How much does a private safari in Kenya cost?

Safari prices can be hard to compare. Two seven day trips to the same parks can differ by thousands of dollars, and the reason is not always clear. This guide explains what a private safari in Kenya and Tanzania costs, what the money pays for and how to make the most of your budget.

What a private safari costs

As a guide, based on Volcan’s own published prices per person sharing:

• Budget, 7 days: from around $900 to $1,100, staying in simple tented camps and hotels. See the 7-Day Kenya Budget Safari.
• Mid-range, 7 days: from around $2,000 to $2,900, in comfortable lodges and camps. See the 7-Day Roaring Kenya.
• Luxury, 7 to 10 days: from around $4,000 upwards, in camps close to the wildlife areas, often with flights between parks. See the 8-Day Luxury Kenya Safari.

Every price on our website is shown per person, with what is and is not included listed in full.

What the price includes

A private safari price typically covers your own vehicle and driver-guide for the whole trip, park and conservancy fees, all accommodation, meals as listed, drinking water and airport transfers. International flights, visas, travel insurance, tips and personal spending are usually extra.

The five things that move the price

1. Park and conservancy fees

Park fees are one of the largest single costs and are paid per person, per day. They are set by government and county authorities, not by the operator, and they differ widely: the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti are among the most expensive, while many other parks cost far less. More days in premium parks means a higher price.

2. The standard of accommodation

This is the biggest variable you control. A night in a simple tented camp and a night in an exclusive camp in a private conservancy can differ by several hundred dollars per person.

3. The season

Lodges charge more in peak season, July to October and over Christmas, and less in the green season. On many of our itineraries, April and May rates are well below peak. For example, the 7-Day Off the Beaten Path starts from $1,965 per person in April and May, against $2,855 in the peak months for the same party size.

4. Party size

A private vehicle and guide cost the same whether two or six people travel, so the price per person falls as the group grows. That is why our rate tables show a different figure for each party size.

5. Flying or driving

Light-aircraft flights between parks save hours on the road but they add to the price. A mix, driving the shorter legs and flying the longer ones, is often the best compromise.

Why we publish our prices

Many operators only share a price after an enquiry. Volcan publishes its rates, per person, with the full list of what is and is not included, so that travellers can compare like with like. If anything changes, such as a government raising park fees, we show it in writing before you pay anything further. Read more in our Booking and Payment Terms.

How to get the most from your budget

• Travel in the shoulder months: June, November or early December.
• Spend more nights in fewer places, which cuts transfer time and cost.
• Mix accommodation levels: one higher end camp, with comfortable lodges for the other nights.
• Travel as a group of four or more to share the vehicle cost.

Have a budget in mind? Tell us what it is, and we will show you what it covers, line by line.