How to Travel to Kenya Cheap?

Kenya is a beautiful travel destination. But Kenya is also a country that causes great uncertainty for many people.

Whether it is security, hygiene, or illness, many issues arise when one takes a closer look at the country or booking a trip.

Read on to learn how to prepare for a trip to Kenya and what there is to consider to make it affordable.

How to Save Money on Kenya Vacation

#1 Tip for cheap safaris: Kenya e-Visa

Handling an electronic visa is far more cheap than obtaining a regular one at the Embassy. Cut the costs of visiting the appropriate institution and get your visa online. You must visit evisa.kenya.com to find a simple 3-step guide on applying.

Spare just a few minutes to submit your application using your phone, laptop, PC, or tablet. Approved Kenya e-Visa arrives at the applicant’s e-mail address in a PDF form. Print it out and take it with you on your travel.

Kenya e-Visa is usually processed within 69 hours from applying and allows a stay of up to three months!

#2 Tip for cheap safaris: a self-organized travel

When planning a trip, the question arises – should you choose a package tour or a self-organized travel. Both have advantages and disadvantages. 

If you are traveling to Kenya for the first time, you will probably feel safer with a package tour. This way, there is always a contact person on site who can support you if something does not go according to plan. 

The travel security certificate guarantees that there will be no financial problem if the tour operator goes bankrupt or one of the travel components breaks away.

On the other hand, taking a self-organized trip can help travelers put together their trip more individually and often get away cheaper.

However, you will also need to take care of the organization and be liable if something does not work out.

#3 Tip for cheap safaris: Self-drive safaris

Admittedly, you should already know that gravel is not only good for buying an SUV, but also for driving on it. So: four-wheel drive experience on sand tracks, scree, and other slippery surfaces is a prerequisite if you rent a jeep in Africa to go on a safari tour yourself.

The advantage of self-drive is that you have significantly more time for animal observation and save money. The disadvantages: you probably only see animals that cross the paved paths, such as elephants, zebras, giraffes, and antelopes.

But if you stay in one of the many camps in the national park, you can book individual game drives (trips) with experienced scouts and park rangers, leading to lion, leopard & more. Tours also occur early in the morning until late in the evening – then it is not advisable to drive around in the dark anyway.

#4 Tents instead of luxury lodges

If you can do without luxuries such as freestanding bathtubs, a fireplace in the room, or a prepared hot water bottle at the foot of your bed, then please get ready to save. This is because in national parks like Krüger near Kenya, you can also pitch your tent on a campsite or stay overnight in a camper. 

It costs from 40 USD upwards per tent and per day. In the off-season, you can book on-site upon arrival. 

You may stand at the reception in front of an apologetic shrug and a “Fully Booked” sign in the high season. Self-caterers can find everything they need for their daily meals in the so-called Main Rest Camps supermarkets.

Final Thoughts

If you are not yet sure whether a safari is your thing at all (and you don’t want to spend a small fortune on a pure safari vacation), then book a package tour.

Please think about whether you want to try a mini safari on site. Countries like Kenya or Tanzania (the island of Zanzibar has beautiful beaches!) offer a fantastic beach holiday and this optional safari. Also, many hotels have cooperation partners for short animal observation trips. Good luck!