Kenya · Safaris & Tours

Two hours from a boardroom to a lion.

Kenya is the shortest distance between a working city and open country anywhere on the safari circuit. Game drives in the Mara and Amboseli, day trips out of Nairobi, walks through Karura and the Ngong Hills, all booked direct with the operator running them. Cabana takes no commission, so the operator's price is the price you pay.

US$150–700+per person, per day
Jul–OctGreat Migration window
24national parks and reserves
0%operator commission

The safari circuit, park by park

Masai Mara is the headline: big cat density year round and the Great Migration river crossings between July and October. Amboseli trades volume for scale, with elephant herds walking under Kilimanjaro on a clear morning. Tsavo East and West are vast, red-earth and far emptier of vehicles. Lake Nakuru is a half-day of flamingo shoreline and one of the safest rhino populations in the country. Ol Pejeta on the Laikipia plateau holds the last two northern white rhinos and runs conservancy game drives with far fewer cars. Samburu in the north has species you will not see further south: Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk.

Day trips you can do out of Nairobi and back

Nairobi National Park sits fifteen minutes from the city and is the only national park in the world inside a capital, with lions against a skyline of towers. Lake Naivasha pairs a boat among hippos with a walking or cycling safari in Hell's Gate, where there are no big predators so you go through the gorge on foot. Karura Forest gives you waterfalls, Mau Mau caves and a canopy walk inside the city limits. Ngong Hills is a ridge walk with the Rift Valley on one side and Nairobi on the other. Mount Kenya and the Aberdares take longer, from an overnight on Point Lenana to a full technical climb.

City walks, community tours and the free tour question

Nairobi walking tours run past Parliament, KICC, the Jamia Mosque, City Market and the Maasai Market, usually two to three hours on foot. Many are pay-what-you-want rather than free in the strict sense: nothing is charged upfront and you tip your guide what the walk was worth at the end. Community tours in Kibera are led by residents, agreed with the people you meet, and route a share of the fee into local schools and youth projects. If you want the format without the crowd, Mathare and Korogocho run similar walks with far fewer visitors.

What a Kenyan safari actually costs

Budget group camping safaris run about US$150 to US$250 per person per day all in. Mid-range lodges land around US$300 to US$450. Conservancy and high-end tented camps run past US$700. Park fees are the fixed floor under all of it: Masai Mara entry is US$100 per adult per day inside the reserve, with Amboseli, Tsavo and Nakuru lower. Aggregators typically take fifteen to twenty-five percent from the operator, and that margin is already inside the rate you are quoted elsewhere. On Cabana the operator's price is the price, and they keep all of it.

When to go

July to October is peak: dry, thin bush, best sightings, and the Mara river crossings. Book three to six months out for a specific camp. January to March is hot, dry and quieter, and the clearest window for Kilimanjaro from Amboseli. April to May is the long rains and November the short ones: lowest prices, greenest country, muddier roads and some seasonal camps closed.

Paying, and what direct booking means here

Every Kenyan operator on Cabana takes M-Pesa, and card or bank transfer works if you are booking from abroad. Payment reaches the operator directly with no commission taken out, and you get their own contact details along with the confirmation, so the person answering the phone about your pickup is the person driving the vehicle.

Kenya: frequently asked

Are the walking tours in Nairobi really free?
Free walking tours run pay-what-you-want. There is no fixed price. You tip your guide at the end for what the walk was worth to you. Some nature and forest walks carry a small park entry fee on top, which the guide will tell you before you set out.
How do I book a Masai Mara safari with zero commission?
Pick a departure date, choose an operator and pay with M-Pesa. Cabana adds nothing to the operator's price and takes nothing out of it, so the figure quoted is the figure charged and the operator keeps all of it. You get instant confirmation and the operator's own contact details.
Can I pay for a Kenya safari with M-Pesa?
Yes. Every safari and tour listed in Kenya can be paid by M-Pesa. Card and bank transfer work too if you are booking from outside Kenya. Payment goes to the operator with no commission deducted.
Is it safe to tour Kibera?
Yes. Community tours in Kibera are led by guides who live there. They are built to be respectful rather than voyeuristic, photography is agreed with people first, and a share of what you pay goes to schools and youth projects in the area.
What does a Masai Mara safari cost?
A budget group safari runs roughly US$150 to US$250 per person per day including park fees, transport and full board camping. Mid-range lodges sit around US$300 to US$450, and high-end conservancy camps go well past US$700. Park entry alone is US$100 per adult per day inside the reserve.
When is the best time for a Kenya safari?
July to October is the Great Migration window in the Mara and the driest, best game-viewing stretch overall. January to March is warm, dry and quieter, with excellent Amboseli visibility of Kilimanjaro. April, May and November are the long and short rains: cheapest rates, greenest landscape, some rough roads.
Do I need a 4x4 for Kenyan parks?
Inside the Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo and Samburu, yes, and a pop-top roof is standard on any proper game drive vehicle. Nairobi National Park, Hell's Gate and Karura are all doable in a normal car, and Hell's Gate is one of the few Kenyan parks you can cycle through.
How far in advance should I book?
For July to October in the Mara, three to six months ahead if you want a specific camp. Day trips from Nairobi to Naivasha, Hell's Gate or Nairobi National Park can usually be arranged a day or two out.

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Game drives, day trips and city walks, direct with the operator.

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