Are you one step closer to the Kenya trip of your dreams? Dreaming of the wildlife safaris, white sand beaches, and trying out Swahili cuisine but aren’t sure of the budget? No need to worry about miscalculated budgets and confusing travel expenses that burn a hole in your pocket at the last minute. Here’s a simplified budget breakdown to help you figure out the Kenya trip cost from India.
Budget Breakdown: Here’s How Much A Trip To Kenya Can Cost You Per Person
Flight Tickets: Big Upfront Expense!
A major upfront expense in any trip is a flight ticket. While planning a trip from India to Kenya, we recommend booking your flights in advance when the prices are low. You can use flight price tracking softwares like Ixigo and Skyscanner to get the best deals.
Usually, a return fare in economy from India to Kenya can set you back anywhere between INR 30,000 to INR 70,000. Actual prices can differ depending on the Indian city you’re flying from, the travel season, time of booking, as well as the airplane class you book your ticket in. Also note that while there are direct flights available to Kenya’s international airports, many airline carriers make a stopover at Doha, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi
Flights: INR 30,000 to INR 70,000
Indian cities offering flights to Kenya: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, and a few others
Accommodation Costs: How Much Does It Cost To Stay?
Now that you’ve got a brief idea of the flight expenses, it’s time to take a look at the accommodation costs in Kenya. There are accommodation options available for almost all kinds of travelers, offering flexible options for everyone. However, note that accommodation prices can vary depending on the location as well as travel season. Here is an approximate breakdown per day:
- Budget hotels: INR 1,500 to INR 3,000
- Mid-range hotels: INR 3,500 to INR 6,000
- Luxury hotels/safari lodges: INR 15,000 to INR 30,000
Note that if you choose a comprehensive safari package, it will likely include costs of your accommodation, transport, and food. However, this upfront cost can be a lot higher when you take the accommodation, entry fees, and other miscellaneous expenses. The key to scoring a good deal is to book in advance, especially in the low season.
Food Costs: Eating Out In Kenya
With a fair idea of flights and accommodation, the next big (and delicious) expense comes under the daily food you’ll eat. Luckily, Kenyan cuisine is quite similar to Indian cuisine, boasting of rich and layered flavors and the use of ample spices, aromatics, and fresh ingredients. Here is how much it can cost you to eat in Kenya:
- Street food/local eateries: INR 300 to INR 500 per day
- Mid-range restaurants: INR 800 to INR 1,500 per day
- Fine dining: INR 2,000+ per day
Transport: Getting Around In Kenya
Getting around different cities in Kenya is not much of a hassle thanks to a decent public transport and private taxis. While public transport is cheap, it isn’t the most reliable or comfortable. Here are a few ways to get in and around Kenya’s cities and towns:
- Local buses: INR 50 to INR 200 per ride
- Taxis: INR 300 to INR 600 for short trips, fares can be higher for inter-city or day-long travel
- Car rentals: INR 4,000 to INR 7,000 per day depending on the vehicle type, distance, and driver availability
Activities And Sightseeing: The Most Fun Expense
Let’s get to the expenses of the activities and sightseeing in Kenya – arguably the most fun part of being in Kenya! From wildlife safaris to game drives and birdwatching tours and cultural programs, there is just so much to do in Kenya that we simply can’t stress enough! Here are expenses of some of the key activities to do in Kenya:
- Maasai Mara safari (full-day): INR 6,000 to INR 10,000 per person
- Amboseli National Park entry: INR 3,000 to INR 5,000 per person
- Nairobi City Tour: INR 1,500 to INR 3,000 per person
Note that safari costs for the different safari tours in Kenya can differ depending on the season and date and slot availability. Additionally, these costs are inclusive of guide charges, entry fees, and transport, as we’ve mentioned above.
Travel Insurance And Visa
While travel insurance isn’t a mandatory expense, we highly recommend getting one before setting out on any international trip. There are different insurance plans that cover medical emergencies, airport grievances, flight cancellations, as well as any other unfortunate incidents that might take place in Kenya.
Plus, there are flexible plans that can have a premium ranging anywhere between INR 500 to INR 1,500 per person. We recommend opting for an insurance plan that offers a minimum of USD 50,000 in medical coverage, including emergency hospitalization and emergency evacuation.
When it comes to visa, you must apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) that is valid up to 90 days from the date of issuance. It can range anywhere between INR 3,000 to INR 4,500. Read more about that in our beginner’s guide to Kenya.
Other Miscellaneous Expenses
These expenses are small as upfront expenses but can stack up if you don’t spend wisely without any proper planning. These expenses include tipping, shopping, buying a SIM card, as well as snacks and water.
For shopping, you are free to set your own budget depending on how much you intend to spend. But we recommend keeping aside at least INR 2,000 to INR 3,500 to shop for things like wooden souvenirs, Kenyan coffee, stone jewelry, and other unique gifts from Kenya.
When it comes to tips, set aside about INR 300 to INR 600 to give tips to safari guides, hotel staff, and other helpful people you meet in your journey. Tipping culture is prominent in Kenya just like India, so if you get a chance to show your appreciation, do not hesitate to offer a tip!
For snacks, water, and light refreshments, it’s fine if you set aside INR 100 to INR 300 per day. Light snacks and water can come especially handy on safari days and long trips.
Summing Up The Expenses: Kenya Trip Cost From India
| Per Day Expense (per person) | Minimum limit | Maximum Limit |
| Accomodation | 1,500 | 30,000 |
| Food | 300 | 2000 |
| Transport | 50 | 7000 |
| Activities | 1,500 | 10,000 |
| Miscellaneous Costs | 100 | 3,500 |
| Total cost (per day) | 3,450 | 52,500 |
| One-time costs (per person) | Minimum limit | Maximum Limit |
| Flights | 30,000 | 70,000 |
| Visa fees | 3,000 | 4,500 |
| Total one-time cost | 33,000 | 74,500 |
So, if you’re a budget traveler, you’re likely to pay one-time costs of about INR 33,000 as well as about 3,450 per day. If you stay in Kenya for about 5 to 6 days, the total cost of your trip would be somewhere around 53,000 per person. This is the ideal lower limit of your Kenya trip!
On the other hand, if budget isn’t an issue, your Kenya trip budget can go higher than 53,000 per person, all depending on the kind of hotels, transport, and activities you choose.
We hope this budget breakdown helps you get a fair idea of how much it can cost you to plan a trip to the land of the Big Five! While these prices can vary, a rough idea of the budget will help you plan your finances accordingly!
