Is it okay to book a safari once you arrive in Kenya or is it better to book in advance? This question comes up repeatedly on various travel forums. Many travelers (including me) like the freedom of landing in a country and seeing it flow by without being locked into a fixed itinerary telling them when and where to eat, sleep and go. So let’s explore how you can go on safari with some sense of freedom while still being safe, comfortable and on budget.

Let’s start with “Yes”, it is okay to book a safari once you arrive in Kenya. As you wander the streets of Nairobi’s central business district, you’ll be approached by vendors selling cheap safaris. It is very easy to go along with one of them. Vehicles are usually parked near City Market, so if you’re ready to go, you can do so right away. They accept cash, so all you have to do is go to the ATM, withdraw, hand it over and you’re done. Easy.

For those who are content to get things done quickly, easily, and are flexible in their expectations, this is perfect. For others, this may sound a bit iffy. I had a friend who opted for this method and it wasn’t until she and her comrades withdrew their money from the ATM that they realized they were about to walk through downtown Nairobi and at least one person knew they were carrying large amounts of cash. cash. It suddenly seemed like a reckless approach.

So we go to “No”, it may not be a good idea to book a safari when you arrive in Kenya. Safaris are not cheap… or you definitely get what you pay for! If you find a deal on the street that seems too good to be true, it probably is. you may find yourself eating zikuma (kale) and ugali (cornmeal) for a week and every day dealing with the results of a poorly maintained vehicle. Remember, fuel is the same price as back home and the roads are in poor condition (worse than you might imagine), so driving here is an expensive proposition.

You want to trust your tour operator. You are about to hand over a large amount of money to make this once-in-a-lifetime safari the one you’ve always dreamed of. Why would you risk that by picking any Joe off the street? Take the time to do your research. Read reviews of tour operators (Trip Advisor, Safari Bookings and Your African Safari help) and start an email conversation to get a feel for how they respond to your wishes. While it’s not required, you can also check with industry bodies such as KATO (Kenyan Association of Tour Operators), whose members tend to be more trustworthy and competent than non-members. You also want to know who you are dealing with: an agent or a carrier. Of course, if you’re dealing with your travel agent at home, they’ll connect you with a trusted tour operator. But some Kenya agents can look a lot like the operators on their websites. This means that they will not be responsible for the maintenance of the vehicle and will “sell” it to a tour operator. In this case, you still do not know who will be responsible for your comfort and safety during the safari and if you trust them. And agents in Kenya aren’t subject to the same rules and guarantees as agents in the country, so if they disappear with your money, there aren’t many recourses.

Kenya is not all bad!

But it’s not just about avoiding suspicious people (I don’t want to sound like Kenya is full of scammers!), it’s also about availability. Most people want to come for the wildebeest migration in July and August. These months are also summer holidays in the US and Europe, so accommodation in the Maasai Mara is around 97% booked for the entire period. Christmas is also a peak period, with many Kenyans traveling at this time, as well as international tourists. Accommodation and vehicles can be hard to come by at these peak times if you leave it to the last minute.

If you are not fussy about what food, vehicle or game park you go to and are on a budget, then you can take a chance and book your safari when you arrive in Kenya. But I recommend that you spend some time researching reputable tour operators with good reviews so you know you’re safe. Unfortunately, Kenya may not be the best country to trust strangers on the street with “the best safari deal for you”.

Overland Travel Adventures has rave reviews on Trip Advisor and we love working with our guests to personally design the safari of their dreams. We are a family business with a husband and wife team, Tracey and Francis, looking after you from planning to execution. Email [email protected] to start planning your vacation today.