Mara trip at $1,052 is our lowest-priced week-long trip.
- Mid-range trips use comfortable lodges and camps with better locations and facilities. The 5-day mid-range Mara trip starts at $1,506.
- Luxury trips use high-end camps and often fly you between parks, which saves a day of road travel. Our luxury flying trips run from $2,520 for 6 days to $4,570 for 7.
For a closer look at what changes between the top two tiers, read luxury versus mid-range safari in Kenya. If cost is your main concern, our guide to saving money on a Kenya safari shows where the savings are real. Flying is not always the expensive option, and the flying safari guide explains when it is worth it.
Season matters too
The Mara is at its busiest from about July to October, when the wildebeest migration arrives, and camps charge more for it. Some of our itineraries show separate low-season and high-season rates. The 10-day Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Nakuru, Tsavo and Amboseli trip, for example, starts at $2,181 in low season, while in high season it is $2,695 per person for 4 people and $3,450 for 2.
If your dates are flexible, the shoulder months can save you real money. Our best time to visit Kenya guide shows what each month looks like, and the Great Migration guide helps you decide if the peak is worth paying for.
Costs outside your quote
Plan for these separately:
- Flights to Nairobi. Not included in any of our prices.
- Kenya eTA. Most visitors need one. The official fee is $30 for standard processing, and you should apply only on the official site, etakenya.go.ke. Our Kenya entry requirements guide has the details.
- Tips. A common guideline is $10 to $20 per person per day for your driver-guide and a smaller amount for camp staff. See our tipping guide.
- Travel insurance and vaccinations. Our health guide covers what to arrange before you travel.
The people who build and run your trip
Prices are only half of a safari. The rest is who plans it and who drives it, so here are the people you will deal with.
Francis, CEO and driver-guide. Francis has 31+ years of experience guiding in Kenya and leads Cherish Africa Safaris. Guests who travelled with him describe him as professional and say he reads animal movements well enough to put them in the right place at the right time. One guest on a 10-day trip saw all of Samburu’s Special Five and all of the Big Five. You can read those reviews on our about page.
Esther, senior tour and travel consultant. Esther has more than 7 years of experience planning Kenya safaris. Guests mention how attentive she is and how she helped them choose the right package.
Wilkister, tour and travel consultant. Wilkister has more than 12 years of experience in tours and travel and helps travellers shape itineraries and budgets.
Cherish Africa Safaris Ltd was registered in 2023, and our team has been working in Kenyan tourism far longer than that.
How to get an exact price for your trip
Send us four things: your travel dates, how many people are travelling, the style you have in mind (budget, mid-range or luxury) and the parks you want to see. One of our consultants, Esther or Wilkister, will reply with a quote for your group size and dates, with nothing added later. You can reach us on WhatsApp at +254 794 588 242 or at info@cherishafricasafaris.com.
Seven ways to lower the cost without ruining the trip
- Travel in the shoulder months (late January to March, June, November) instead of August and December.
- Share a vehicle with more guests, or accept a group departure.
- Choose fewer parks and stay longer in each; moving between parks adds hours of driving and nights of accommodation.
- Book the Mara before 1 July to save on the daily fee, if the dates suit your plans.
- Mix tiers, for example a mid-range lodge in the Mara and a simpler camp elsewhere.
- Drive instead of flying when the distance is short.
- Ask for children’s rates and family rooms if you are travelling with young people.
Our guide to budget safari ways to save goes into more detail.
Mistakes we see travellers make
- Comparing quotes by total price when the inclusions differ.
- Forgetting that Mara fees double after 1 July.
- Assuming park fees are included when the quote says nothing.
- Ignoring group size. A couple’s price per person is not a group’s.
- Booking the cheapest quote from a company whose licence they have not checked. See how to choose a licensed operator.
If you tell us your dates, group size and comfort level, we will send an itemised quote that shows each cost line separately.
Sources
Park fees are from the published KWS tariff as summarised by Klickenya and Trunk Trails Safaris, which also gives the 1 October 2025 effective date and the Mara fee schedule. Our own example is from the tour page for the 8 Days Classic Kenya Safari as shown in October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest Kenya safari you offer?
For a full week, our 7-day budget Maasai Mara, lakes and Hell’s Gate trip at $1,052 per person. For a short trip, the 3-day Maasai Mara safari starts at $665 per person when 10 people share the vehicle.
How much does a Kenya safari cost for a couple?
More per person than for a group, because two people carry the whole vehicle cost. On our 7-day budget highlights trip, for example, a couple pays $2,699 each, compared with $1,829 when 10 people share. Send us your dates and we will price it exactly.
Are park fees included in your prices?
Yes, on the tours listed above, park entrance fees are included in the per-person price.
Is a flying safari worth the extra cost?
If your time is limited, usually yes. A bush flight replaces a long road transfer, so you spend more of your trip in the parks. Our flying safari guide explains the trade-off.
Safaris that fit this guide
These Cherish Africa Safaris trips match what this guide covers. We can adjust any of them to your dates, group size and budget.
- 3 Days Amboseli Safari Adventure: Majestic Wildlife & Mount Kilimanjaro Views
- 6 Days Comfort Safari: Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, and Maasai Mara Exploration
- 7 Days Classic Kenya Safari – Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Naivasha
Not sure which trip suits you? Browse all our Kenya safari tours or send us an enquiry.
The main points on Kenya safari cost are covered above. If you would like help applying them to your own dates and budget, our team can plan the trip with you. For more advice on Kenya safari cost, or a quote tailored to your group, contact Cherish Africa Safaris and we will reply the same day.
