How much do hotels cost in Safari?

The First-Timer: ~$500-900/night (all-inclusive with game drives). The Migration Chaser: ~$800-1,800/night. The Luxury Safari Experience: ~$1,500-3,500/night

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Middle East & Africa

SAFARI

Q: What's the best area to stay in Safari?

For first-time visitors, we recommend Maasai Mara (Kenya) or Serengeti (Tanzania). Both parks deliver the classic safari experience — big cats, elephants, vast plains. The Maasai Mara is more accessible from Nairobi with excellent year-round game viewing. The Serengeti is larger and wilder, often paired with the Ngorongoro Crater. Either works; the camps you choose matter more than the park.

Kenya & Tanzania

African elephant walking across savanna with acacia trees at sunset

QUICK TAKE

An East African safari is a bucket-list trip that requires planning — the difference between camps, seasons, and parks dramatically affects what you'll see. The Great Migration alone spans different locations throughout the year. This isn't a trip to book casually. Get the timing right, choose your camps carefully, and prepare for something genuinely life-changing.

WHERE TO STAY

FOR THE FIRST-TIMER

STAY IN

Maasai Mara (Kenya) or Serengeti (Tanzania)

WHY

Both parks deliver the classic safari experience — big cats, elephants, vast plains. The Maasai Mara is more accessible from Nairobi with excellent year-round game viewing. The Serengeti is larger and wilder, often paired with the Ngorongoro Crater. Either works; the camps you choose matter more than the park.

OUR PICK

Rekero Camp or Kicheche Mara Camp

~$500-900/night (all-inclusive with game drives)

FOR THE MIGRATION CHASER

STAY IN

Follow the herds: Tanzania (Dec-July) or Kenya (July-Oct)

WHY

The Great Migration is 2 million wildebeest following the rains. December-March they're calving in the southern Serengeti. July-October they're crossing the Mara River into Kenya. Timing your trip to the migration is the difference between seeing animals and witnessing a spectacle.

OUR PICK

Alex Walker's Serian or Sayari Camp

~$800-1,800/night

FOR THE LUXURY SAFARI EXPERIENCE

STAY IN

Private conservancies (Kenya) or remote Tanzania camps

WHY

Private conservancies in Kenya (Mara North, Olare Motorogi) limit vehicle numbers and allow off-road driving and night drives that national parks don't permit. Tanzania's remote camps (Singita, &Beyond) offer exclusivity and exceptional guiding. Both deliver safari as a luxury experience, not a zoo visit.

OUR PICK

Angama Mara or Cottar's 1920s Safari Camp

~$1,500-3,500/night

SKIP THESE

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Budget lodges inside main park gates
The difference between a $200/night and $600/night camp is enormous — guide quality, vehicle condition, location, and crowd levels. This is the wrong trip to economize on.
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Trying to do too many parks
Internal flights are expensive and time-consuming. Better to spend 4-5 nights in one excellent area than 2 nights each in three parks. You'll see more by staying put.
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Visiting during heavy rains (April-May)
The long rains make roads impassable and many camps close. Animals disperse across flooded plains. Wait for dry season (June-October) or short rains (November-December) for the best experience.