How to do an affordable Kenya safari? While it’s true that travelling throughout Africa can be costly, there are ways to see the big five and experience some of Kenya’s many cultural highlights without breaking the bank. Most people don’t think of safaris when they’re planning an inexpensive vacation. Our helpful guide will offer you some covert tricks to cut a few dollars off your safari and help you to plan an affordable Kenya safari.

Continue with the shoulder season.
Hear the word ‘holiday’ and consequently think of lengthy sun-drenched days and balmy evening temperatures right? Well, if you’re willing to put that aside you can find some amazingly good deals. When planning an affordable Kenya safari, it genuinely is valuable looking at all the seasons and weighing up cost vs weather. November, for example, is a wonderful month to visit Kenya and however the weather can be difficult to predict (you could experience magnificent sunshine, you could get caught in a rain shower), it’s an excellent time for seeing new life entering the world with topis, impalas and giraffes all calving in this period. And when the big cats begin to circle, waiting for an opportunity, new life always brings great drama. Travellers tend to avoid April and May because they can be a little, well, damp. However, don’t let that get you down because this is when some of the best deals are found. Elephants are known to move out of forested areas in search of the lush new shoots that have emerged in the Masai Mara. This provides excellent opportunities for viewing. Travelling during off-peak times offers the additional advantage of potentially having certain areas all to yourself. A pleasant change from the most popular areas of the Masai Mara. To read more about when to visit Kenya, have a look at our guide.
Tack on a couple of extra nights.
It might seem strange but sometimes the longer you stay somewhere the more money you save. Let us explain. Many camps offer excellent stay longer deals (e.g. pay for three nights stay for four), making an outstanding excuse to lengthen your safari. Great Plains is currently offering a fantastic deal that allows visitors to stay for four nights and only pay for three, or stay for eight nights and only pay for six. A fantastic deal that includes some of our favorite locations, like Ol Donyo Lodge in Amboseli and Mara Expedition Camp in the Masai Mara. Sanctuary Retreats offer an identical offer in which guests staying at the beautiful Olonana Camp in the Mara can save up to 30% if they stay 4-6 nights and up to 40% if they stay for 7+ nights. It just goes to show that you can still enjoy a lengthy stay and save money.
Stay loyal to the brand.
Sticking with the excellent deals theme, there are often great discounts to be had if you stay at sister properties belonging to the same groups. For instance, as of this writing, Classic Portfolio is offering up to 40% off to visitors who stay at Giraffe Manor, Sasaab, Sala’s Camp, or Solio Lodge! These kinds of deals are available all over Africa and can be very beneficial if you’re trying to save money. Naturally, another advantage is that, if you enjoy one property, you’ll probably enjoy the others as well, virtually ensuring that your entire trip will be wonderful. So if you’re looking to plan an affordable Kenya safari, get in touch and find out the best deals you can take advantage of.
Find a private driver.
While planning a budget Kenya safari hiring a private driver isn’t usually on the list of ways to save money but bear with us. Having your own driver can prove to be a more cost-effective option than flying anywhere in Africa, especially if you’re planning a multi-destination trip. As you go from place to place, you’ll have ample opportunity to appreciate your surroundings, and you might even spot some wildlife (extra safari drive anyone?). You’ll see so much more on the ground than from the air on both our Classic Kenya bush & beach and Conservation & culture in Kenya trips, which you can easily switch out some of the flights for.

Choose locations carefully.
Whenever you’re organizing an affordable Kenya safari and looking at all the options available, it can become simple to persuade yourself that you have to stay inside the parks and conservancies to make sure you’re in the middle of the action. And even with it’s a great option, it’s not the only one, especially if you’re trying to plan an affordable Kenya safari. There are some outstanding lodge options set just outside many of the national parks, which are usually much more affordable than those within the gates. This means you can make a saving and still be up bright and early to discover the parks and seek out the wildlife. Lake Nakuru National Park, for example, is renowned for its candyfloss-pink flamingos, white and black rhino, hyena, leopard and lion, and Susie’s Camp and Camp Carnelley’s are excellent budget options that both offer basic but brilliantly-placed accommodation. If it’s the Ol Pejeta Conservancy that’s on your list (and with the large numbers of rare wildlife, why wouldn’t it be?), we’d recommend Kongoni Camp, which also comes with added views of Mount Kenya. It’s not hard to find affordable accommodation, you just need to know where to look that’s what we’re here for.
