Safari cost per day in Kenya (2026)
Expect about $250–$700 per person per day for a mid-range lodge/tented camp with a shared vehicle, before international flights. Daily costs are dominated by lodging, then park fees.
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Daily cost breakdown per person
Two adults on a 7-day trip, tips included, no flights or extras. Low–high range, USD per person per day.
Shared vehicle, August (peak)
| Per person per day | Budget camping | Mid-range lodge/tented camp | Luxury camp/lodge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park & conservation fees | $85–$165 | $85–$165 | $85–$165 |
| Lodging (per night) | $40–$65 | $120–$410 | $625–$2,950 |
| Vehicle & guide | $30–$90 | $30–$90 | $30–$90 |
| Tips | $15–$35 | $15–$35 | $15–$35 |
| Total per person per day | $175–$360 | $250–$700 | $755–$3,240 |
Shared vehicle, April (lower-fee month)
| Per person per day | Budget camping | Mid-range lodge/tented camp | Luxury camp/lodge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park & conservation fees | $85–$95 | $85–$95 | $85–$95 |
| Lodging (per night) | $40–$65 | $120–$220 | $625–$1,950 |
| Vehicle & guide | $30–$90 | $30–$90 | $30–$90 |
| Tips | $15–$35 | $15–$35 | $15–$35 |
| Total per person per day | $175–$290 | $250–$440 | $755–$2,170 |
Private vehicle: cost per day for the whole vehicle
A private 4x4 with driver-guide (up to 6 guests) is about $200–$290 per day per vehicle Sourced – split across everyone in the vehicle. Private 4x4 with driver-guide: USD 200 (fuel extra, short hire) to USD 290 (USD 260 fuel included + USD 30 driver night). Shared seat: low = USD 200 / 7 seats; high = USD 90 per seat (Mara Serena day game drive).
Daily park and conservation fees
| Fee | Adult (non-resident) | Child | Status & source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maasai Mara National Reserve Calendar 2026 (USD 100 Jan-Jun, USD 200 Jul-Dec). 2027 not yet published when verified. | $100 (changes by month: $200 in Jul/Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov/Dec) per day (6am-6pm ticket) | $50 Ages 9-17 pay USD 50; 8 and under are free (we charge the child rate to every child, so this is slightly high for under-9s). | Verified Narok County Government masaimara.travel verified 2026-10-16 |
| Amboseli National Park KWS Conservation Fees, October 2025 schedule. | $90 per 24 hours | $45 KWS 'child/student' rate. | Verified Kenya Wildlife Service Kenya Wildlife Service verified 2026-10-16 |
| Lake Nakuru National Park KWS Conservation Fees, October 2025 schedule. | $90 per 24 hours | $45 KWS 'child/student' rate. | Verified Kenya Wildlife Service verified 2026-10-16 |
| Tsavo East / Tsavo West National Park KWS Conservation Fees, October 2025 schedule. | $80 per 24 hours | $40 KWS 'child/student' rate. | Verified Kenya Wildlife Service verified 2026-10-16 |
Nightly lodging rates
| Tier | Per person / night (sharing) | Status & sample properties |
|---|---|---|
| Budget camping | Off-peak $40–$65 Peak $40–$65 | Sourced
Full-board camping/tented camp near the Mara gate (Kambu Campers). Single-property sample. Kambu Campers Masai Mara |
| Mid-range lodge/tented camp | Off-peak $120–$220 Peak $120–$410 | Sourced
Full-board tented camp to lodge, per person sharing (Ol Moran USD 120 pp all year; Mara Serena USD 200-220 pp, USD 410 pp mid-Jun to Sep). Ol Moran Tented CampMara Serena Safari Lodge 2026 rates |
| Luxury camp/lodge | Off-peak $625–$1,950 Peak $625–$2,950 | Estimate
Upper bound from Angama Mara's official all-inclusive rates (USD 1,850-2,950 pp); lower bound from a search-summary figure for Governors' Camp (~USD 623 pp) that we could not open, hence labelled estimate. Angama Mara ratesGovernors' Camp Collection 2026 recommended selling rates |
Ways to lower the daily cost
- Travel in a lower-fee month (Maasai Mara fees halve from January to June).
- Share a vehicle: a private 4x4 is split across up to 6 guests.
- Mix tiers: camp in the parks, upgrade for one or two nights.
- Choose lower-fee parks for part of the trip.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a safari cost per day in Kenya?
Roughly $250–$700 per person per day for a mid-range lodge/tented camp with a shared vehicle (two adults, 7-day trip, tips included, flights excluded), depending on month. Other tiers are shown in the table. Estimates, not quotes.
What is the daily park fee in Kenya?
Maasai Mara National Reserve: adult $100 (changes by month) per day (6am-6pm ticket); Amboseli National Park: adult $90 per 24 hours; Lake Nakuru National Park: adult $90 per 24 hours; Tsavo East / Tsavo West National Park: adult $80 per 24 hours.
How much does a private safari vehicle cost per day in Kenya?
We use about $200–$290 per vehicle per day with a driver-guide (from a Nairobi operator’s 2026 rate sheet), plus park fees for each passenger. A shared seat is roughly $29–$90 per person per day.
Is the daily cost cheaper on a longer trip?
Per-day fixed costs (park fees, lodging, vehicle) do not fall much on a longer trip, but the cost of international flights is spread over more days, so the all-in cost per day drops as trips get longer. Private vehicle hire rates sometimes fall for longer hires too.
How should I tip per day on safari in Kenya?
Published guidance (mostly Kenya-focused) suggests about $10–$20 per person per day for a shared driver-guide, $40 per vehicle per day for a private guide (up to about $25 per person), and $5–$15 per person per night for lodge staff.
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