If you are looking to experience your first safari, one of the most affordable places and the best place with a high chance of seeing all the Big Five on your first trip is Kenya, the pride of Africa.
From tracking down leopards at the Maasai Mara National Reserve and spotting white and black rhinos at Lake Nakuru to biking around wildlife and hiking gorges in Hell's Gate National Park, there are tons of things to do and places to visit in Kenya.
Not to mention, due to the fierce competition in Kenya, a safari trip here is way cheaper than in neighboring countries like Tanzania or Uganda. You can easily find an all-inclusive safari tour for around 100 USD per day. You won't find such a great deal in other countries.
Within this travel guide, you will find all the information you need to help you find great and affordable safari tours, as well as the best places to visit, cool things to do, and more. Without further ado, here is a complete backpacking itinerary for Kenya.
- 2 Weeks Backpacking Kenya Itinerary Map
- Which Kenya Safari Tour to Pick?
-
7 Days to 2 Weeks Backpacking Kenya Itinerary
- Day 1: Exploring Nairobi
- Day 2: Drive to Maasai Mara
- Day 3: Spotting Big Cats at Maasai Mara
- Day 4: The Maasai Village & Drive to Lake Nakuru
- Day 5: Spotting Rhinos at Lake Nakuru & Boat Ride at Lake Naivasha
- Day 6: Bike and Hike Around Hell's Gate National Park & Drive to Amboseli
- Day 7: Explore Amboseli National Park
- Day 8: Morning Drive Around Lake Amboseli & Drive Back to Nairobi
- Day 9: Exploring Mombasa
- Day 10 - 13: Relax at Diani Beach
- Day 14: Fly Back to Nairobi
- Kenya Travel Video
- When to Visit Kenya?
- How to Get to Kenya?
- How to Get Around Kenya?
- How Much Money Do I Need For Kenya?
- Is it Safe in Kenya?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Kenya?
- What to Pack for Kenya?
- Further Reading for Kenya
2 Weeks Backpacking Kenya Itinerary Map
☀️ Day 1: | Exploring Nairobi |
☀️ Day 2: | Drive to Maasai Mara |
☀️ Day 3: | Spotting Big Cats at Maasai Mara |
☀️ Day 4: | The Maasai Village & Drive to Lake Nakuru |
☀️ Day 5: | Spotting Rhinos at Lake Nakuru & Boat Ride at Lake Naivasha |
☀️ Day 6: | Bike and Hike Around Hell's Gate National Park & Drive to Amboseli |
☀️ Day 7: | Explore Amboseli National Park |
☀️ Day 8: | Morning Drive Around Lake Amboseli & Drive Back to Nairobi |
☀️ Day 9: | Exploring Mombasa |
☀️ Day 10-13: | Day 10 - 13: Relax at Diani Beach |
☀️ Day 14: | Fly Back to Nairobi |
Which Kenya Safari Tour to Pick?
There are a ton of companies in Kenya competing to get people to go on their safari tours, and it can be quite overwhelming to find the right one that fits your preferences. If you are not sure where to begin, here are a few Kenya safari itineraries ranging from 3 - 7 days that you should definitely take a look at:
- 3-Day Masai Mara Mid Range Safari at Jambo Mara Lodge
- 4-Day The Giants Trail - Mid-Range
- Private 4-Day Safari in Lake Nakuru, Naivasha & Maasai Mara
- 5-Day Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, and Masai Mara Safari
- 6-Day Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli - Budget Safari
- 7-Day Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and Amboseli Safari from Nairobi
If you have the time, I would highly recommend that you go with the 7-day organized tour, which will allow you to see all the stunning locations and wildlife in Kenya, including the Big Five, all in one go.
Most 3, 4, and 5-day safari tours often omit visiting Amboseli National Park, but I found Amboseli to be one of the most beautiful places in Kenya where you will be able to see the mighty Kilimanjaro mountain in its full glory.
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Although the mountain is in Tanzania, the best view is actually in Amboseli, Kenya, where you will be able to see elephants in the savannas with Kilimanjaro in the background.
So, if you want to see this epic view, you will have to make sure that you get to Amboseli on your trip. You can browse more Kenya tours and contact safari companies directly and ask for a quote via SafariBookings.com. If you are wondering which one I went with, it was this 7-day Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and Masai Mara Safari by Karibu. Check them out.
Want to climb to the top of Kilimanjaro? Check out:A Complete Hiking Guide to Kilimanjaro
7 Days to 2 Weeks Backpacking Kenya Itinerary
Day 1: Exploring Nairobi
Our journey begins in Nairobi, the bustling capital city of Kenya. Although there isn't a whole lot to do in Nairobi and probably not the reason why you are traveling here, I think it is a good idea to stop by there for a day or two to get your bearings on the culture of Kenya.
While at the airport, be sure to do the essential things like getting your money exchanged and buying a SIM card before leaving. To get from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to your accommodation, you can either organize a transfer via your accommodation or book a transfer online before arriving. It should cost around 20 - 30 USD for the transfer.
- 3-Day Masai Mara Semi Luxurious Camp Safari ($840 to $1,469 pp USD)
- 6-Day Amboseli, Lake Naivasha and Mara - Mid-Range ($1,770 to $2,470 pp USD)
- 7-Day Classic Kenya Best Adventure Safari from Nairobi ($1,540 to $2,085 pp USD)
Once you are in the city, you can spend some time exploring the tourist attractions here like Kenya National Archives and Kenya National Museum Society to learn more about the history of Kenya and prepare yourself for the 7-day safari journey through Kenya, which we will be taking the next day.
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.
Where to Stay in Nairobi?
Day 2: Drive to Maasai Mara
The second day will involve a lot of driving, few stops, and only in the evening will you be able to go on a game drive. The drive from Nairobi to Maasai Mara National Reserve may take as long as 6 hours, depending on the condition of the unpaved section of the road approaching Maasai Mara.
You will be traveling on a paved road for half of your journey with a stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint, one of the longest valleys that stretches from Lebanon all the way to Mozambique across Africa.
After the viewpoint, it will take another 4.5 hours until you arrive at Maasai Mara National Reserve, where you will then drop off your bags at the designated accommodation and go on an evening drive in the reserve.
More often than not, the animals are active in the morning, but you might get a chance to see some of the Big Five as we did when we arrived here around 5:30 PM.
We saw a family of elephants strolling around the savanna, as well as a lion and lionesses napping in the grass, as we observed them up close. Since the Maasai Mara National Reserve is not a national park, you do not have to stick to the main road, which allows our driver to get really up close to the animals, something we weren't able to do in Tanzania.
After the evening game drive, you will be dropped off at a tented camp where you can rest up for the night and get ready for a full-day safari drive at the Maasai Mara National Reserve the next day.
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.
Where to Stay in Maasai Mara?
Day 3: Spotting Big Cats at Maasai Mara
As I mentioned earlier, animals are often most active in the morning when it isn't too hot, and your game drive should begin as early as 6 AM and end around 6 PM. It is going to be a long day, so prepare some snacks and don't drink too much water at breakfast. You won't be able to go to the toilet until lunchtime.
You will be spending around 6 hours on a morning game drive inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, where you will be able to see all kinds of animals scattered throughout the savanna. We saw almost all of the Big Five during this period, starting with a close-up look at a lion and two lionesses.
These big cats are really lazy, and you will realize that they often spend most of their days napping. What a life! They love napping so much that the lion we encountered decided to use one of the safari trucks as a shade for a few minutes before it went somewhere else.
These animals are extremely habituated, and they will just let you observe them without spooking them out. Just make sure not to put your hands out the window when they are near.
We also saw a group of adult cheetahs lying in the sun while they had their eyes locked on the few hyenas lurking behind. Not sure what is happening here, but at one point, the hyenas put on an attack stance before they were scared off by the cheetahs.
They are very habituated as well, and we were able to get really close to them. I was able to get some stunning shots of them using my Tamron 70-300mm telephoto lens with my Sony a7C camera. Don't make the mistake I made on my first safari trip; invest in a telephoto lens for your camera!
In the afternoon, you will also visit the no man's land between Tanzania and Kenya, where you will be able to literally be in two countries at once, which is pretty cool.
You will also go on a bushwalk and spot some crocodiles and hippos along a river before stopping for lunch and continuing on the afternoon game drive for another 6 hours.
From the map, the Maasai Mara National Reserve may seem small compared to the Serengeti, but it was still pretty massive. No matter how we had been driving, we always found ourselves surrounded by all sorts of animals all the time.
We eventually tracked down a leopard, one of the most elusive Big Five animals to see, and it was the last Big Five I had yet to see up close. We spent an hour trying to get it to come out, and at one point, it looked directly at my camera, ran, and disappeared into the tall grass.
Thankfully, I was able to capture its intense scare before it disappeared. I first saw a leopard in Tanzania, but it was way too far to snap a photo, so I didn't count it. Finally, I can cross "Seeing a leopard up close" off my bucket list!
After spotting the leopard, we came across another rare animal: a serval cat hunting for rats. My guide informed me that due to its small size compared to other big cats, it is quite difficult to track down and spot. We were extremely fortunate to witness it, and it truly made my day.
We continue on for an hour or so until sunset, spotting other animals like eland, the largest antelope in the world, which was very interesting to see. It's like seeing a deer with a cow-like body!
After we left the national reserve, we went back to our tented camp and spent another night at Maasai Mara, celebrating seeing 4 out of the Big Five. Now, all that's left on the list is an up-close look at rhinos, and we are done.
Day 4: The Maasai Village & Drive to Lake Nakuru
On the fourth, you are going to spend the morning visiting a traditional Maasai Village which may seem like a tourist trap where you have to pay the chief to get in and the Maasais will try to persuade you to buy their family handicrafts and trinkets, but the experience was actually quite interesting.
You will be guided by a Maasai on foot to his village as he explains all the plants around the area and how they use them for various purposes such as natural deodorants, toothpaste, medicines, etc.
Once you arrive at the village, you will then be officially welcomed by the Maasais with a ceremonial dance that you can join before you are allowed to enter the village.
You will be able to go into people's homes as they explain how they constructed the mud houses and why they have to move to a new location every few months. Spoiler alert: it's because of termites.
The entire visit should take around 2 hours, during which your driver will be waiting for you at the village entrance before taking you to the next destination, Lake Nakuru.
You should arrive at Lake Nakuru in the evening, and you will be ushered into your accommodation before ending your fourth day in Kenya.
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.
Where to Stay in Lake Nakuru?
Day 5: Spotting Rhinos at Lake Nakuru & Boat Ride at Lake Naivasha
Lake Nakuru is known for its abundant rhino population, and you will be able to encounter both the white rhino, which is common to see, and the black rhino, which is a little harder to find, here. Since rhinos are the last of the Big Five on my list that I hadn't encountered closely yet, I was pretty ecstatic to visit Lake Nakuru.
The Lake Nakuru game drive begins in the early morning, again at around 7 AM. We drive down to the lake, encountering all kinds of animals up close, from elephants to water buffalos. And in 10 minutes, we see, lo and behold, a black rhino napping by the river.
Although it was pretty far, I was still able to capture it with my camera and verify that it is, in fact, a black rhino and not the white one. I was pretty happy with that, but then after an hour's drive, we encountered another group of rhinos, this time the white rhinos.
I'd never seen one up close before, so I was pretty ecstatic, as you can imagine. They were just eating grasses as we observed them quietly from the road. Unlike at Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru is a national park, so we are bound to the main road only, but that was more than enough to see the rhinos up close.
After the rhino, we encountered another group of lions, this time a lioness and her cubs, devouring what looks like a water buffalo carcass. I was able to capture an intimate moment of the lioness and her cub, which was as cute as it was disturbing, since all their faces were covered in blood.
Lake Nakuru is one stunning place to see, which was a welcome change from the vast savannahs of nothing but grasses and small trees of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
By midday, you should be done with the morning game drive, and the safari tour should take you to Lake Naivasha where you will be able to get on a boat and observe the wildlife around the lake.
Eagles, hippos, and all sorts of birds can be found here, which was a welcome change after 3 days of observing land animals. The boat will take you to the middle of the lake and back in about 3 hours before you are taken to your accommodation, ending the fifth day of our itinerary.
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.
Where to Stay in Lake Naivasha?
Day 6: Bike and Hike Around Hell's Gate National Park & Drive to Amboseli
On your sixth day, you will begin the day with a visit to Hell's Gate National Park, one of the few national parks where you can ride a bike among wild animals.
You will have to pay around 700 KES to rent a bike at the entrance of the national park, or you can just continue on with the safari jeep. I went with the bike as I was craving some activities after sitting for so many days.
While biking in Hell's Gate National Park, you will be surrounded by zebras, baboons, and other not-so-dangerous and dangerous animals. Don't worry, your driver should be right behind you to assist you if certain animals decide to charge at you. Unlikely, but it's good to be prepared.
You will be riding to Ol Njorowa Gorge, which should take about 20 minutes. Once you arrive, depending on the water level, you can go on an epic hike down the gorge, which is probably one of the most adventurous things you will do on this trip.
If you are active and looking for some hikes to do, hiking the Ol Njorowa Gorge is a must-not-miss experience. The hike should take about an hour, during which you will scramble down steep cliffs, hang off ropes, and jump over streams while getting lightly showered from waterfalls.
It was one of the most memorable things I did on this trip, and trust me, you won't regret doing it. The hike should take about an hour and a half, and you should loop back to the top of the cliff before leaving the Hell's Gate National Park.
After Hell's Gate, you will be heading back to Nairobi and then continuing on to Amboseli National Park, our last stop on this tour before we go solo. The drive is long, and it can take about 6-7 hours, depending on how forgiving the traffic in Nairobi is.
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.
Day 7: Explore Amboseli National Park
On the 7th day, you are going to spend an entire day driving around Amboseli National Park, one of the most scenic places in Kenya. There, you will be able to see stunning wildlife as the tallest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, looms behind.
Despite Mount Kilimanjaro being located in Tanzania, the best place to see the mountain in its full glory is actually at Amboseli National Park in Kenya, as you will have an unobstructed view of the mountain towering over thousands of animals scattered around the savannas.
Amboseli National Park is also known for its massive population of elephants, with some of the largest elephant families residing mostly in this park.
What's even better is that the conservation against poaching here is so well done that most of the elephants you see here will often sport the massive tusks African elephants are known for.
You will also be visiting Lake Amboseli, where you will be able to observe all kinds of animals living off the pristine water of the lake, as far as the eyes can see. I've never seen this many animals concentrated in one place this much in my life!
At lunchtime, you will stop at Observation Hill, a stunning viewpoint where you can climb up to see the true scale of Amboseli National Park and its mighty lakes formed from the melted water of the glaciers on top of Kilimanjaro, which thousands of animals rely on.
You will be having lunch at the top of the viewpoint with around an hour to enjoy the scenery before you continue on your afternoon game drive. It should take about another 3-4 hours until you get back to your accommodation and rest for the day.
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.
Where to Stay in Amboseli?
Day 8: Morning Drive Around Lake Amboseli & Drive Back to Nairobi
On your 8th day, you will start off your day with an early morning game drive. Be prepared, as this is the most scenic time of the day, and you will be able to see the true beauty of Amboseli National Park.
We saw a group of elephants strolling around the golden grasses of the savanna as Mount Kilimanjaro and the golden sky of the morning loomed behind. That was quite a sight to behold and one that I would remember for a long time.
The morning game drive should take about 3 hours before the driver will take you back to Nairobi. Depending on whether you want to fly or take the train, the driver can drop you off at Wilson Airport or Nairobi Railway Station respectively, where you will be able to continue traveling to the east coast independently.
If you decide to take the plane, it should take you no more than 2 hours to get to Mombasa. Alternatively, if you choose the more scenic route and take the train, it should take about 6 hours, and you will arrive in Mombasa around 8 PM, concluding your 8th day in Kenya.
Day 9: Exploring Mombasa
Since you will be spending 2 nights in Mombasa, you will have an entire day to explore the Old Town area. One of the tourist attractions in Mombasa that I highly recommend you visit is Fort Jesus, where you will be able to walk around in an old 16th-century Portuguese colonial fort with museums and exhibitions displaying Kenyan archaeological finds.
Other tourist attractions you should also visit in Mombasa are the Mandhry Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the country, the Elephant Tusks Monument, a popular landmark to take photos with, and exploring Mombasa's Old Town.
Do not worry, beach days are coming up, and Mombasa isn't really the best place to relax, as there are way more beach boys and touters that will annoy you to no end here than at our next destination, Diani Beach.
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.
Looking for a complete guide to backpacking Mombasa? Check out:7 Best Things to Do in Mombasa
Where to Stay in Mombasa?
Day 10 - 13: Relax at Diani Beach
After 2 nights in Mombasa, you can start your beach vacation by taking an Uber/Bolt from Mombasa to Diani Beach, one of the best beaches in East Africa and definitely my favorite. The journey should take a little less than 2 hours and cost about 2,000 KES.
Diani Beach is a great way to end an epic Kenya itinerary. I spent almost a week here just relaxing by the beach, going swimming at sunrise, and enjoying all the seafood I could afford here.
It is much MUCH quieter than Mombasa. It has fewer beach boys and touts to annoy you, and it has a lovely fine sand beach with many beachfront hotels and resorts to choose from. What more can you ask for?
If you are trying to find good accommodation in Diani Beach, I highly recommend finding a beachfront resort where you will have direct access to the beach at any time of the day. For budget travelers, I stayed at Bahari Dhow Villas and I really enjoyed my time there. Right at the beach, spacious rooms, and great seafood options.
Seriously, any place that isn't right on Diani Beach is not worth staying in. The only thing to do here is the beach, and you will find that having access to the beach 24/7 is the best thing you can reward yourself with after a long epic trip around Kenya.
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.
For a complete travel guide to Diani Beach, check out:How to Get To Diani Beach, Kenya
Where to Stay at Diani Beach?
Day 14: Fly Back to Nairobi
After 3 days at the beach, it is time to fly back to Nairobi and fly home. You can fly directly from Ukunda Airstrip near Diani to Nairobi via Safarilink so you do not have to backtrack your journey to Mombasa. The flight should cost about 60 USD and take around 2 hours.
Once you arrive at the Safarilink Terminal in Wilson Airport, you can then catch an Uber to either your accommodation for the night or go straight to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to end your trip in Kenya.
When to Visit Kenya?
The best time to visit Kenya is between July and September, during its driest months. During this period, the safaris and national parks will be teeming with life, with all the animals out and about, making them much easier to spot.
The period also coincides with the annual Great Wildebeest Migration, one of the greatest wildlife shows in the world, and you will be able to witness it if you align your visit carefully.
The eastern coast of Kenya is also nice and warm, sometimes even too hot, which makes it great if you are looking to spend some time at the beach. Although you can visit Kenya at any month of the year, I highly recommend you stick with the suggested period to maximize your chance of encountering cool animals in places like Maasai Mara and Amboseli National Park.
How to Get to Kenya?
Nairobi is considered to be one of the travel hubs of East Africa, with most flights flying in and out of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and that is where our journey begins.
From the US, there is one direct flight from JFK to Nairobi via Kenya Airways. Alternatively, you can opt for indirect flights offered by many airlines such as Delta, British Airways, Emirates, and Turkish Airlines from major cities like New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, etc. Therefore, you should have no trouble reaching your destination.
From Europe, you can fly directly from places like London, Amsterdam, and Paris with direct flights offered by British Airways, KLM, and Air France, respectively.
From Asia, Turkish, Qatar, and Emirates Airlines have excellent coverage over the continent with routes from many hub cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, and Jakarta that will take you to Nairobi via transit in Dubai, Doha, or Istanbul. The journey should take about 30 hours, including transit time.
To find a cheap flight to Kenya, I would recommend that you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get Around Kenya?
By Tours: East Africa is not known to be very travel-friendly when it comes to traveling independently, and you won't find any easily accessible modes of transportation with a reliable schedule to remote places we will be visiting in this itinerary.
To make your life much easier, I highly recommend you opt for organized tours instead. They can help with logistics and all the bureaucracy that comes with obtaining proper permits for protected reserves and national parks.
That said, for the East Coast, visiting places like Diani and Mombasa can easily be done via plane/train, so you do not need to rely on organized tours for it.
By Train: For the east coast, you can easily travel from Nairobi to Mombasa via its newly developed express train that costs only 1000 KES (10 USD) and takes about 5 hours, which is not bad at all. The train runs twice a day at 3 PM and 10 PM every day, and you can book it from the train official website.
The best part about traveling from Nairobi to Mombasa by train is the fact that the route passes through many national parks, and you might be able to spot some wildlife along the way. Just make sure you book the train that travels during the day.
By Plane: From Nairobi, you can also fly directly to Diani Beach via Safarilink for only 6,500 KES (60 USD), skipping all the travels you would have to take if you took a train to Mombasa.
The whole process was also a bit smoother than traveling by train, as there aren't a lot of people flying this route, and the security, believe it or not, isn't as strict as when you travel via train.
By Bolt/Uber: For traveling around within big cities like Nairobi, Mombasa, and even smaller towns like Diani, you can rely on a taxi-hailing app called Bolt (Android|iPhone), a cheaper alternative to Uber with a discounted price on the first 5 rides you take, or you can also go with Uber (Android|iPhone) if all else fails.
How Much Money Do I Need For Kenya?
With this 7-day to 2-week itinerary for Kenya, we can calculate approximately how much money it will cost to travel to Kenya as follows:
Accommodation: For 7 nights that you are not on an organized tour, you can expect to pay around 220 USD (25,113 KES) for accommodation.
Food: Food costs about 1,100 KES per meal on average in Kenya, and since you will not be on an organized tour for 7 days, you can expect to pay around 23,100 KES per person for that period of time.
Transportation: For transportation, you will be paying 1,100 KES for the Nairobi-Mombasa train, 6,500 KES for the flight back from Diani to Nairobi, around 2,000 KES for an Uber from Nairobi to Diani Beach, and around 1,000 KES for a general Uber ride, totaling the amount of 10,600 KES for transportation.
Activities: For activities, we will be going on an organized tour for 7 days, which should cost about 700 USD and include everything from activities to food. Therefore, you can expect to pay around 79,891 KES for activities.
Total Budget for 2 weeks in Kenya: 138,704 KES (1,215.31 USD)
Is it Safe in Kenya?
Kenya is as tourist-friendly as it gets when it comes to travel destinations in East Africa, but certain aspects of the country can be quite troublesome to deal with as a traveler.
Traveling in Kenya with a tour group is completely safe, but I can't say the same for traveling independently. The locals are nice and friendly, especially outside of big cities, but the corrupt police is a big issue here.
Traveling independently in Kenya requires precautions to avoid getting into "trouble" with the police. One rule of thumb is not to take a photo of anything, ANYTHING, outside of tourist attractions.
I got arrested by the police for taking photos of a "government building," which is a police station several blocks away and not visible in my photos. They asked me to pay 70 USD as a bribe!
All I did was take a photo of a colonial building in Mombasa! Police in Kenya will arrest you for anything to get bribes. A friend of mine got arrested for taking her mask off to drink in public, and they asked her to pay 50 USD.
In Kenya, the corrupt police are the true thieves here, and they can rob you in broad daylight around many people with no repercussions, which really makes traveling in Kenya independently extremely difficult. Just try not to do anything "touristy" in public and avoid attracting these policemen's attention, and all should be fine.
Other than that, certain campsites in places like Maasai Mara do not have proper walls around their campsites, and wildlife encounters at night can be lethal, especially if you stumble upon an elephant. Try not to walk around the campsite at night while camping.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Kenya?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Kenya without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Kenya:
There are three major carriers in Kenya: Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom. Safaricom is considered the best among them all, offering great 4G coverage in most of the places we will be visiting. I highly recommend you go with Safaricom.
You should be able to get a Safaricom SIM card straight from the Safaricom kiosk in front of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport terminal exit. They have quite a few packages for you to choose from, starting at 11 USD for 5 GB + 2 GB free for YouTube, and free WhatsApp all the way up to 105 USD for 50 GB with all the same benefits as other plans.
I went with the 22 USD that got me 15 GB of data, which was more than enough for 2 weeks of traveling around Kenya. Wifi isn't readily available here in Kenya, and don't expect tented camps near safari hotspots to have one for you. So, the best way to stay connected with your friends and family is to get the SIM card beforehand.
For more information about Kenya's local SIM card: Kenya's Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
What to Pack for Kenya?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Kenya:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
That is it for the 7 Days - 2 Weeks Backpacking Kenya Itinerary for First-Timers. Have we missed anything? Have you found the guide useful? Let us know in the comments below!
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Kenya! Here are some resources to help you get your trip going:
Are you planning to travel to Kenya independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Kenya
I have plenty of articles to help you more with your trip planning for Kenya. Here are a selection of articles you might find useful:
- Planning to visit Kenya for the first time? Here are the 10 best things to do in Kenya.
- Diani is one of the best beaches you can visit in Kenya. Here is a complete guide on how to get to Diani Beach.
- You never thought that it would happen to you until it did. Here is my story on how I got robbed in Kenya in broad daylight... by the police.
- Want to visit the historical town of Mombasa in Kenya? Be sure to check out: 7 Best Things to Do in Mombasa.
- To see all articles about Kenya, visit our Kenya Travel Guide page.
- Want to travel the entire East Africa? Check out all our East Africa Travel Guides.
- Looking for more travel guides for Africa? You can find more on my Africa Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
2 Comments
Hello! This is such an amazing article. Thank you so much so helpful, can I check which 7 day tour you did?
Thank you so much!
Thank you for the question. I went with this 7-day safari I found on Safaribookings.com. It was right in my budget and I was happy with everything! :)