4 Tips to make your trip to Kenya more affordable

You want to go on a safari in Kenya, but every time you ask for a quote, it feels like a heart attack waiting to happen. People have told you to not even try, you’ll empty your savings for the entire year, and you must wait for a special occasion.

That’s how things go. We tend to associate a trip to Kenya with honeymoons, deep pockets, or the ultimate retirement celebration. But if you keep reading, you’ll see that it’s more within your reach than you imagined.

IS TRAVELING TO KENYA EXPENSIVE?

Misconceptions often lead us to associate underdeveloped (or developing) countries with being cheap.

“Well, if they’re poor there, everything must be dirt cheap, right? I can have an extravagant trip for a few bucks.”

Well, not exactly. Sorry to disappoint you, but not the entire world operates like Southeast Asia (and not everything is poverty, far from it!).

In Kenya, roads can be terrifying (due to infrastructure and driving habits), covering 100 km can take two and a half hours if you’re lucky to avoid traffic, there are frequent police checkpoints asking for ‘tea’ (hinting at a bribe), and traveling at night is not something you’d recommend to a friend.

Moreover, we “white people” have messed up more than anything else and are now considered walking wallets. Don’t try to convince them otherwise because from the color of your skin they will likely think you have a money tree at home.

Transportation prioritizes everything but safety; overcrowding is common, there are no regular vehicle inspections, and as long as they can get that ‘tea,’ it doesn’t matter if the lights don’t work, there are no seatbelts, or the gear shift is falling apart.

Additionally, National Reserves and Parks are not zoos or amusement parks; there are rules that must be understood and respected to avoid being more intrusive than we already are, and getting lost is quite easy.

What does all this mean?

Traveling independently can be tough, very tough. You can do it, of course. You’ll even find blogs by travelers (a bit daring, to put it mildly) encouraging independent travel. Well, the option is there, it’s your choice.

However, if you don’t want to complicate your life and you’re looking to enjoy your trip 100%, Kenya is a country best explored with experts.

So, think about it; we’re probably talking about a fully organized trip of around 6-8 days on average: transportation, a guide who speaks your language, accommodations, meals, park entries and visits, activities, etc. How often do you book an all-inclusive package from the moment you wake up until you go to bed on your other trips? If you start adding it up… well, it can be quite a sum. Although if you think about it rationally, you might find it more reasonable.

FOLLOW THESE 4 TIPS TO TRAVEL TO KENYA ON A BUDGET

We must start admitting that a trip to Kenya is not one of the cheapest journeys on Earth, that’s true. But it also doesn’t have to be an exclusive and unattainable one, as there are ways to reduce its cost, making it genuinely affordable. We’re a bit tired of Kenya being a dream trip for many and only possible for a few, aren’t you?

So, thank us in advance because reading this post will have you in Kenya sooner than you think.

Let’s get to it. What can you do to enjoy Kenya without breaking the bank?

• Travel with a local agency. We’ll say it over and over again. Keep in mind that even if you book your trip with an agency in your home country, it’s the local agencies that provide the service in any case. So, do you seriously want to pay extra to an intermediary when you can contact us directly? You gain control over your trip, deal directly with those on the ground who know the country’s reality firsthand, and save quite a bit of money in the process. Sometimes, they’re doubling the trip’s price in commissions alone. The key is to find an agency you trust and that provides excellent service. Be cautious about trying to save on quality; you wouldn’t be the first arriving to Nairobi to a disappointment.
• Avoid the high season. We know that sometimes it’s not up to you, but if it is, don’t come during the high season! Some accommodation rates can double during this time. Yes, you’ve been told all your life that there are only animals from July to September, and you’ve also been promised that you’ll witness the Great Migration. Two falsehoods, plain and simple. The animals don’t disappear. And anyone who guarantees you’ll witness a natural phenomenon that depends solely on nature is lying to you.
• Combine activities. Considering that entry to a reserve costs between $60 and $90 per person per day, you can imagine that accommodation prices in these areas are also higher than in the rest of the country. So, how about trying other activities? Safaris are incredible, but if you’ve been following us, you’ve seen that there are other activities that provide the same quality to the trip and bring you much closer to the country’s reality. Every day you substitute a safari for another activity, you’re reducing the trip’s cost. Kenya is so much more than just visiting all its reserves!
• Join a group. We’re staunch advocates of private tailor-made trips to Kenya (write to us if you want to design YOUR trip together: hola@kitambosafaris.com). But we’re also aware that sometimes these can exceed your budget. If that’s your case, group trips are your best option. Why? The costs of transportation and a guide are divided among travelers, and you’ll notice a significant difference. Ideally, you’d enjoy this trip with people close to you. Propose it to your family and/or friends and experience it together!