Basic Camping Safari Tours and Holidays in Kenya

Our basic camping safaris offer an affordable and immersive way to experience Kenya's wildlife. These tours use public or private campsites with essential facilities, and we provide all necessary camping equipment, a professional guide, and a cook. This option is designed for travelers who want a close-to-nature adventure in parks like the Masai Mara National Reserve without the cost of lodges.

This page provides practical information about how our camping safaris work. We cover the type of equipment used, what the campsites are like, how meals are managed, and what you can expect from a typical day on a camping tour. Our goal is to give you a clear and accurate picture of this adventurous travel style.

What a Basic Camping Safari in Kenya

A basic camping safari, often called "adventure camping," is a fully supported tour where you sleep in tents. We provide two-person dome tents with sewn-in groundsheets, along with comfortable sleeping mats or mattresses and sleeping bags. You are only required to bring your personal belongings. The campsites we use are equipped with shared bathroom facilities, including flush toilets and showers.

Each camping safari group is accompanied by a driver-guide and a dedicated safari cook. The guide is responsible for all driving, game viewing, and park logistics, while the cook handles all food preparation and camp kitchen duties. This structure allows you to relax and enjoy the experience without worrying about camp chores. Meals are served in a designated dining area, often in a mess tent with a table and chairs.

These safari tours are typically run as group-joining trips, which helps keep the costs down by sharing vehicle and personnel expenses. Our main Travel Planning Guide offers more general advice on preparing for a trip to Kenya.

Campsite Locations and Facilities in Key National Parks and Reserves

The campsites we use are selected for their location, safety, and the quality of their facilities. Most are situated just outside the main national park gates, which helps reduce costs while still providing excellent access to the wildlife areas. These campsites are typically fenced for security. Inside the parks, we use designated public campsites that offer a more rustic wilderness experience.

For example, our camping tours to the Masai Mara often use private campsites located near the Sekenani or Talek gates. A typical campsite here will have a central ablution block with running water, flush toilets, and hot water showers (hot water may be available at specific times of the day).

There will be a covered dining area where the group eats together and a campfire area for evenings. The experience is comfortable but simple. The facilities are cleaned and maintained by the campsite staff. A good example of an itinerary that uses these sites is our 4 Days Budget Tour Mara & Lake Nakuru Camping Safari. Similar campsite arrangements are available for trips to other popular destinations like Amboseli and Samburu.

Meal Preparation and Food on a Camping Safari

All meals during the safari are included in the tour price and are prepared by a dedicated safari cook. Our cooks are experienced in preparing a variety of wholesome and tasty meals using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. They travel with the group and manage the entire camp kitchen, from cooking to washing up. This full-service approach means you can enjoy your safari without any camp chores.

The menu is designed to be appealing and provide plenty of energy for long days of game viewing. We can also accommodate most dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free, with advance notice. Please inform us of any specific needs when you book your trip.

• Breakfast: A typical breakfast is served before the morning game drive and includes items like eggs, sausages, toast with jam and butter, fruit, and tea or coffee.
• Lunch: Lunch is often a packed picnic that you enjoy at a scenic spot inside the national park. This maximizes your time for wildlife viewing. A picnic lunch usually consists of sandwiches, chicken, fruit, a salad, and a juice box. On days when you return to camp for lunch, it will be a hot meal.
• Dinner: Dinner is the main meal of the day, served back at the camp in the evening. It is a hearty, multi-course meal, which might include soup, a main course like beef stew, grilled chicken or a pasta dish, served with vegetables and rice or potatoes, followed by a simple dessert.

Drinking water is provided throughout the safari. Other drinks like sodas, beer, or wine are not included but can be purchased in towns before the safari begins.

A Typical Day on an Adventure Camping Safari

The daily schedule on a camping safari is structured around the best times to see wildlife, which are typically in the early morning and late afternoon when animals are most active. The rhythm of the day is consistent, providing a predictable and enjoyable routine.

A standard day follows this general pattern:

• Early Morning (approx. 6:00 AM): You will be woken up with hot coffee or tea. After a quick breakfast, you depart for a morning game drive. The cool morning air and soft light provide excellent conditions for photography and for spotting predators who may still be active.
• Mid-day (approx. 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM): You will either enjoy a picnic lunch in the park or return to the campsite for a hot lunch prepared by your cook. The middle of the day is the hottest part, and wildlife is less active. This time is usually spent relaxing, reading, or napping at the camp.
• Afternoon (approx. 3:00 PM): After the heat of the day subsides, you head out for an afternoon game drive. You will explore a different area of the park, seeking out new sightings until just before sunset.
• Evening (approx. 6:30 PM onwards): You return to the campsite as the park closes. You can take a hot shower and relax by the campfire, sharing stories from the day with your fellow travelers. Dinner is served around 7:30 PM, after which you can enjoy the starry sky before retiring to your tent.

This routine ensures you get the most out of each day in the park. It combines exciting game drives with sufficient time for rest and relaxation.

Safety, Security, and Equipment Standards

Safety is a primary consideration on all our camping safaris. We take specific measures to ensure your security and comfort throughout the trip. Our guides are trained professionals who understand how to operate safely in wildlife environments, and the campsites we use are secure.

Most of the private campsites located outside the park boundaries are fenced. For the public campsites inside the parks, which are generally not fenced, a ranger is often present. Wild animals tend to be wary of the noise, lights, and smells of an active campsite and typically keep their distance. Your guide will provide a thorough safety briefing upon arrival at each campsite, outlining clear guidelines to follow. You can find more general information in our Travel Safety & Health guide.

We provide all necessary camping equipment. Our tents are modern, durable, and waterproof two-person dome tents that are easy to set up. We supply high-density foam mattresses or sleeping mats and warm sleeping bags suitable for the temperatures you will encounter. All our equipment is regularly cleaned and maintained to ensure it is in good condition for your trip.

Recommended Basic Camping Safari Itineraries

Our camping safaris are available for several of Kenya’s top destinations. The itineraries are designed to be efficient, covering the best of each region while keeping travel times manageable. They are an excellent option for seeing multiple parks in a single, affordable trip.

Here are a few of our most popular camping tour packages:

• 5 Days Budget Tour to Mara, Nakuru & Hells Gate: This is an excellent multi-park itinerary that combines the classic big game viewing of the Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru with the unique active adventure of Hell's Gate. It offers a great variety of landscapes and experiences.
• 3 Days Affordable Masai Mara Group Safari: For those with limited time or who want to focus solely on Kenya's premier wildlife destination, this short tour is ideal. It dedicates two full days to game drives in the Masai Mara, maximizing your chances of seeing the Big Five.
• 5 Days Budget Group Tour to Mara, Nakuru & Naivasha: This tour is similar to the Hell's Gate option but focuses on the aquatic wildlife of Lake Naivasha, including a boat trip to see hippos and birds. It provides a comprehensive Rift Valley experience.

These packages represent the best of what adventure camping in Kenya has to offer: close-to-nature experiences, great wildlife, and exceptional value. You can use our custom trip planner if you have a specific route in mind for a private camping trip.