The extras
What sits outside every quote
None of it is hidden. All of it is easy to forget, and together it is a meaningful number.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| International flights | Never in a safari quote. Varies enormously by season and origin — often the largest single line in the whole trip. |
| Entry authorisation | Kenya requires advance electronic travel authorisation for most visitors. Apply through the official government portal only; unofficial sites charge extra for the same form. |
| Travel insurance | Must cover medical evacuation. Remote airstrips are a long way from a hospital. |
| Tips | Customary for guides and camp staff, and genuinely matters to the people receiving them. Ask for a suggested range rather than guessing on the last morning. |
| Balloon safari over the Mara | A significant per-person extra, booked in advance in season. Worth it for many people; budget separately. |
| Premium drinks | Most camps include beer, house wine and soft drinks. Champagne and premium spirits are charged. |
| Nairobi arrival night | We build this in. If a quote does not have one, ask why. |
| Nairobi day room | Sometimes needed before a late international departure. |
| Excess baggage on light aircraft | Limits are strict — commonly around 15kg in a soft bag. Excess is charged or refused. |
| Optional activities | Diving, kitesurfing, riding, private guiding where it is an upgrade. |
The two that catch people out most
Tips. Not because they are large, but because nobody tells you the convention and you end up either embarrassed or wildly over-generous on the last morning. Ask your agency for a figure. If they will not give one, that tells you something.
Park entry fees when you sleep outside the boundary. A quote can look considerably cheaper by excluding these, and they are charged every day you drive in. Always ask for the all-in number for the days you will actually enter.
More from our Kenya guides
Specialist guides across our Kenya network
Each of these is a focused guide we publish. Same Kenya specialist behind every enquiry.
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