Kenya — The Classic African Safari
The Masai Mara, Amboseli, Samburu, and Tsavo give Kenya some of the most reliable Big Five sightings and varied landscapes in East Africa.
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What Is an African Safari Tour?
An African safari tour is a guided wildlife journey through protected national parks and reserves in East Africa, built around close, safe encounters with animals in their natural habitat. A good tour operator does more than drive you between parks — they read animal behaviour, time each game drive around light and movement, and know which routes are worth the extra hour.
Modern African safari tours range from affordable shared group trips to fully customised, all-inclusive luxury experiences, and Beyond The Plains operates across every tier.
Customise Your Safari ›Ways to Experience an African Safari
Game Drives
Guided 4x4 game drives across Kenya and Tanzania’s national parks, timed for the best chance of spotting the Big Five.
Walking Safaris
A slower, closer safari on foot with an armed, licensed ranger — reveals tracks and wildlife a vehicle drives past.
Luxury Lodge Stays
Prime, wildlife-facing lodges and tented camps with full board, private game drives, and your own pace.
Fly-In Safaris
Skip long road transfers by flying between parks, opening up remote conservancies road-based trips can't reach.
Where We Go
Best African Safari Destinations
Kenya and Tanzania together form one continuous safari ecosystem — the Masai Mara and the Serengeti are the same landscape split by a border, which is exactly why so many travellers combine both countries in one trip.
African Safari Tour Packages
Every traveller wants something different from a safari — more park time, a honeymoon pace, or a tight budget with maximum wildlife per day. Use the filters below to narrow packages by destination and length. Every itinerary shown is a starting point.
Kenya · 1 Day
1 Day Nairobi Day Safari
Explore Nairobi National Park, with options to combine with the Giraffe Centre or David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
Kenya · 2D 1N
2 Days Masai Mara Safari
A short escape to Kenya's most famous wildlife reserve, ideal for travellers with limited time.
Kenya · 3D 2N
3 Days Masai Mara Safari, Extended
More time for game drives and a better opportunity to explore different areas of the reserve.
Kenya · 4D 3N
4 Days Masai Mara & Lake Nakuru
Combine the Mara's wildlife with Lake Nakuru's diverse landscapes and rhino sanctuary.
Kenya · 5D 4N
5 Days Masai Mara & Amboseli
Experience two of Kenya's iconic destinations, including Amboseli's views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Kenya · 6D 5N
6 Days Great Lakes & Masai Mara
Combine Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara in one continuous circuit.
Kenya · 7D 6N
7 Days Kenya Classic Circuit
A longer wildlife journey combining several of Kenya's leading parks and reserves.
Kenya · 8D 7N
8 Days Magical Kenya Experience
Our signature route through the Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha and Amboseli in one circuit.
Popular
Kenya · 9D 8N
9 Days Amboseli, Mara & Nakuru
Nine days across Amboseli, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara — four of Kenya's most requested parks.
Kenya · 10D 9N
10 Days Kenya Grand Safari
A ten-day loop through Samburu, Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru, the Masai Mara, Naivasha and Amboseli.
Kenya · 11D 10N
11 Days Best of Kenya Safari
Our most complete Kenya-only itinerary, covering the country's leading parks without rushing.
Kenya · 12D 11N
12 Days Grand Kenya Safari
Twelve days combining the northern and central parks with a three-night finish on the Diani coast.
Kenya · 13D 12N
13 Days Kenya Safari & Coast
Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha and Amboseli, followed by five nights unwinding on the Kenyan coast.
Kenya · 14D 13N
14 Days Kenya Safari: North to Coast
Our longest circuit, tracing Kenya from the northern reserves down to a coastal finish.
Tanzania · 4D 3N
4-Day Tanzania Safari — Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire
A private fly-in safari from Zanzibar through the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire.
Tanzania · 5D 4N
5-Day Trip to Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater
A private safari from Arusha through Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and two days in the Serengeti.
Tanzania · 5D 4N
5-Day Tanzania Safari — Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
Arusha to Tarangire, two days in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara.
Migration
Tanzania · 6D 5N
6-Day Tanzania Uncovered: Serengeti & Ngorongoro
Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and dedicated Great Migration tracking across the Serengeti.
Tanzania · 7D 6N
7-Day Experience: Big Five & Magical Migration
Arusha through Tarangire, the Serengeti’s Great Migration and the Ngorongoro Crater.
+ Zanzibar
Tanzania · 8D 7N
8-Day Tanzania Holiday: Famous Parks & Beach
Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, finishing with beach relaxation in Zanzibar.
Migration
Tanzania · 9D 8N
9 Days Wildebeest Migration & Mara River Safari
Two dedicated days tracking Mara River crossings in a private 4x4 Land Cruiser.
Tanzania · 9D 8N
9-Day Tanzania Safari — Migration & Northern Circuit
Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Central Serengeti and Ngorongoro in one Northern Circuit route.
+ Zanzibar
Tanzania · 9D 8N
9 Days — Tanzania to Zanzibar: White Sands & Wilderness
Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, then three days on Zanzibar’s white sand beaches.
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All Price Points
African Safari Package Types
We operate across every price point and travel style. Every package below can be adjusted for your dates, group size, and interests.
Budget Safaris
Shared group vehicles and comfortable tented camps, for travellers who’d rather put budget toward extra park days. From $150 per person per day.
Mid-Range Safaris
Private or small-group vehicles with comfortable lodges — the strongest value-to-experience ratio. From $300 per person per day.
Luxury Safaris
High-end lodges in prime, low-traffic locations, a private guide and vehicle, and exclusive conservancy access. From $600 per person per day.
All-Inclusive Safaris
Accommodation, all meals, park fees, game drives, and airport transfers covered up front, one fixed price, no surprise costs.
African Safari Tour Cost: What to Expect
The honest answer to how much a safari costs depends on three things: accommodation tier, season, and how many people share a vehicle.
| Safari Type | Daily Rate / Person | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $150 – $300 | Solo travellers, flexible plans |
| Mid-Range | $300 – $600 | Couples, families, best value |
| Luxury | $600 – $1,500+ | Privacy, exclusivity, premium lodges |
Included at every tier: park entry fees, professional guide, safari vehicle, accommodation, and most meals. Excluded at every tier: international flights, visas, tips, and alcoholic drinks unless stated otherwise.
Where the money actually goes
Accommodation is the single biggest swing factor. A basic tented camp inside a conservancy can cost under $100 a night per person, while a premium lodge in the same park can run $400–$900 a night for a nearly identical wildlife experience — the difference is the room and the exclusivity, not the game viewing.
Season changes price by 30–60%. July to October and the Christmas/New Year window carry the highest lodge rates. Booking the same itinerary in the April–May or November green season can cut accommodation cost significantly.
Private vs shared vehicle matters more than people expect. A private vehicle costs more per person but gives you full control over stops, timing, and photography angles.
Fly-in vs road access adds cost but saves time — typically $150–$400 per person per flight, removing 5–8 hours of driving.
Trip length reduces your per-day cost, since fixed costs like airport transfers spread across more days.
Booking With Confidence
How to Choose a Kenya & Tanzania Safari Tour Operator
Booking a safari usually means paying a deposit to a company on another continent, months before you travel. Here is what to actually check before choosing a safari operator or tour company.
Verify the registration
A legitimate Kenya-based operator will be a registered member of KATO, and a Tanzania-based one should hold a TRA license. Check the membership number yourself rather than trusting a logo.
Look for a real, mappable address
A tour operator offering only a contact form and a WhatsApp number is harder to verify if something goes wrong. Beyond The Plains is Nairobi-based, KATO-certified, and a KWS partner.
Get a written, itemised itinerary
Park fees, conservation levies, accommodation, and guide costs should be broken down separately, with dates, before you pay anything.
Check reviews across more than one platform
Look at TripAdvisor, Google, and SafariBookings together, and favour reviews that mention specific guides, vehicles, or lodges by name.
Be cautious of prices far below the market rate. Park fees and licensed guide costs are largely fixed across operators, so a quote dramatically cheaper for the same itinerary is worth questioning.
When to Travel
Best Time to Go on an African Safari
Timing shapes your entire safari, but there isn’t a single best month, only the best month for what you want to see.
June – October & January – February
Dry Season — Peak Wildlife Viewing
- Animals concentrate around water sources
- Vegetation thins, making spotting easier
- Peak Masai Mara migration July–October
- Roads fully accessible across all parks
- Most consistent Big Five sightings
November – May
Green Season — Value & Quiet Parks
- Significantly lower lodge rates
- Fewer vehicles and crowds in the parks
- Lush, photogenic landscapes
- Calving season — highest predator activity
- Excellent birding — migratory species present
If witnessing a Mara River crossing is your primary goal, aim for August or September in the Masai Mara specifically. If you prefer quieter parks and a smaller budget, the April–May and November shoulder months offer the best value on the calendar.
Why Beyond The Plains
Why Choose Beyond the Plains Safaris
There are dozens of companies calling themselves a Kenya safari operator. Here is what actually sets a good one apart.
1
Local Expertise
Our guides have spent their careers in the parks we take you to, not a call center reading a script.
2
Tailor-Made Itineraries
Every itinerary on this page is a starting point, not a fixed package. We adjust the route, accommodation, and pace to fit you.
3
Professional, Named Guides
Our guides are named directly in the majority of our client reviews, because their field judgment makes the difference.
4
Verified and Trusted
KATO-certified, TRA-licensed, and a KWS partner, with a 4.9 TripAdvisor rating from 101+ verified reviews.
African Safari Tours — Key Questions
Yes. Beyond The Plains Safaris is a Nairobi-based, KATO-registered tour operator, fully bonded and operating to Kenya Tourism Regulatory Authority standards, with a 4.9 TripAdvisor rating and 4.7 Google rating from 101+ verified reviews. We were 1st Runners-Up for Best Tour Operator in Kenya at the 2025 Tourism Excellence Awards and hold TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice award for 2022, 2023, and 2024.
A tour operator, like Beyond The Plains Safaris, owns or directly manages the vehicles, guides, and ground logistics for your safari. A travel agent typically resells packages built by an operator and adds a commission on top. Booking directly with the operator usually means a lower price, more control over the itinerary, and a single point of contact if anything changes on the ground.
Most African safari tours run 5 to 10 days. This is enough time to cover 2–3 parks properly without spending most of your trip in transit. A 7-day safari is the most common starting point for a first-time visitor, and 10–12 days is typical for a combined Kenya and Tanzania itinerary.
Budget safaris start around $150 per person per day, mid-range options run $300–$600 per day, and luxury safaris typically run $600–$1,500+ per day. The biggest single factor is accommodation tier, followed by season and whether you book a private or shared vehicle.
Yes, with an experienced guide and a properly licensed operator. Vehicles and guides on our safaris operate to full industry safety standards, and we provide support from arrival to departure.
Yes, this is one of our most booked itineraries. The Masai Mara and Serengeti share the same migration ecosystem across the border, so a combined 10–12 day safari lets you experience both without duplicating scenery or wildlife.
No. Budget and mid-range safaris use the same national parks, the same guides’ field expertise, and often the same game-drive routes as luxury trips — the difference is accommodation comfort and privacy, not wildlife access.
The Mara River crossings typically peak from July to October in the Masai Mara. The southern Serengeti calving season (January–March) and the northward movement through the Serengeti (April–June) both offer strong, less-crowded viewing.
Check that they are a verified member of a recognised body — KATO for Kenya-based operators, TRA licensing for Tanzania — confirm a physical address, and look for reviews across multiple platforms that mention specific guides or lodges by name.
Yes to both. Family safaris can be built around shorter daily drives, family-friendly lodges, and flexible pacing for children, while solo travellers can join a small shared-vehicle group or book a private guide.
Our all-inclusive packages cover accommodation, all meals, park and conservancy fees, game drives, and airport transfers, priced as one fixed figure agreed before you travel. International flights, visas, and gratuities are arranged separately.
For peak Great Migration season (July–October) or Christmas/New Year, booking 6–9 months ahead is recommended, since the best lodges fill first. Outside peak season, 2–3 months’ notice is usually enough.
Start Planning Your African Safari Tour Today
Whether this is your first African safari or you are returning for something more exclusive, our team can build an itinerary around your dates, budget, and priorities, with a fully itemised quote and no hidden costs.
Tailor Made Tour
Want to Know More?
Talk to Us
Create unforgettable memories with a customized Kenya and/or Tanzania safari. At Beyond the Plains Safaris, we help you plan your dream trip — whether you’re exploring options or just need expert advice. Our team offers obligation-free guidance and curated safari experiences tailored to your schedule, budget, and preferences.
