Our Kenya safari packages from usa are built around the reality of a long flight, so every itinerary gives you enough days on the ground to make that journey worth it.
- FromUSD 1,450land only, per person sharing, mid range, low season
- Duration7 to 10 days, flexible
- StartsNairobi, direct flight from New York on Kenya Airways
- Best forUS travelers wanting the Mara plus Amboseli in one trip
- StylePrivate 4×4, any group size
Rated 5.0 on Google from 46 reviews. Price confirmed in writing before you pay.
Kenya Airways runs a direct flight between New York JFK and Nairobi, which is the single easiest way for US travelers to reach the Masai Mara without a long layover elsewhere. Most other US departure cities connect through Amsterdam, London, Doha or Dubai instead.
Below is a full itinerary, a price table, what is included and honest answers to the questions US travelers ask us most before booking a Kenya trip.
Highlights
- Direct Kenya Airways flight between New York JFK and Nairobi
- Masai Mara Big Five safari paired with an Amboseli extension
- Kenya ETA process explained clearly for US passport holders
- Private 4×4 Land Cruiser with pop up roof and driver guide throughout
- Honest, current answer to whether Kenya is safe for Americans
- Built in flight recovery time so you are not rushed into a game drive day 1
Day by day plan
- Day 1
Arrive Nairobi
Most flights from the US arrive in the evening after a long journey, so we keep this day simple, an airport transfer and an early night at your Nairobi hotel before the safari begins properly the next morning.
- Day 2
Nairobi to the Masai Mara
A morning drive south west brings you to the Masai Mara by early afternoon, in time for a first game drive before dinner at camp. This is usually when the jet lag finally starts to lift, helped along by the first sighting of a lion or elephant.
- Day 3
Full day in the Masai Mara
A full day of game drives, morning and afternoon, with a picnic lunch out on the plains. This is usually the trip’s strongest day for the Big Five, with resident lion and good odds on elephant and buffalo.
- Day 4
Masai Mara to Amboseli
A transfer day toward Amboseli, either by road via Nairobi or a domestic flight depending on your preferred pace, arriving in time for an afternoon game drive with Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop on a clear day.
- Day 5
Amboseli game drives
A full day exploring Amboseli’s swamps and open plains, known for some of the best studied elephant herds in Africa and, on a clear morning, the closest Kilimanjaro views of the whole trip.
- Day 6
Return to Nairobi and depart
A morning drive back to Nairobi, with time for last minute shopping or a rest before your evening flight home, closing out a well paced Kenya safari packages from usa itinerary.
Kenya safari packages from USA, USD per person sharing, land only
| Package | Low season | Peak season |
|---|---|---|
| 4 day Mara only, mid range | USD 1,450 | USD 1,780 |
| 6 day Mara plus Amboseli, mid range | USD 2,150 | USD 2,600 |
| 6 day Mara plus Amboseli, luxury | USD 3,300 | USD 3,950 |
- Low season, Jan to Jun, land cost shown, excludes international flights
- Peak season, Jul to Oct and the festive period, adds roughly 20 to 25 percent
- Return flights from New York or other US cities to Nairobi are quoted separately and change frequently
Get my exact price on WhatsApp
Reserve this trip
Pick your dates and group. See the total. Hold it with a deposit.
Pay by Mpesa, bank transfer or card once we confirm in writing. Free changes until you confirm.
Included
- Private 4×4 Land Cruiser with a pop up roof and driver guide throughout
- Park and conservation fees for the Masai Mara and Amboseli
- Accommodation on full board at camp
- All listed game drives and transfers between destinations
- Bottled water in the vehicle each day
Not included
- International flights between the USA and Nairobi
- Kenya ETA fee for US passport holders
- Tips for your driver guide and camp staff
- Travel insurance
- Optional activities like a hot air balloon ride
How much does a Kenya safari cost from the USA
Our Kenya safari packages from usa start from about USD 1,450 per person land only for a short Mara focused trip, rising to around USD 3,300 per person for a longer Mara and Amboseli combination at luxury level.
International flights between the US and Nairobi are quoted separately since fares change often and typically add a meaningful amount on top of the land package shown in the table above, so budget for both when planning Kenya safari packages from usa.
What is the best flight route from the US to Nairobi
Kenya Airways operates a direct flight between New York JFK and Nairobi, the only nonstop option for US travelers and the simplest way to reach the Masai Mara without an extra connection.
From other US cities, routing through Amsterdam on KLM, London on British Airways or Virgin Atlantic, or through Doha or Dubai on Qatar Airways or Emirates, are the most common paths, each adding a stopover of a few hours to your total journey time.
Do US citizens need a Kenya ETA
Yes. US passport holders need a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization, applied for online before travel, currently costing about USD 30 and usually processed within a few days.
Apply at least 1 to 2 weeks before departure to avoid last minute stress, since it replaces the older visa on arrival system for most nationalities including the US.
Is Kenya safe for Americans
Yes, for the areas covered by standard Kenya safari packages from usa, which are well established tourist routes with no unusual safety concerns beyond normal travel precautions. Certain border regions outside typical safari routes carry separate advisories, which our itineraries simply do not visit.
See our is Kenya safe guide for a fuller, honest answer, since we would rather give you a clear picture than a vague reassurance either way.
How many days should US travelers plan
Given the long flight from the US, we recommend at least 7 to 10 days total, including 5 to 7 days on the ground, so the trip does not feel like a rushed weekend added onto a long haul flight.
Shorter trips are possible, but most US travelers on Kenya safari packages from usa tell us afterward they wish they had built in one more day, usually for a second park or simply to slow down the pace.
Combining the Mara with Amboseli
Amboseli is the most popular second park for US travelers on this route, reachable by road or a short domestic flight from the Mara or Nairobi and known for reliable elephant sightings and Kilimanjaro views.
See our 5 day Maasai Mara and Amboseli safari page for a standalone version of this combination if you want a shorter trip than the full itinerary above.
Vehicle, guide and pace
You travel in a private 4×4 Land Cruiser with a pop up roof and one driver guide for the whole safari portion of your trip, never sharing a vehicle with travelers outside your own group unless you specifically ask for a group joining option.
- Pop up roof for standing photography without leaving your seat
- Flexible daily timing to fit around jet lag on the first day or two
- Driver guides experienced with first time US visitors and their questions
- A private vehicle for every Kenya safari packages from usa itinerary unless you request otherwise
What to pack for a Kenya safari
Pack light, neutral coloured clothing for game drives, a warm layer for cool mornings in the Mara and comfortable closed shoes for camp walks after dark.
See our full what to pack for a Kenya safari checklist and our vaccinations and malaria guide for health notes worth discussing with your doctor before you fly.
Money and practical tips for US travelers
Carry a mix of US dollars in small, newer denominations for tips and small purchases, since older or torn bills are sometimes refused by camps and shops. Kenyan shillings and M Pesa mobile money are both easy to use once you arrive.
Our Kenya safari tipping guide and money in Kenya for tourists guide cover this in more detail, useful since tipping and payment habits differ from what most Americans are used to at home.
Jet lag and recovery time
The flight from most US cities to Nairobi runs 15 to 20 hours including a connection, so our Kenya safari packages from usa build in a quiet first evening rather than starting game drives the same day you land.
Most US travelers find the time difference, typically 7 to 10 hours depending on their home city, easier to adjust to than the sheer flight length itself, since Nairobi’s evening arrival time lines up reasonably well with a normal bedtime back home.
Other destinations popular with US travelers
Some clients extend their Kenya trip into Tanzania for the Serengeti or add a Zanzibar beach stay at the end. See our Tanzania safaris from Nairobi page or our Kenya luxury safaris page if a higher end, multi country trip interests you.
For families traveling together, our Kenya family safaris page has specific guidance on camps and pacing that suit mixed age groups on the same Kenya safari packages from usa itinerary.
Why our Kenya safari packages from usa work for first timers
Most guests booking Kenya safari packages from usa are visiting Africa for the first time, so every itinerary above is built with realistic pacing rather than cramming in as many parks as physically possible in a short window.
That means a genuine rest evening after the long flight, sensible drive times between camps and a driver guide who is used to explaining things a first time safari guest wants explained, from vehicle etiquette to what a tsetse fly actually is.
School holidays and timing your trip around US calendars
Many US families plan around summer break, late Jun through Aug, which happens to overlap neatly with the Mara’s migration season, though it is also peak pricing and peak camp demand.
Thanksgiving and the winter holidays are another common US travel window, sitting inside Kenya’s short rains and festive season pricing bump, so book Kenya safari packages from usa for either window well ahead if your dates are fixed by a school calendar.
How to book Kenya safari packages from USA
Send us your preferred travel dates, group size and any questions on WhatsApp and we will send a private, written quote with a clear USD land cost within a day.
Camps in the Mara book out fastest during the Jul to Oct migration window, so Kenya safari packages from usa for those dates are best confirmed three to six months ahead, alongside your international flight booking, which is worth locking in early too since fares from the US rise sharply closer to peak season departure dates.
How to book your Kenya safari packages from usa
Booking your Kenya safari packages from usa with us takes about five minutes of your time. The rest is our job. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, so there are no surprises along the way.
- Send your dates. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates, how many people are coming and the ages of any children. Tell us if you have a budget in mind. We plan with it, not around it.
- Get a written quote. We reply with a clear price per person, what it includes and what it does not. No hidden park fees and no vague extras. If a cheaper camp or a shorter route makes more sense, we say so.
- Tweak it until it fits. Change a camp, add a night or swap a park. Ask as many questions as you like. Changes cost nothing until you confirm.
- Confirm with a deposit. A deposit holds your vehicle, guide and rooms. You get a written confirmation with every detail and the date the balance is due.
- Travel day. Your driver guide meets you at your hotel or the airport with a name board. You have their number and ours for the whole trip.
What every trip with us includes
Every Kenya safari packages from usa plan we put together comes with the basics done properly. You ride in a safari vehicle with a pop up roof, with a professional driver guide who knows the parks. Water is in the cooler box and park fees are sorted in advance so you do not stand in a queue at the gate.
We also stay reachable. If something changes on the road, a flat tyre, a closed route or a sudden storm, we sort it and keep you posted on WhatsApp.
Paying safely
We share payment details in writing only and every payment gets a receipt. The payment options and the balance date sit on your written quote, so nothing is left to memory or a phone call.
Why book with a Nairobi team
We live here. We drive these roads all year, we know which camps are honest about their photos and we know when a park is too busy to enjoy. That local knowledge is what turns a good Kenya safari packages from usa into a great one. Our Google rating sits at 5.0 from 46 reviews and we plan to keep it that way.
Ready when you are. Send us a message and we will put a plan together for you shortly.
Questions people ask
How much does a Kenya safari cost from the USA?
Our Kenya safari packages from usa start from about USD 1,450 per person land only for a short Mara trip, up to around USD 3,300 per person for a longer Mara and Amboseli combination at luxury level, excluding international flights.
What is the best flight route from the US to Nairobi?
Kenya Airways runs a direct flight from New York JFK to Nairobi, the only nonstop option. Other US cities typically connect through Amsterdam, London, Doha or Dubai, adding a stopover to the total journey.
Do US citizens need a Kenya ETA?
Yes, applied for online before travel, currently about USD 30 and usually processed within a few days. Apply at least 1 to 2 weeks ahead of your Kenya safari packages from usa departure to be safe.
Is Kenya safe for Americans?
Yes, for the established tourist routes covered by standard safari itineraries. Certain border regions outside typical safari routes carry separate advisories, which our Kenya safari packages from usa simply do not visit.
How many days should US travelers plan?
At least 7 to 10 days total, including 5 to 7 days on the ground, given the long flight from the US. Shorter trips work but most travelers wish afterward they had built in one more day.
Can I combine the Mara with a beach extension?
Yes, though Amboseli is the more common second stop on Kenya safari packages from usa given flight timing. A beach extension to Diani or Zanzibar is possible with an extra 3 to 4 days added to the itinerary.
Official information: Kenya Wildlife Service.
Ready when you are. Send your dates and group size. We reply with a clear price and a plan you can change.
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