What a 5-Star Safari in Kenya Costs in 2026/27

A 5-star safari in Kenya with us costs from about $2,650 per person for a couple on a five-day road trip, and reaches $12,570 per person for a couple on our 12-day trip between July and December. Most couples planning a week or more should budget between $5,000 and $8,000 each, plus international flights.

Those are real figures from our own price tables, and we quote in US dollars because camps and parks charge in dollars. You can compare every trip on our 5-star and VIP safaris page.

Real prices for three trips

All prices are per person sharing. The “from” price you see on a trip card is usually the six-person, January to June rate, so check the full table if you are travelling as two.

What moves the price

Group size. A private vehicle and guide cost the same whether two or six people use them, so couples pay the most per person.

Season. July to December is the expensive half of the year, and the gap is widest on trips with long Mara stays. The 12-day trip spends four nights in the Mara, at Governors’ Camp, and its price jumps by more than 60% for a couple.

Park fees. Mara entry for non-residents is currently reported at $100 per adult per day from January to June and $200 from July to December, and it changes, so we confirm it when we quote. Amboseli and Lake Nakuru are charged at $90 per adult per 24 hours under the Kenya Wildlife Service fees introduced in October 2025. These sit inside our prices, but they explain why a long stay costs what it does.

Flights. Going by air adds cost but saves time. Compare the 7-day flying safari above with a road trip of the same length, then decide whether the hours saved are worth it to you.

Which camps you choose. If you want to know where the money goes, our guide to the best camps, park by park explains the difference between them.

Extras to budget for

Our prices include the essentials, but check each trip page, because the lists differ. On most trips, plan separately for:

• International flights, which you book yourself unless you ask us to help
• The Kenya eTA, from $30 per person on the official portal
• Travel insurance, ideally with medical evacuation cover
• A balloon flight over the Mara, around $450 per person
• Tips, for which we suggest $20 to $25 per person per day
• A single room supplement if you are travelling alone

Where you can save without losing much

Travelling between January and June is the biggest saving, and the wildlife does not leave. You give up the wildebeest migration, but the Mara’s big cats are there all year. Sharing with friends helps too: six people on the 7-day flying safari pay $1,100 less each than a couple.

If the word VIP is what is pushing your budget up, read what a VIP safari really includes first. Much of what people want from it, such as a private guide and flexible hours, is already part of every safari we run.

You pay a 30% deposit to confirm your lodges, with the balance due 60 days before travel.

Last updated: 6 November 2026