How To Experience Kenya Safari On A Budget

To experience a Kenyan safari on a budget you need to select the safari activities you are interested in because the country has a variety to offer. While planning a Kenya safari some of the activities you can choose to add in your itinerary may include game safaris, water activities, walking safaris, cultural tours, hiking mountain Kenya, birding in Kenya and others.

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Kenya is a vast country but to explore its safari destinations, you need a well tailored itinerary prepared by professional and experienced safari consultants with great knowledge of Kenya to avoid backtracking. At Encounter Africa Safaris, we have experience of over 10 years in organizing African safaris of all categories including Kenya safaris. Our team of safari consultants is always ready to work with you to prepare the best safari itinerary, including your interests and within your cost plan.

Game safaris are the gist of Kenyan safari with the great Wildebeest migration into Masai Mara Game Reserve on the top tier. The Great Wildebeest migration is one of the 8 natural wonders in the world where multitudes of animals yearly follow a certain pattern from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania into Masai Mara in Kenya safari. Most tourists have the great wildebeest migration on their bucket list.

In case you want to travel on a limited budget for the Kenya safari, choose the appropriate accommodation that can be covered within your cost plan. Ensure to note what is included and excluded in the accommodation cost so that you can cover it with hard cash when on ground and plan accordingly.

What To Do On Budget Kenya Safari

Game safaris in Kenya

Kenya has a variety of game parks dotted in different parts of the country hosting a number of wild animals right from Nairobi National Park at a short distance from the capital city of Kenya called Nairobi. Some of the Kenya game parks include Masai Mara National Reserve, Nairobi National Park, Amboseli National Park, Meru National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Shimba Hill National Park, Kisite Marine National Park and others.

Most tourists have a visit to the Masai Mara National Reserve because of the Great wildebeest migration that happens every year mainly expected from June to August. The population of wild animals in this park is high and chances of witnessing the bloody river crossing at River Mara is unforgettable.

During the game drives in the game parks in Kenya, you may spot animals including Rhinos, giraffes, buffaloes, wildebeests, cheetahs, herds of elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, wild dogs, hyenas, leopards, buffaloes and others. Note that not all animals can be spotted in all Kenyan game parks as some are special to specific National Park. In case you are specific on the animal you wish to see, seek advice from the safari consultant as the Kenya safari itinerary is being prepared.

It is best to book accommodation where to stay during the Kenya safari in advance and it should be within or closer to the game park. During the peak tourist season, the options of accommodations run out of availability yet a good sleep equals an unforgettable African safari experience

Do not forget to include the cost of Park entrance fees as you plan for the game safari to Kenya because this compulsory for every tourist who enters any park in the country. The park fees levied before entering the park in Kenya are used to support park maintenance and conservation of the wilderness.

Birding On Budget Kenya Safari

Plan the bird experience in Kenya on a budget to the number of destinations in the country. Kenya boasts over 1000 bird species a position that puts the country in the top most birding destinations in Africa. the long list of birds in Kenya is attributed to the diversity of habitants where these birds can thrive.

Some of the birds species you may spot on a birding safari in Kenya include saddle bill stork, Taita White eye, Aberdare Cisticola, Taita Apalises, Taita Thrush, Turacos, Sun birds and many others. The presence of less flamingos  around Lake Nakuru is exceptional as they turn the shore of this lake pink. Other Kenya birding destinations include Samburu and Bufalo Springs National Park Reserve where about 365 bird species have been recorded, Meru National Park with more than 300 bird species,

Note that during the peak tourism season in Kenya, the demands for logistics that support tourism gets high and so are the costs. It is best to make reservations for all necessary safari logistics in advance to avoid inconveniences.

Water Activities To Do On Budget During A Safari In Kenya

Beach holidays in Kenya

Kenya has some of the amazing coastline beaches in Africa the beaches in Mombasa along the coast of the Indian Ocean. While at the beach on the coast of Kenya, you may engage in water activities including Kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, boat cruise to mention a few.

The shores of the Indian Ocean have coral reefs at places including Kisite and Mpunguti Marine National Park which is situated in the southernmost point of Kenya. The reefs are estimated to be 3 to 4 Kilometers long. There 45 varieties of coral that have been identified.

Look out for the dolphins that are often seen here with big schools of bonito and frigate mackerel. There are freshwater porpoises in the channel.

You may stay within the accommodation that are situated on the banks of the Indian Ocean in Kenya.

Destination wedding at the coast of the Indian Ocean in Kenya can be arranged on a budget. You can make your wedding memorable by opting to do a destination wedding by the ocean side. All the necessary arrangements need to be made including the wedding minister and other necessary arrangements.

Walking Safari in Kenya on Budget

Experience the best of Kenya safaris differently by embarking on a guided walking safari. You may get up close with nature and a chance to take a closer look of the surroundings. You must be in company of an armed ranger guide especially when in destinations that have carnivores in Kenya. By taking the walking safari in Kenya, you may meet the people from the community, natural beauty of the wilderness and test your fitness are resilience to circumstances around the safari parks. To enjoy the guided walking safari in Kenya, you need to make prior arrangements so that all preparations can be made for you before travelling and a ranger is allocated to on the day of the adventure.

Hot air balloon on Kenya Safari

Enjoy the aerial view of National Parks in Kenya especially in Masai Mara National Reserve. You have the chance to see different wild animals from a more elevated view which is in the basket of the balloon. Take photos and filming the different wild animals that are positioned on the floor of the parks. The best moment for the hot air balloon is during the great wildebeest migration where multitudes of wild animals can be spotted on the plain land of Masai Mara National Reserve

Cultural Experience on Kenya Safari

The most interesting culture that most tourists on Kenya safari enjoy is the Masai culture. The Masai are mainly pastoralists who have maintained this lifestyle since time immemorial. The Masai are very conservative with their way of living even with the interference of modernity.

The Masai live in homesteads called Manyattas where which are usually surrounded by a fence from natural materials. The products from there cattle are there main source of food including blood sucking.

The Masai are great crafts makers from the beadwork, where they create ornaments, crafts shoes they sell to visitors as souvenirs.

When Is The Best Time To Do A Budget Safari In Kenya

Kenya safaris are packaged according to Luxury, mid-range and basic and these prices cut across different plans. The Kenya tourism industry has two main seasons that is peak season which is usually June to September and the low season which is usually March to May.

During the high season, there are logistics that can be booked by budget clients at the Kenya safari destinations including accommodation, vehicles hire and others.  

The low tourism season in Kenya is great time for booking a budget safari in this country. There is less traffic in most Kenya safari destinations in this period so you can take advantage since enjoy some of the service providers try to lower their costs to breakeven. There are also chances of getting upgrades from some service providers at the destinations in Kenya depending on your bargaining power.

 For those wishing to spend quality time at different Kenya destinations but at an affordable cost, the low season may open this opportunity for you.

No matter when you plan to do the budget safari in Kenya, reserving the necessary logistics to support your time in the country is the best approach.

How Much Is The Cost Of A Budget Safari In Kenya

The cost of the budget safari in Kenya varies with the activities you hope to be part of. The constant cost on any Kenyan safari is the cost of Park entrance fees is currently $200 for international nonresidents and 3000 Kshs for Kenyans in the high season, $ 100 for nonresidents and 1500 Kshs for Kenyans in the low season. Other costs expected to incur during the Kenya safari include accommodation costs, transport costs and others. To avoid getting disorganized during the Kenyan safari, it is best to use the help of a professional tour operator to arrange all that is necessary for a Kenya safari so that you just show up and enjoy the entire experience.

Note that in case you do plan and organise the Kenya budget safari yourself, take note of the inclusions and exclusions in the cost of accommodations. Some facilities offer plans like full board, half board, bed only so you need to arrange for what is not catered for way in advance.

At Encounter Africa safaris, we encourage our clients to generously tip the service providers on ground as away of encouraging them to even better there services. Tipping is not compulsory but a token of appreciation and a boast to those who labor to make the safari destinations in Kenya and beyond a desirable place to be.

The Dos And Don'ts of A Kenya Safari

• The main aim of the Kenya Wildlife Service is to preserve and protect the wildlife and their habitats. During the safari in Kenya, you must follow the guidelines given.
• Honor the speed limit while on game drive in the Kenya National game parks to prevent accidents on both the animals and the tourists. Driving off track is not accepted unless with permission from Kenya Wildlife Service.
• Never disturb the wild animals by hooting at them as you may cause them to run away yet other tourists would like to have a moment with them just like you have. When you find them crossing stop and wait for them. Some of them may charge at you when you sound the vehicle horn which is dangerous.
• Do not bring dogs or other pets into the park as chances of getting infection from the wild animals or the pet may happen which is quite dangerous to conservation.
• Keep all your litter in your car like plastic wraps as these alter the nature of the environment where these animals thrive.
• Carrying ammunition in the park is not accepted because you may be triggered to use it and kill the wild animals or anyone in your company.
• Never pick flowers or trample on the vegetation in the parks as you destroy the environment where animals thrive. Do not pack anything from the park but just take pictures while on safari and leave only vehicle tyre prints.
• Retain all official receipts for verification at exit so that you are not inconvenienced
• All the park gates are open from 0700 hrs to 1900 hrs

For more information, please contact our team.