What budget to travel Kenya? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings Kenya?

National park entry fees. Kenya's national parks are managed centrally by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and the rules are largely the same from one park to the next. For practical information, the KWS website (www.kws.go.ke) is very good. Each person must pay an entry fee for each park; each vehicle is also subject to a fee. The good news is that park entrance fees have been revised downwards, and are now capped at US$60 for adult foreign visitors (US$35 for non-resident children/students). For the Maasai Mara (which is not managed by KWS), you'll need to pay US$70/day/person if you stay inside the reserve. Since 2017, with some exceptions (Samburu, for example), parks and reserves no longer take cash; payment is made at entry points via Mpesa (Safaricom), Visa/Master Card or via direct deposit into KWS accounts in Kenyan shillings or US dollars. If you wish to camp in the park, you will also pay for your nights directly at the park entrance. Always keep your tickets with you, as checks are always possible.

Safari budget. Safaris are generally expensive, but there is a very wide range of prices. A typical week-long safari costs between €1,300 and €2,500 per person (prices do not include airfare). These prices vary according to the tour, the type of local transport and the quality of accommodation. Particularly if you're staying in a park or conservancy, you'll need to add park entrance fees to your accommodation, so the price can go up quickly! Some particularly luxurious or original safaris can cost considerably more. If you organize your own safari, your budget will obviously depend on the options you choose on site. Excluding the rental of a basic all-terrain vehicle (minimum €75 per day), you should expect to pay around €1,000 per person for a week's classic safari (based on two people traveling together). The longer the safari, and the more people on it, the cheaper it will be.

Kenya offers many activities for the more active and adventurous in search of new experiences. Here are a few sources of inspiration:

Training to run at altitude. Running enthusiasts can plan a training stay in Iten, the city of marathon champions. Traininkenya.com organizes 15-day stays there.

Climb the peaks. High-mountain enthusiasts can climb Mount Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa after Kilimanjaro. But Mount Kenya National Park also offers many opportunities for trekking and trout fishing. Allow a night or two on site, and three to four days if you wish to reach the summit (5,199 m).

Discover a passion for kitesurfing. Kenya is a favorite destination for kitesurfers! The best periods are from December to February (the period chosen for the famous Kenya Kite Cup in Diani; https://kitecupkenya.com), then from July to September. The spots all along the coast, from Lamu to Mwambweni, via Watamu, Nyali Beach and Diani Beach, offer ideal conditions for practicing and learning, in a picture-postcard setting. You'll find numerous kitesurfing centers where you can rent equipment, start out or perfect your skills (Diani is home to the largest number).

Recharge your batteries with a yoga safari. For those who like their dogs upside down, some establishments offer (luxury) retreats combining discovery, safari and yoga practice. On the coast, we recommend the Banana House and Wellness Center in Lamu and Watamu Treehouse in Watamu.

Fly over the Masaai Mara in a hot-air balloon. Floating in the air above Kenya's endless plains, watching the sun rise into the Mara sky and color the wildlife as well as the savannah, is an unforgettable experience. Thrills and chills guaranteed... but at a price.

Other options are also available. Some operators offer fishing and horse-riding holidays. Lovers of music and yoga are also catered for, with numerous events held throughout the year.

In Kenya, and particularly in Nairobi, there's plenty to tempt your credit card. The pretty Kenyan designer boutiques and brands (fashion and accessories, design, decoration, leather goods...), which can be found in the capital, charge European prices. Local craftsmanship is rich and varied. Items that can be purchased in stores, hotels or shopping malls are generally priced higher than those on the markets; the products are selected and you won't have to haggle. On the other hand, haggling is still the order of the day in the markets, where there are fewer middlemen and you'll be able to get a good deal, but prices are always up for discussion... a lot.

What budget to eat Kenya?

Food and catering are generally very inexpensive, but not in restaurants or in luxury lodges and hotels. There are, however, many small restaurants where you can get a hearty meal for as little as €5 (especially in Indian restaurants or local "nyama choma"). Most establishments (hotels, restaurants, cafés, gas stations, stores, etc.) accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, etc.). However, some small shops and restaurants may refuse them, and this will probably be the case as soon as you leave the cities. So remember to withdraw cash in such cases.

What is the budget for accommodation Kenya?

Budget. Generally speaking, spending always exceeds the initial budget: visitors are constantly asked to buy this or that, and it has to be said that mzungus ("whites" in Swahili) almost systematically pay a higher price than Kenyans. Hotels and lodges charge different rates for "residents", "non-residents" and "East African residents". Long reserved for wealthy travelers, travel in Kenya has now become more affordable. In particular, you can stay in the superb hotels on the coast for reasonable prices, which are still staggering when you consider the standard of living of the population.

In Kenya, you'll find all kinds of accommodation: camping, guest houses, 3 or 5-star hotels, luxury lodges and tented camps. From a few dozen euros for a small urban hotel with shared showers and toilets to €700 for a night in a luxury camp, depending on the season. With an average budget of US$300 per day, there's plenty of room to experiment. Rest assured, a trip to Kenya is perfectly feasible even on a budget of US$100 per day for two.

Campsites. This is the most authentic and exciting way to discover Africa. It's also the only way to visit Kenya without spending a fortune on accommodation. All parks and reserves have camping sites. These are usually located close to the lodges or park entrances, and offer virtually no facilities. This means you have to be totally self-sufficient and take care of the logistics, which requires a certain amount of organization due to the dangers posed by wild animals. On the coast, campsites are few and far between, but more comfortable. For the best sites, ask the rangers at the park entrances. However, you should expect to pay between US$20 and US$50 per night per person (for non-residents and depending on the site). Camping in the middle of the savannah is an unforgettable experience, but you need to take certain precautions.

Tented camps. These are closely related to lodges. They have all the same qualities and services: exceptional location, attentive staff, tranquillity. But here, huts and bungalows have been replaced by large tents offering unexpected comfort and refinement (meticulous decoration, excellent bedding, solid bathrooms, hot and cold running water, candlelight, guaranteed "Out of Africa" atmosphere...). Even more than lodges, tented camps offer a wide range of activities (walking safaris, night safaris, birdwatching safaris, etc.) and provide more direct contact with nature. On the other hand, prices are a little higher. In the parks, most camps and lodges offer all-inclusive packages including transport from Nairobi, one or two nights' accommodation, full board, game drives and sundowners.

House rentals. It's becoming increasingly easy to rent houses in Kenya, and this is a godsend for small groups, as rates are very attractive and accommodation conditions are often remarkable. These range from simple bungalows for four people to superb colonial homes for fifteen. Most of these houses are rented with household staff (cook, maid, janitor...). On the coast, particularly in Lamu, many Swahili houses have been renovated and superbly furnished, and can be rented for one or more days.

Travel budget Kenya and cost of living

Compared with European countries, daily life in Kenya is cheap (public transport or market food, especially in supermarkets, and if you buy imported products, they will of course be more expensive). However, tourists often make use of expensive services: car rental and/or air transport (essential if you're planning to explore the country and don't have two months to spare), tours and excursions organized by travel agencies, hotels with comforts equivalent to those in Western countries, international restaurants. In these cases, the bill can quickly climb. Not to mention the fact that, as a general rule, expenses always exceed the initial budget: visitors are constantly being asked to buy this or that, and it has to be said that visiting mzungus ("whites" in Swahili) almost always pay a higher price than Kenyans. Hotels and tourist sites systematically display different rates for "residents", "non-residents" and "East African residents". Even for travellers who use local transport, eat and sleep in budget hotels or guesthouses, Kenya is still a fairly expensive destination, not least because access to most of the parks requires a vehicle.

A town car will cost at least €40 per day; a small 4x4, such as a Suzuki Sierra, costs around €75 per day (minimum), including insurance and unlimited mileage; an Isuzu Trooper or Toyota Landcruiser from €95, or even more. Minibuses can be an economical solution for small groups. Rental is widespread and easy to undertake (unlike in some other African countries). To avoid any hassle, we recommend that you travel with your international driving license as well as your original driver's license.

The train between Nairobi and Mombasa (Madaraka Express) is rather inexpensive. What's more, it allows you to make a stopover in Voi, if you wish to make a stopover in Tsavo National Park. Adult fares for Nairobi-Mombasa are Ksh. 1,500 in economy class and Ksh. 4,500 in first class, and Ksh. 750 and Ksh. 2,250 for children up to 11 years of age. Bookings can be made online (https://metickets.krc.co.ke/).

If you opt for air travel, you should know that low-cost airlines (Jambojet, Skyward Express, SafariLink...) are reliable and help to significantly reduce the cost of domestic flights. For round-trip flights from Nairobi, expect to pay between €50 and €150 each way to Mombasa, Lamu, Amboseli or Massaï Mara, depending on the airline.

Entrance to the parks costs between US$15 and US$60 per day for an adult (US$70 for the Maasai Mara). Visiting several parks and reserves can therefore quickly become expensive.