Dont want to carry too much or too little. Whats the average cash people carry when travelling around Kenya?
Backpackers can definitely do Kenya on $40 a day, but average tourists spend $80-$100. My spend was $75 daily: hostels in Mombasa were $20, local meals $3, and bus to Diani Beach $5. I skipped big tours but paid $25 for a snorkel trip. National park entries and tours raise costs fast, so anyone wanting safaris should budget extra. Still, Kenya is flexible-you can scale costs up or down depending on your choices.
Kenya gets expensive if you want private safaris. I spent $150 daily because I did Amboseli and Maasai Mara with a private guide. Mid-range hotels in Nairobi were $60-$70, dinners in Karen area $20, and entry fees to parks $60-$80 per day. It adds up. On days without safaris, I only spent $50-$60. But with wildlife being the highlight, you have to budget higher if that’s your focus.
On my trip I averaged $80 a day. Lodges outside Nairobi cost $40, restaurant meals $6-$10, and Uber rides $4-$6. I booked a group safari in Maasai Mara for $350 over three days, which worked out $115 daily including food and camping. Nairobi attractions like Giraffe Centre were $10 entry. Day-to-day costs are low, but safaris change everything. I’d say plan $80 daily if you want a comfortable balance.
Kenya is as cheap or as expensive as you make it. I did budget travel at $35-$45 a day. Hostels in Nairobi were $10-$15, street food like chapati and beans was $2, and matatus (minibuses) were less than $Safaris are what kill your budget-day trips to Nairobi National Park were $40-$50. If you avoid organized safaris and stick to local transport, you can live cheaply, but for wildlife you need more.