The idea of going on a safari alone felt daunting, and a little scary, but for my recent birthday, it was exactly what I wanted. Even though I’ve traveled solo to many places before, this trip still felt intimidating. But with plenty of planning and research, everything came together for an incredible trip.

If you’re thinking about doing a safari solo (or even just planning one), here are the key things you should know

• Why Kenya is a Perfect Solo Safari Destination
• Essential Travel Documents & Health Prep for Kenya
• Money in Kenya: What You Need to Know
• My 3-Day Masai Mara Safari Experience
  • Booking and choosing a guide
• Weather in Kenya: When to Go on Safari

Why Kenya is a Perfect Solo Safari Destination

When people think of traveling to Africa, safety concerns and misconceptions usually come up. Even as someone born in Africa, I  still had hesitations. But Kenya, especially Nairobi, turned out to be a fantastic destination for a solo female traveler and here’s why:

It’s easy to get around.

Nairobi is super convenient thanks to Ubers, which are everywhere and affordable. I used the app just like I would at home, paying with my saved card, and it worked seamlessly. One thing to note: in Nairobi there’s an Uber option called “Chap Chap”, which is cheaper than UberX. Locals told me that Chap Chap drivers go through less vetting, which sometimes leads to unsafe or erratic driving. For me, the small savings weren’t worth the risk, so I stuck with UberX for all my trips.

There’s so much to do.
From museums and local markets to wildlife encounters just outside the city, Nairobi has no shortage of activities. I didn’t get to see it all, but if you have more time, there’s plenty to explore. (I’ve listed my top recommendations in a separate post: Top Things to Do in Nairobi for Solo Travelers.)

Daytime safety feels manageable.
I felt comfortable walking around certain neighborhoods during the day, especially since I stayed in the city center. Like in any big city, the key is to stay aware, watch your bag, pay attention to your surroundings, and walk like you know where you’re going. Before heading anywhere, I’d preview the route on my phone so I wouldn’t need to constantly pull it out in public. That helped me feel more confident.

I can’t speak to nightlife safety since I avoid going out at night when traveling solo, but during the day I found Nairobi very manageable and welcoming

Essential Travel Documents and Health Prep for Kenya

Kenya eVisa

You’ll need a Kenya eVisa to enter. It costs about $50 USD and can only be applied for online (no visa on arrival). My approval took a week, I think it was faster because I travelled during low season in April, but I recommend applying 1–2 months in advance in case of errors or website glitches. Don’t use third-party “express visa” websites, they often have added fees and sometime cannot be trusted to actually get you your evisa. Apply directly through the official eVisa portal.

Vaccines & Medications

There are no mandatory vaccines unless you’re coming from a yellow fever region. Still, it’s smart to book a travel health consultation 3 to 4 months before your trip.I am glad I did a consultation which cost about $90 CAD and also had travel insurance because food poisoning hit me at one point, and having meds on hand made all the difference.

What I packed (and actually used):

• Malaria prevention medication (especially for camping out in the masai mara for 3 days)
• Antibiotics for traveler’s diarrhea
• Imodium & Gravol (lifesavers on long, bumpy jeep rides)
• travel insurance (a package that includes medical stay)
  

Money in Kenya: What You Need to Know

I brought USD to exchange at the airport and also used my Wise card, which I highly recommend. It lets you hold multiple currencies and switch between them at real exchange rates. This allowed me to pay for things in kenyan shillings in places where they accept VISA cards and also withdraw money from an ATM (free the first time)

• Airport exchange:  Although many travel experts will say that exchanging money at the airport is not worth it. I’m happy I exchanged a small sum at the airport. To me it was worth it for the convenience and also because there is a toll fee needed when you leave the airport if you take the highways and logistically  it was easier to pay with cash
• I asked for shillings in smaller nominations and this came in very handy in markets and buying souvenirs
• Outside of the toll fee, I paid almost everywhere using my Wise Card and paid in shillings. For places that accepted USD it was easy to just pay with the same card as I had multiple currencies on the card and it’s easy to switch back and forth (I swear this is not an ad for WISE but I actually love this card so much).

Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport was surprisingly smooth likely because I arrived on a weekday, early morning, and off-season.
I pre-booked a transfer via Booking.com for about $20 CAD, which gave me peace of mind. That said, there were plenty of taxis outside, so this isn’t a must.

When leaving the airport talk to your taxi driver about taking the highway and paying the toll instead of avoiding it entirely.
 The toll costs about 350 KES (~$3 USD) to avoid hours of Nairobi traffic but saves you almost an hour of sitting in traffic, especially if you are heading towards the city center in nairobi

My 3-Day Masai Mara Safari Experience

The safari was the biggest part of my trip and doing the safari experience solo was a bit daunting but the key was to select a trusted tour operator and selecting a secure safari. 

Booking & Choosing a Guide

I reached out to Belinda from Robevin Safari through a Facebook group, and it turned out to be the best decision I made for this trip. Belinda was friendly, professional, and such a joy to work with. The itinerary wasn’t fixed, and she was flexible about adjusting things based on my preferences.

Based on my budget, I chose a mid-luxury tent at Enkorok Masai Mara. Since I was traveling alone, I wanted to feel as secure as possible. The camp was alright (nothing fancy, and the food was average) but it didn’t take away from my safari experience.

Safari Budget

• The 3 day safari in a budget tent was about  –  $500 USD
• The 3 day in a mid luxury tent (the option i chose) was about –  700 USD

There are other, more luxurious camps nearby where some members of our safari group stayed. I personally liked where I was, but you can always ask Belinda for other options if you want something different.

Belinda’s company felt trustworthy. To confirm your booking, you send a portion of your fee as a deposit, but you don’t have to pay the full amount upfront. I really appreciated that because, at the time, I had only just met her through Facebook and didn’t know her well yet. I paid my deposit in USD through my Wise account. Keep in mind that for transfers like this, a fee is deducted from both sides, about USD 20 each way.

Once you book, you can request the confirmation number from Belinda and email the hotel directly to verify your reservation. I did this myself, and having a screenshot of the booking confirmation was helpful especially for the Kenyan e-visa application.

I would definitely recommend booking with Belinda and Robevin safaris, especially if you’re a solo female traveler. I felt looked after and like I could count on her the entire trip, even after my safari was over.

You can see more reviews on Belinda and Robevins safari on Trip advisor

 What to Expect on Safari

The safari was one full day, one half day, and one return day to Nairobi.

Day 1: Drive from Nairobi + Afternoon Game Drive

On the first day, which was a half day, we drove from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara with a brief stop to look at the Ngoro Crater. I’m not someone who usually gets car sick, but my goodness, once you get close to the Mara, the ride gets bumpy.

When you arrive at camp, you have about an hour to check into your room and settle in before heading out for the first game drive of the trip. Watching the animals during sunset was absolutely gorgeous.

Day 2: Full-Day Safari with Picnic Lunch

Day two was the big one, a full day out on safari. The day starts around 7 a.m., so definitely pack something warm for the early morning ride. I wore a light sweater and sweatpants over my shorts and took them off later as the weather warmed up.

The jeep rides are very bumpy, and you’ll be in the car for over eight hours, so just prepare yourself for that. Around midday, we stopped for a picnic lunch in the park, which felt surreal and magical. The food wasn’t fancy(chicken, a sandwich, a yogurt cup, and a juice box) but eating under a tree in the middle of the Maasai Mara was an experience I’ll never forget.

That day, I saw most of the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, and Cape buffalo. Sadly, no rhinos but still an incredible day.

Day 3: Sunrise Safari + Return to Nairobi

On the final day, there’s an optional visit to a Maasai Village for about $30 USD, where you can learn more about Maasai culture. I had planned to do this, but unfortunately, I got a bit of food poisoning during the trip and decided to head straight back to Nairobi instead.

This excursion should last only about an hour and I would recommend doing it, if you can

Weather in Kenya: When to Go on Safari

I traveled during the off-season in April and honestly, I didn’t even realize it was off-season when I booked (rookie mistake). I was worried that the rain would make it hard to see animals, but I got lucky. It only rained in the evenings, so the safari days were clear and we could still spot plenty of wildlife.

April is considered a low and rainy season, which actually turned out to be a blessing. The park had far fewer cars and jeeps than it typically would and even then, there were still quite a few. I can only imagine how chaotic it must get during peak season.

While I had a great experience in April, I do think I lucked out with the weather. If you want to avoid the crowds but still have a good chance of sunny days, I’d recommend visiting during the shoulder season, around November to December, sometimes January.

For context, peak season runs from July to October during the Great Migration.

Visiting Kenya Without a 3-Day Safari

I chose a three-day Maasai Mara safari because it was a milestone birthday trip, and I really wanted to make it special. But even if a full safari isn’t your thing, you can still have an amazing time in Kenya.

I did a few city activities in Nairobi before and after my safari, so if you’re unsure about committing to a multi-day trip, there’s still plenty to see and do in the city.