Kenya is our home ground. Beyond it, we arrange journeys with trusted partners across East and Southern Africa.
All destinationsStart with who is travelling. Every journey is tailor-made from there.
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Planning a safari raises a lot of questions — about timing, cost, paperwork and what to expect on the ground. Here are the answers we give most often. If yours is not here, write to us and we will reply.
Every Zavira journey is built around you. These are the questions we hear most at the start.
No. The journeys on our website are starting points, not a fixed menu. Tell us your dates, who is travelling, what you most want to see and the pace you enjoy, and we will shape an itinerary around you — adding a park, swapping a camp, or stretching a trip with a beach stay.
For the Maasai Mara alone we suggest at least three nights, so you have two full days of game viewing. Four to five nights lets you add a second park. Seven to ten days works well for two or three regions, such as the Mara, Amboseli and Samburu, and gives you time to slow down between drives.
The Maasai Mara is the classic choice for big cats and the Great Migration. Amboseli is famous for elephant herds with Mount Kilimanjaro behind them. Samburu in the north offers species you will not see further south, such as Grevy's zebra and the gerenuk. Ol Pejeta is the place for rhino. If you are not sure, tell us what excites you and we will suggest a combination. You can browse them on our destinations page.
July to October is peak Migration season in the Mara — spectacular, but busier. January to March is quieter and greener, with excellent predator sightings and fewer crowds. The long rains (roughly March to May) are the wettest months, when some camps close and prices are lowest. Kenya is a year-round destination, so the right time depends on what you want to see and how much you value quiet.
The herds usually arrive from Tanzania around July and stay until about October, with dramatic river crossings most often between late July and September. The timing follows the rains, so it shifts from year to year and can never be promised. Even outside those months the Mara holds resident wildlife in large numbers.
Yes — we regularly help travellers connect a Kenya safari onto trips elsewhere in Africa. Share your existing itinerary and we will build the Kenya leg to fit smoothly around it.
Yes. Many guests finish with a few nights on the coast — white sand at Diani, the Swahili stone town of Lamu, or the coral gardens of Watamu. See our Kenya coast page for ideas, or ask us to add it to your quote.
Yes. Kenya is our home and our specialty. Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Namibia and Botswana are organised through trusted partners on the ground. Have a look at our Africa page for sample journeys.
Private. Your vehicle and guide are for your party only, so there are no strangers sharing your journey and you can set the pace — stay longer with a sighting, or move on when you are ready.
Absolutely. Many of our guests travel alone. Some camps charge a single supplement for a room of your own, and we show it clearly in your quote so there are no surprises.
Yes, families are very welcome. Some camps and activities — walking safaris and night drives, for example — have minimum ages, and child rates vary from camp to camp. Tell us the ages of the children travelling and we will choose camps that suit them.
Yes — honeymoons, birthdays, anniversaries and family reunions are some of our favourite journeys to plan. A private bush dinner under the stars, a sunrise balloon flight or a surprise sundowner can all be arranged. Tell us the occasion when you write to us.
One clear quote, written out in full, before you commit to anything.
It depends on the camps you choose, the season, the length of the trip, how many people share the vehicle, and whether you fly between parks or drive. Peak season (roughly July to September and the Christmas period) costs more than the green and low seasons. Our sample journeys show starting prices per person sharing, and your own quote is built once we know your plans.
We aim to reply within 24 to 48 hours. After we understand your plans, we send a tailored itinerary with a full price breakdown, usually within a few days. Complex multi-country trips can take a little longer.
Every Zavira safari includes a private vehicle and guide, accommodation, meals as set out in your itinerary, all park and conservancy fees, and airport pickup and drop-off (NBO). One clear, all-inclusive price — no hidden extras.
International flights, your Kenya eTA, travel insurance, tips, and personal items such as laundry and souvenirs are not included. Optional activities such as a hot air balloon flight are quoted separately unless your itinerary says otherwise. Your quote spells out exactly what is in and what is out.
A 30% deposit secures your dates, due within 14 days of confirming your itinerary. The remaining balance is due 60 days before arrival. We send payment details when you confirm. Deposits are non-refundable, and we recommend travel insurance for all guests.
The earlier you tell us, the less you lose. Charges are a share of the total value of your safari:
No refund is possible for guests who join a safari and leave before it finishes. Comprehensive travel insurance is the best protection against the unexpected.
We will always try. Changes depend on availability and on each camp's own terms. If a change moves your stay into a different season, the rate for that season applies.
Yes, we ask every guest to arrange their own. Choose a policy that covers medical care, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation and your belongings. We do not sell insurance, but we are happy to tell you what to look for.
Visas, health, packing and getting to the bush.
Most visitors need a Kenya eTA (electronic travel authorisation), which you apply for online through the official government portal at etakenya.go.ke before you fly. Rules differ by nationality and can change, so please check the official site for your passport. Guests arrange their own eTA.
Requirements depend on where you travel from and on your own health, so please speak to a doctor or travel clinic at least six to eight weeks before you leave. Malaria is present in parts of Kenya and many travellers take precautions. A yellow fever certificate may be required if you arrive from a country where the disease occurs. We cannot give medical advice, but we will happily share the practical details of your route.
You can drive, which takes roughly five to six hours and lets you see the Rift Valley on the way, or fly from Wilson Airport to an airstrip near your camp in about 45 minutes. Flying saves time; driving costs less and is an experience of its own. We will price whichever you prefer.
Think layers: mornings on a game drive are cool, afternoons are warm. Bring neutral colours such as khaki, olive and beige, a warm jacket, a sun hat, sunscreen, sturdy closed shoes, sunglasses, insect repellent, binoculars and a camera with spare batteries. Kenya uses UK-style three-pin plugs (Type G, 240V). We send a full packing list once you book.
If you fly on light aircraft between camps, luggage is usually limited to about 15 kg (33 lb) per person in a soft bag, because hard suitcases do not fit in the hold. If your trip is by road there is more flexibility. We tell you exactly what applies to your route.
Please check with us before you pack one. Drones are tightly restricted in Kenya, and flying one in national parks and reserves without the proper permission is not allowed.
Coverage is good in Nairobi and patchy in remote conservancies. Many camps offer Wi-Fi in the main areas, but do not count on it in the bush. Think of it as a reason to switch off.
The local currency is the Kenyan shilling. Larger camps accept cards and US dollars, but it helps to carry some cash for tips, souvenirs and small purchases. ATMs are easy to find in Nairobi and other towns, but not in the bush.
What a day looks like, and what to expect from the wildlife.
Days follow the animals. You set out around sunrise, when the light is soft and predators are most active, and return to camp for breakfast and a rest through the heat of the day. After lunch there is a second game drive until sunset, often with a sundowner on the plains, then dinner at camp. Some mornings can begin with a bush breakfast or a balloon flight.
Wildlife is wild, so nothing can be guaranteed. The Maasai Mara gives you a strong chance of lion, elephant, buffalo and leopard. Rhino are rare there, so if rhino are high on your list we suggest adding Ol Pejeta or Laikipia, where they are protected and much easier to find.
You lift off just before sunrise, drift over the plains for about an hour, and usually land to a breakfast in the bush. It is an optional extra priced separately, and flights depend on the weather. Ask us to add it to your quote. Read more on our experiences page.
A private 4×4 safari vehicle set up for game viewing, used by your party only, so everyone has a view and there is room for cameras and bags.
In select private conservancies, yes. Walking safaris and night drives are not allowed in the national reserves, but the conservancies around them are a different world after dark. Tell us if either appeals and we will pick camps that offer them.
Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and many other requirements can be arranged, as can allergies. Tell us when you book so we can pass it on to every camp on your route.
Tips are never compulsory, but they are a warm way to thank guides and camp staff and they matter to the people who receive them. We include simple guidelines with your trip documents so you know what is usual.
Often, yes, but it depends on the camp and the terrain. Let us know what you need and we will choose camps, vehicles and activities that suit, and tell you honestly if something is not possible.
How we look after you from the moment you land.
You are met at the airport, briefed at the start of your safari and accompanied by your guide throughout. We explain the simple rules that keep everyone safe around wildlife, we stay reachable by phone during your trip, and we choose established camps with proper security. Travel insurance that includes medical evacuation is strongly advised.
Kenya has welcomed safari visitors for decades, and the main safari areas are well used to guests. As anywhere, sensible precautions apply, especially in cities: keep valuables out of sight and use pre-arranged transport. Before you travel, read your own government's current travel advice, and ask us if you have any concerns about your route.
The people behind your journey.
We are a Kenyan tour operator born in the Maasai Mara. Zavira was founded by Stephen Koshal, who grew up there. We design each journey ourselves and work with trusted camps and partners on the ground. You can read more on our story page.
Conservancy fees are paid to the Maasai landowners who set their land aside for wildlife, so your stay helps keep that land open for animals rather than turned to other uses. We also arrange cultural visits with local communities, and we prefer real time together over a staged photo stop.
Send us a message through our inquiry form or write to info@zavirasafaris.com. Tell us when you would like to travel, who is coming and anything you dream of seeing. There is no cost and no obligation to ask.
No question is too small. Tell us what you are dreaming of and we will reply with ideas, not a sales script.
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