Ways to help you visit Kenya on a budget : Although prices in Kenya are generally not as high as in other African nations, this is due in part to the country’s well-established kenya tourism sector. The expense of travelling might be high if you want to see a lot of this stunning country, particularly if you want to go on a Kenya safari. There are many more options, such as camping, choosing moderate lodging, staying with a local family, or travelling at off-peak times, even if luxury lodges have come to represent the kenya safari experience in advertising campaigns and glossy magazines.
Nairobi has a large selection of lodging, apartments, and dining establishments to suit any budget. You can also save money by taking public transit and eating street cuisine. Beach resorts come at a variety of price points, ranging from affordable boutique hotels to five-star luxury and chic, staffed villas. This is a low-cost guide to travelling to Kenya.
Compare Direct and indirect Flights
Consider travelling into other African hubs, such Addis Ababa in Ethiopia or Johannesburg in South Africa, to see how much you may save on indirect flights to Kenya, which are frequently more affordable. Good bargains may often be found, as frequent flights from several African carriers arrive in Nairobi. You might also think about taking a flight via Southeast or East Asia if you’re departing from the west coast of North America. To receive alerts when the route and dates you’ve selected see a price reduction, set up flight alerts on websites such as Skyscanner or Google Flights. It’s a good idea to subscribe to airline newsletters, like Kenya Airways’, as they frequently announce special deals that are only available for a limited time.
Take a Bus or a taxi from the Airport
If you’re arriving in Nairobi, sign into Uber using the complimentary airport Wi-Fi. The app offers fares that are up to 33% less expensive than official airport taxis, which normally charge KSh2000 to the city centre. As an alternative, go outside Terminal 1 and catch the airport bus (number 34), which costs KSh35.
For parties travelling through Kenya, hiring a private vehicle and driver is a cost-effective and enjoyable option because it allows you to stop wherever you choose, including at wayside cafes and overlooks. Make rental arrangements at your lodging or with a nearby Kenya travel agency, but be sure to verify the daily pricing. This can vary based on the car, the distance travelled, and the terrain, but it often comes to about Ksh 6000 each day, not including the cost of any other expenses like petrol and cash for the driver’s meals and lodging. It’s not always the highest quality, but some lodges and hotels will have driver accommodations of their own, so be responsible and ethical and find out in advance what they have to offer (directly or through your tour organiser).If it isn’t up to par, increase the day rate by Ksh 1500–Ksh 6000 so the driver can locate lodging on their own. Usually, they know the area well.
Travel during Kenya’s shoulder seasons
If you can go outside of Kenya’s most popular tourist seasons, which are usually July to October and January and February following the brief rains, there are a number of methods to minimise costs. There will be a slight reduction in the cost of both international travel and lodging, and if you visit outside of the Great Migration (July to October), you can also get excellent discounts for the Masai Mara, which is amazing almost year-round. Plan your Kenya safari during the short and long rains (January to March), when costs are often lower than during the busiest travel months, for a more affordable Kenya safari experience. Outside of the busiest times, hotels and beach resorts can provide fantastic discounts. Look for sales in October and November or in March and April before the rains arrive. Rainy season travel can also be beneficial because of the frequent brief downpours, lush scenery, and sometimes substantial price differences.
Avoid Domestic Flights
Kenyan domestic flights are quite priced, with one-way tickets from Nairobi to Mombasa or other coastal cities like Malindi costing about KSh7500. However, long-distance bus travel is more cost-effective and environmentally friendly, with prices of about KSh1600. Take the train for a more sustainable, albeit slower, travel. There aren’t many routes, but the price in economy class is KSh1000, and in first class it’s Ksh 3000 from Nairobi to Mombasa.
When you have to fly book in advance
Popular domestic routes continue to be fully booked despite an increase in the number of airlines. To ensure your desired trip dates and times, book your flights in advance to receive discounted rates. Booking as soon as you know your dates is advisable. Try street food because airlines offer fresh tickets at different times and flights are frequently either non-refundable or difficult to change.
Try street food
Although the restaurant industry in Kenya is booming, roadside foods like freshly cooked corn on the cob, nyama choma (roasted pork) and grilled matoke (plantain) can be a terrific way to eat well and save money. Kenyans also frequent koroga (barbecue) restaurants where they may share enormous, reasonably priced platters of meat, tawa (griddled) meals and pizzas made on a jiko (charcoal-burning stove).
Hostels
Kenyan hostels have been updated in recent years, as have hostels all throughout the world. These days, beds in dorm rooms are expected to feature reading lights, USB ports, personal plug plugs, and privacy curtains. A lot of them also provide private rooms with attached bathrooms. Hostels in Kenya are more affordable than hotels, and many of them are brand-new or newly remodelled, with private rooms that are of higher quality than those found in some midrange properties. A few highlights are the sustainable eco-accommodation Kobi Farm on the edge of the Masai Mara National Reserve, the award-winning eco-hotel Distant Relatives above Kilifi’s lagoon, and Nairobi’s Wildebeest Eco Camp, which offers everything from luxurious tents to dorm beds.
Go camping
Camping is the most affordable lodging option inside Kenya’s national parks. A wonderful experience may be had when sleeping outside, especially since most parks have restrooms, dining options, and bars. Prices can vary, but you should budget up to KSh1300 per night if you bring your own tent and bedding, or about KSh2500 if the tent is already built. If you want cooked dinners included as well, it costs about KSh6500. Each park’s amenities are listed by the Kenya Wildlife Service. They’re also quite popular because they’re significantly less expensive; make reservations in advance, especially during the peak/dry season.
Choose a hotel or a lodge outside parks
The cost of lodges and other lodging inside national parks is typically high. Choose a hotel or safari lodge that is slightly beyond the park’s boundaries if you want to save money (though not too far if you’re planning an early-morning game drive). Check out village lodges or backpacker-focused camps for less expensive lodging even if you’re not a backpacker. Many also provide pre-pitched tents or cabins in addition to tent pitches.
Good planning
Carefully planning your trip can help you save a lot of money and prevent needless travel. It is simply not possible to visit Lake Turkana in the north, Lamu Island in the southeast, and Tsavo National Park in the southeast in a single trip unless you have an abundance of time and resources. This is because many of Kenya’s top attractions are dispersed around the nation.
Kenya is actually an affordable safari destination, offering a wide range of mid-budget lodges, eco-camps, community village stays, and hotels, unless you’re staying at high-end resorts. Excellent packages including transportation, meals, guides and game drives can be found for half the estimated price if safari lodges aren’t as crowded as anticipated or if it’s shoulder or low season. Direct booking is not required for this. Though services like Safari Bookings, which brings together a variety of operators offering affordable (and luxury) kenya safari packages that are bookable for the following day, are a better option, local travel agents may often discover fantastic last-minute offers. They also cover travels for lone individuals.
